Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-01
Tone of the Market Firm, Tho
Little More Than
Nominal
HOGS NO BETTER THAN STEADY
The Opening Was Strong, But Demand
Weakened, and Prices Dcclined-No
Liberal Outlet for Heavy Packers
Choice Quality Lambs Scarce and
Market for Them Steady to Strong.

Chicago, Oct. 1.-THE tone OF the
market was firm at the start, tho little
more than nominal. From the fact
that early estimate OF reports was only
1000, sellers figured the market would
rule strong. Yarding of cattle was
slow, and buyers didonot get into ac-
tive operation till a. late hour The
supply today was 1000 short of the
run last Monday.
Last week the supply of beef cattle
exceeded the requirements of the trade
"A slumpy, mean market was the re-
suit, and sellers had good reason to
feel rather dissatisfied with the con-
diton Of the market. There was not
what could be called an active demand
from any direction. Eastern buyers
had limited orders, and exporters were
inclined to purchase with little more
caution. The whole market In fact
had a dull, draggy gait and it required
more effort to get rid Of the offerings
than usual.
Top for the week was $500, but
it took very superior lot of cattle to
bring that A good many sales of first
class steers were made at $6.50@6.75.
but the great bulk of the shipping
steers sold at $5.75 @640, and most
of the export class went at $5.5o@6.
There was a long line OF medium cat
tie that sold at. $5@550, and many
light grass fed killers went at S4.4O
04.75, and these were the hardest
to sell for they directly met the COM
petition from western rangers.
Hogs.
Hogs were strong at the opening, but
after a few scalpers and shippers had
bought, the demand weakened and
prices We're no better than steady.
Heavy packing hogs formed liberal
percentage of the offerings, and this
class did not find a liberal outlet. Top
hogs were $50.
The September run was approNi-
mately $4,000 or $1,000 less than a year
ago. This is attributed to the fact that
the country was busy cashing in dur
ing July and August. Had there been
any considerable number of mature
hogs to unload, the recent bulge would
have brought them in. For the season
it is moderate run.
Nobody in the trade is talking higher
prices. This is not the season for
marking up quotations, and values are
at present at least rs cents per cwt.
higher than anybody looked for.
Weight, with quality, has moved up
on prime light, there having been a
spread between prime heavy and light
for some time past. Heavy packers
have also been selling we'll, as killers
had no alternative but go to them to
fill fresh meat orders. The spread
which was recently more than dollar.
has narrowed perceptibly, and the bulk
of hogs We're selling last week within
spread of less than half dollar.
Present values are considerably
higher than a year ago. At that time
butchers sold UP to $50, but anything
above $3.50 had to possess shipping
quality. Medium packers sold at $500
for heavy packers, straight loads SELL
ing down to $4.75.
Sheep.
Another heavy run featured the live
mutton trade and the estimate put re-
ceipts at $4,000, but trade thought Il
would run over this figure. Lambs
were in liberal supply but choice quail
ity was scarce and the market for them
was steady to strong. Common to me-
dunn lambs were weak. 1t looked as
though sheep, good grades excepted,
would be weak.