Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-05
Considerable Competition Ee-
tween Shippers and Packers
For Desirable Animals
HOGS CLOSE WEAK TO LOWER
Purchases by Spectators Caused
Strong Opening, But There Was
Lack of Demand on the Part of 9th
err Glasses of Euyers-sheep Strong
Today, and Lambs Steady.

Chicago, Aug 5.--Cattle arrivals
We're of exceptional good quality. steers
being steady. stoekers firm and cows
and heifers strong to 1Oc higher. De-
mand from shippers and packers way
excellent and there WAS considerable
competition between them for desr-
able animals
Packers have been Indifferent buyers
for some time for cattle that wers
light in weight and grass fed. The
main reason for this is that SO many
Texas steers are coming TO outside
markets and they are selling very
cheap. There has been surplus OF
the common and medium light steers,
but scarcity OF the finished product
having suitable weight
This week opens the western range
season. Ranchmen are starting later
than usual this year, and evidently are
more conservative than usual Abund-
ance of grass is reported all over the
range, and cattle have taken on fat
rapidly. tho they are naturally soft yet
and there is a disposition TO wait till
they are in better shipping condition.
The chances are that the demand for
the common light steers will be still
more modified when the western grass
ers get to pouring in and competition
is keener.
Since the market for good steers has
advanced to such point that export
ers are losing money OH shipments to
England, strenuous efforts are being
made to minimize the loss by substi-
tuting cheaper cattle. During the past
month a large share of the export
steers cost S6.59@6S0 with the best
at $500. Competition from Argentina
is so strong that there seems to be no
hope of the foreign markets
getting better, and at this end there
is not much chance of the market for
the export class going down very soon.
Exporters have the space contracted
for and are obliged to fill it up with
and so the demand for fat
COWS and bulls is very strong on that
account. This is what is keeping the
for packers would not give any such
prices If they had their way. Export
COWS are costing $lm5, and lately not
as many have been coming as could
be used
Hogs opened strong on purchases by
spectators. but prices weakened be-
cause of lack of demand on the part |
Of other classes of buyers. the market
closing weak 10 SC lower.
There was some evidence of liuui-
dation in the west last week. but Au-
gust and September runs are expected
to be normal The usual marketing
Of grass widows" will be in evidence |
but already good mixed and butcher /
hogs are showing signs of scarcity, |
supply running to big packers at the I
one end and light mixed at the other. /
The provision deal is simple Packers |
nave the product and are not only
anxious to merchandise it on the basis |
Of higher hog market. but would like
futures. The trader or to be more Y
correct, Speculation, is afraid Of both
he packer and the country He is
fearful that the former wants to inn
pose on him at least part of the ardu-
)us task of carrying the bag" and
hat the country is holding back a
arge supply of hogs, ready to dump
hem into market whenever prices
nave scored sufficient advance. Pre-
fiction that the country is short of
hogs has been handed the provision
,peculator SO often that he is skep-
ical No one doubts that the packer
controls the product, and with d-
hog movement he will be
Lble to turn every pound of stuff in
tock to good account.
Sheep.
Sheep were strong and lambs steady,