Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-08

Chicago. Dec. 8.-Cattle-There was
the usual scarcity of, fat cattle and
prices were unchanged with the better
class alone showing activity and firm
ness. There were few sales of Christ
mas cattle at 7.o0@7.50. Beef steers
were selling largely 4.OO@5.S0 and COM
mon light weights 2.6o@35O. Medium
grades brought 4.50@5.40, good lots
5.5O@5.95, and choice 665.
Offerings for the week thus far have
been considerably heavier than the de-
mand required and the market was at
f1icted with serious case Of dullness.
Buyers were extremely bearish from
the start yesterday and refused to take
hold until rather late in the day. The
demand was so slack and the quality of
the cattle so poor that there was prac-
tically no competition In the market.
The only inquiry was for few choice
steers suitable for eastern Christmas
trade. Not many Of this kind Of cattle
We're here, and they cut but little fig
ure in the general market.
Hogs.
Hogs-Supplies continue to increase
in volume and the packers are buying
freely at a daily decline. Today
prices took another tumble Of about
1Oc, and the bulk of the sales at from
4.30@4.42h.
packers are satisfied with present
prices of hogs" said a man identified
with the Strengthening industry. What
they want now is to keep them COM
ing"
From which an inference. may be
draws that further declines will be
apt to check the movement" he was
asked.
Exactly. The success of this bear
campaign has convinced growers that
this is a four-cent year for hogs in
the country. AS long as shippers can
pay $4D1.45 at shipping points. pack
ers look for liberal movement.
When the price falls below that figure
they will shut them off. OF course, a
series of big runs at Chicago will in
depreciating influence of sheer weight
of numbers. That will stop 'em. On
subsequent moderate receipts there
will be reactions, and that will start
EN- coming again."
But is cents reasonable price for
hogs in the country. with corn at pres
ent prices?"
1T looks low, compared with prices
prevalent in recent years, but pack
ers have been paying big money for
hog crops, and the market pendulum
always swings in the other direction.
Cattle are relatively higher than hogs
now. whereas the reverse has been the
case. 1t must not be forgotten, how
ever. that this was cheaply pro-
duced hog crop. There has been prac-
tically no mortality. If porcine sick
ness existed in the country we would
be getting more shoats AS matter
of fact. few are coming, showing that
general good health prevails. Again
hogs made good and cheap growth on
grass, and fall weather has been very
favorable to making gains. Four
cents for this crop is better than five
cents for the crops of the two previous
years.
Sheep.
Sneep-Strong and active with not
much change in wethers and yearlings
Lambs are scarce and market is strong
and higher.
Wednesday saw hot lamb market
at prices generally strong to 10 cents
high. Fed westerns made 1925, the
high price of the season to date and
plenty of natives went over the scales
at that price. A bunch of the made
to-order kind would probably have sold
a little higher. Six cent sales aroused
no comment and quite a few transact
lions at $6.10@6.15 were recorded.
Sheep trade looked strong. Fed
westerns were scarce. A feature of the
day was the arrival Of band of Him
o,s fed Mexican aged wethers aver
aging "a lbs that made s4.S5. They
were the first fed Mexicans to arrive
this season.
Feeder trade was active on limit
ed supply. Buyers were busy scraping
up odds and ends to make up car loads
and even trashy stuff found ready
outlet, common feeding eyes selling at
$2.75@3.O0, these being the kind that
were hard to dispose of at a dollar a
head last year, when the market was
glutted with them. Common feeding
lambs in small lots sold as low as 81.
Desirable kinds were not available. A
band of good 81 lb Montana feeding
ewes made SO 50 and band of 103 Id
Montana feeling Wethers 1925.