Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-29
CATTLE ABOUT STEADY.
Decreased Offerings Gave Stead
ier Tone to Trade Than
Last Week
HOGS ACTIVE FROM THE START
Offerings Desired by Shippers Showed
Advance of 10 to IS and Packers
Came Into the Trade Late in Session
Sheep About Steady, With Practi-
caIly No Demand.

Chicago. Feb. o9.-Cattle We're NOM
inally steady. The market has been
irregular. but the cutting down of Of
ferings has given a stea,iicr tone to
the trade than was shown last week
Demand for cattle this week proved
rather satisfactory after all There
was a more favorable distribution of
receipts, on the one hand. and
better disposition on the part of buy
ers to take hold Mondays offerings
We're cut down 10 reasonable propor-
tons and the market started the week
on a 1Oc higher basis. This was just
the reverse Of the previous week. On
Wednesday buyers made an effort 10
counterfeit this advance and took off
some, but this was put back again on
Thursday.
Light cattle held a decided prefer
ence all week For some time buyers
have shown a disposition To discrimin-
ate against the heavy weights. but
the line of demarkation was drawn
more noticeably this week than here
tofore. Buyers say that 1t is difficult
to get rid of the heavy cuts of beef,
while there is a strong inquiry for
the light beef. Quality is factor,
OF course. and while the little steers
were in demand. if they Were fat and
on the yearling order they were all
the more popular. The weeks re-
ceipts did not include very large
percentage of extreme weights. so
there was not much trouble export
enced lin disposing of what were here.
Compared with a week ago. good
lightweight steers arc generally 10 a.
zoe higher, and buyers call them 2oc
up. Heavy cattle are selling PRAGUE
ally in the same notch. Shippers
bourh. freely most of the week and
took a larger proportion of the receipts
than last week. which is an ADMISSION
that the demand for beef in the east
is improving.
Exporters were also good buyers and
helped the market considerably late
in the week. They bought largely at
s5o5m5.5O. which they say is as high
as they are warranted in paying WIN
the foreign markets in Il dull, sluggish
condition.
The scarcity of butcher stock TINS
week caused the common. lSht steers
to be looked at with more tavofit!s'h
and they sold very well, considering
quality.
Receipts were extremely light, ana
the market was active from the very
start. shippers and scalpers taking ho'o
readily Prices on weights desired ny
shippers, showed an advance Oh ~ "
IL cents. Packers were not IN the carry
market, and later, when buyers on or
ders and scalpers had about cohcll'aeo
operations. they came into the trace
and bid price that looked very iltae
better than steady
February receipts will round out
close to $4,000. 1t is an increase OF
about 175,0OO over last year. Since
Ian. Chicago has received nearly
600 600 hogs, or 100000 more than
last year Shipping demand has cas-
i,y been the feature Of the month
trade. Shippers have bought nearly
270. 600 hogs during the month, which,
in round figures is 100000 more than
in February, 1907. Since Jan. l Snip
ners have taken 10000 hogs more than
a year ago.
4 year ago a s7.o5 top was made,
and s6.90m7 bought the bulk. At that
time country asking price was $3.50 and
sentiment in producing circles was as
bullish as it is now bearish.
Sheep.
Sheep were nominally steady, With
practically no demand.
February sheep receipts are about
$4,000 less than year ago, and the
run since Jan. 1 is approximately $780,
600 short of the same period last year
Shipping trade has been brisk all
thru the month, and exporters have
been busy. Shipments for the montE
will be in excess of 100000, or 10000
more than last year. Since Jan. l the
Increase in shipping trade on the same
basis of comparison is about 10000.
A year ago the bulk of western lambs
made s7M7.40. Lambs and sheep We're
then close together. Country shearers
were paying $7m7.25 for lambs to take
out Exporters We're out of business,
as they could not go the pace set by
local killers. who We're paying s5.75M6|
for fat muttons. A few shorn lambs
were fetching $3.50. Yearlings We're
quoted at s5.9Om6.35. Exporters paid
as high as $3.50 for wethers. and then
quit the game. Ewes We're worth s5.25
M5.85.