Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-02-17
Receipts Have Been Smaller
Than Expected and Better
Prices Have Resulted
GOOD DEMAND FOR BEST GRADE
Buyers of Fancy Kinds Ready to Pay
as High as se-Hos Receipts Were
Below the Expectations. But Packers
Were Determined Not to Advance
the Price.

Chicago. Feb 17.-Only about 1000
short OF receipts of week ago. Short
fed were again in great proportion of
offerings. but sold strong to 10 higher
and more readily than recently, while
there was an urgent demand for choice
fat steers at big 10 advance. Buyers
of the best class of fancy cattle said
they stood ready to pay up to $3.50 6.0O
for strictly choice. but bulk of beef
and shipping steers went at 1900
$50: all above $50 being extra smooth.
The market is getting entirely too
many immature cattle and not enough
of the well finished fat steers. Any
thing which had good quality yester-
day sold freely. while the trashy. tail
end stock went slowly. Shippers an1
exporters had some orders which they
were not able to fill, because of the
scarcity OF the kind of cattle they
needed. Agents for the eastern roads
report an improvement In the situa-
ton. and thus far this week have been
able to take care OF their patrons with
out much difficulty. They are handi-
capped more in getting the cars back
than in sending them through loaded.
Better markets abroad are likely to
stimulate a good export demand and
so help the trade for such cattle as the
exporters use, but 1t would not be
hard matter to overload the market
even for this class, and very easy
thing TO denoraiize it on the common
and half fat grades.
Hogs.
Even under marketing OF about 81
900 head below last Wednesdays re-
ceipts. packers showed a determination
to buy hogs lower at the start They
held their bids 10 below yesterdays
prices and the little trading early was
mostly by spectators at decline of
8 cents.
The heavy marketward movement "
hogs which began the middle of last
week was not checked by the resultant
break in prices. Monday the estimate
posted was for $1,000, but trains ran
hoggy all day and nearly $4,000 actual
ly arrived.
The movement toward Missouri river
markets is also heavier. There is still
a large proportion OF light stuff in
the run and heavy weights command
a higher premium than at any time
this season.
Sheep.
There was strong demand for choice
fat sheep at firm prices. plain lots and
lambs selling more slowly but holding
about steady.
Stockers and Feeders.
There have been moro buyers In the
market this week than usual and bust
ness has shown little more life and
activity. A number Of Virginia men
arrived Monday and there were also
a few buyers from Ohio. They wantei
medium cattle mostly at $685. $3.50 but
paid as high as $3.50 for some extra
choice ones. Nearly all the good feeders
are a little higher than a week ago. nd
the medium steers have also shown 2
stronger tendency. The demand from
the outside is still very uncertain, but
local dealers are glad to see the east
ern men take hold with more Interest.
Mondays supply Of cattle did not In
clul,e many feeders and SO the supply
ON hand Ia not very heavy. A small
lot of steers reached s4.35, but It takes
good ones to fetch $500 or better. ana
the bulk is selling at $S.00@3.60, with
comparatively few steers below you.