Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-26

HOG RAiSERs WOULD MAINTAIN
BETTER PR. CEs Bg HOLD.
!NG STOCK.

chicago, DeC 24.-PrOducerS OF
hogs nave not been displaying the
good Judgment in marketing their sup
plies that was so apparent all last win
ter. For some time they have not only
crowded sagging market heavily,
but also sacrificed big number Of
young, healthy swine which were in
ripe condition under ordinary care.
Under sucn conditions it is only logi-
cal that buyers have been enabled to-
pound the price range hard. 1t has
been case Of the countrymen playing
right into the hands of the packers.
Shippers Marketed UnwIsely.
Commission men who have made
the selling Of hogs their chief BUSH
ness for many years express great sur
prise that owners Of hogs persisted in
landing enormous supplies on the mar
ket when conditions warranted mors
moderate runs. Rejecting this policy
were the receipts of the best part of
one-nalf million hogs on the Chicago
market alone during two weeks ending
last Saturday, this total being the
largest for any two succeeding weeks
in about two years. During that time
the market has been the most erratic
and unsatisfactory in the memory of
the Oldest traders here. Buyers in
the meantime made big raids on the
market and put values on compare.
lively low basis.
No Cause for Stampede.
Well-posted statesmen say 1t is time
that the producers of hogs sit up ana
think. There is surely no cause for
a wild stampede to get to market
with hogs at this time. The farmers
as a whole were never in better finan-
cial condition, and at the same time
were never in a better position to
keep in close touch with market con-
ditions. the question naturally arises
Why are burdensome supplies of
hogs thrown upon dropping market,
when by little patience and fore
thought prices could be neld at bet
! ter level through moderate market
ing? This question that countrymen
would do well to ponder over. A good
business man never dumps great
quantities of goods on low and
weak market wnen he can possibly
avoid doing so. Is there any reason
for farmers following an opposite
course Of action?
Sellers More Optimistic.
| Statesmen wno keep in close touch
with the market situation say there is
no plausible reason why hogs should
not be selling on $500 basis If re-
ceipts were better regulated. In fact,
those who believe that prices will go
to very much lower level are greatly
in the majority. Buyers, however,
are of the opinion that values will
tumble to the 81 level again. But
that is their stock in trade. The future
hog market is more in the keeping Of
the producers now in that industrial
conditions should be on the mend from
now on. This means broader outlet
| for hog meats. Better constructive
demand to secure their quota Of hogs
and at the same time stimulate Ship
ping buyers for keener activity.
Time for Resistance.
Countrymen are In a position to re-
sist the pounding tactics of buyers to
great extent, and it is surely time
they were asserting this power by
saner marketing Of their supplies,
however, thaHhogs in good, fat condi.
/. ton for slaughter should be held back
very long for the purpose of forcing
prices to sharply higher level This
| would likely act as a boomerang on
the owners. Such nogs should be
marketed as conditions may warrant
but the healthy light-weights should
be kept off the market, according to
most traders on the selling side 1t is
generally their belief that if the above
policy is adhered to producers will
witness a more even market, as well
as secure better prices for their Of
ferings. The plan is worth trying at
least, and the farmer is surely trying
at least, and the farmer is surely in
the position to make the experiment.