Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-04-18
Smallest Receipts Of the Year,
Today, Did Not Prevent
Lower Prices
PACKERS OUT OF HOG TRADE
Shipping Demand, However, Was
Broad Enough to Take the Bulk Of
Good Offerings at Higher Prices,
About Ten Above Close Yesterday
Sheep Market About Steady.

Chicago, April 1S.-Cattle were NOM
inally steady The current week has
owing to Lenten abstinence. Receipts
We're the smallest Of the year, but this
did not prevent lower prices.
There were only $4,000 head received
this week, and only $4,000 last week.
so receipts thus far this month have
been exceptionally light. A year ago
this week receipts were $4,000 head. 1t
has been a very disappointing market
from the standpoint of the salesman
and the country shipper Demand has
been surprisingly curtailed and is ri
diculously small, compared with the
crazy desire to get the cattle a few
weeks ago. The fact is, as soon as
packers put the price of meat up to
justify the advance in that market for
the livestock, the public rebelled and
switched to something cheaper. For
two weeks it has been almost impos-
sibe to sell heavy cuts of meat. and
even now packers say their cellars
are full of it. The increasing army of
the unemployed has also added its
weight to balance, and besides the
approach of warm weather has nat
urally cut down the general consump-
ton A month ago it was impossible
to get enough cattle to fill the de-
mand, and now it looks as If packers
could close up a week or two and then
have meat left.
During the past week heavy cattle
have been particularly hard to sell and
show at least 25c decline from week
ago, and most of them are soc lower
than at the high time. Even the good
steers were hard to sell this week, If
they were weighty, and they show
about as much decline as anything on
the list Light, handy weight cattle
have receded about 1O@15c from last
weeks close The last week in Lent
beef, but this year it was worse than
usual. Traders look for a little i'm
provement in the demand next week,
tho it would not be safe to get in big
run. 1t would take some time for the
market to adjust itself.
logs.
Hog receipts were extremely llght'
and with but 5000 followers. offerings
were hardly sufficient for the needs OF
the trade. Rather than compete
against one another and put prices on
high level, packers kept out of the
trade altogether. Shipping demand was
broad enough to take the bulk of good
offerings at higher prices, and dealers
with eastern orders were in the mar
ket early. paving prices that were gen.
orally 10c above those paid at the close
yesterday.
The weeks run is about the same as
last week. but $4,000 less than year
ago Shipping demand has fallen Off
in marked degree, fewer hogs having
been taken on that account than
year ago. April receipts to date are
$4,000 less than last year. while ship
pers have taken $4,000 more. Lack OF
shipping demand has been made more
perceptible this week than earlier in
the month, and packers have been able
to make good progress with their bear
campaign.
A week ago $500 was the top and
s5.95m6.O5 took the bulk, the decline
of the week being 20@25c.
Sneep.
Sheep were steady, prices closing a
little stronger lIldu WEN o6o'
Following the 25@35c decline last
week, the market has had another
drop. Monday found buyers in very
bearish mood, but supply was light ana
a lot of stuff sold a dime higher, handy
Colorado lambs with the wool on max
ing 1915, clipped lambs 1925 and
clipped sheep $615. Tuesday found
handy lambs and sheep steady, Whlle
unfinished and heavy grades were 100
15c lower. Wednesday developed the
bad spot of the week, putting the
s7.75 lamb out of circulation.
Thursday saw little Improvement,
5m1Oc being put on, and Friday in
jected more life. Lent being over, 1T
is a reasonable presumption that the
market will pick up next week.
Chicago livestock.