Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-02-15
MARKET D[AORA[RED'
Tie-up of Railroads and Severe
Cold Affect Livestock Trat-
fic Seriously
DANGEROUS TO SHIP STOCK
Today There Was Fairly Good Gen.
eraI Demand and Prices Ruled About
Ten Cents Hishcr-Butcher Stock
Firm-Hoes Supply Meager and
Prices Ruled Stronger.


Chicago, Feb 15.-~Livestock traffic
is seriously, if not wholly demoralized
by the prolonged cold snap. and trade
at market ccnters has been adversely
affected in consequence. Present con-
ditions are abnormal and will be sub
ject to radical changes us soon as the
storm bound delegation materializes.
I'VE are not trying to load livestock
at shipping points, said d representa-
tive of one of the big western lines to-
day. Our energies have been taxed
this week to deliver stuff started before
the cold blast arrived. What we are
endeavorng to accomplish now is to do
us little as possible
On practically all the branch linees
traversing the corn belt loading of
livestock has been discontinued and
will not be resumed until the roads
are in better shape to move trains.
No attempt is being made to move
even passenger trains. Sagacious ship
pers are not trying to get on the road;
to the clamor of others a deaf ear is
turned
Trying to move livestock at this
juncture merely means the accumula-
ton of new raft of damage claims,
said Il livestock agent. we had an
experience of that nature last year,
and have no disposition to repeat it."
The practical tieup of traffic can
have but one result, and when the
embargo is raised a flood of storm
bound livestock will show up at mar
ket. Therein lies the danger of 4
series of price -demoralizng gluts. The
LIST of March, when farm renters move.
is close at hand, and as surplus cattle
and hogs are invariably cashed in at
this juncture there exists an impress
sion that plenty of these will be in evil
dence next week.
Railroad men assert that week to
ten days will be required to get the"
motive power in shape. Many Iowa
lines are completely showed in.
Cattle.
There was a good general demand.
and prices ruled about ten higher beef
steers selling largely at $415@5.4O
Butcher stock was firm and fairly ac-
tive, stockers and feeders are in rather
better demand not many choice lots
being offered.
Yesterdays generally less active de-
mand indicates feeling of bearish-
ness on the part of buyers, who evil
IDENTIFY fear that continued small
weather market will result in Il fur
Their upward trend of values over last
weeks range, and their rather slow
buying in the later hours was taken
by sellers as a warning that much
heavier receipts would meet OPPOSITE
ion in the shape of lower prices as
long as cars for eastern shipment are
scarce. Packers have of late been
worried over the shortage of refrig-
orator cars, due to blockades at east
ern points, as we'll as the stock cars,
and until the situation clears conser
vative marketing is imperative.
Hogs.
There was 81 meager supply and with
good local and shipping demand prices
ruled stronger, bulk of sales $4.921a a
sos.
The excessive cold and general dis
arrangement of transportation thru
out the country causes the very small
supply. The hogs We're generally Of
good quality, and there is a fair pro-
portion of good strong weights, but
a market scarcity of really heavy
hogs. The general market is fairly
active, tine early orders are being fill
ed at fully steady prices. Shipping
orders are less urgent. merely from
the fact of the uncertainty about get
ting stock shipped out. Eastern de-
mand is good and as soon as the roads
are able to handle stock readily there
is liable to be good business in the
shipping trade. Packers are rather in
different. simply because they are
sure that any display of interest on
their part With such small receipts
would result in putting prices higher
than they cared to have them. Good
shipping droves of hogs We're put up
largely around $5@5.05, With an early
top Of $50. Assorted light bacon
hogs cost S4.S0M4.9O for very light to
strong weights. Quite number of
strictly choice 100 to 1875 lib pigs sold
at $4.5O@4.S0. The supply of pigs was
moderate.
Sheep.
Prices are heading in an upward di-
rection for there are not anywhere
near enough to go around. Today's
sales We're largely 10M15 higher.