East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-12-28

Portland, Ore, Dec. 2S.-According
to official information recently given
forth by the United States govern
ment the condition of the wheat crop
OF Oregon is better than that Of any
other state In the entire union TINS
winter The nearest approach to the
perfection which the Oregon wheat
crop has attained is shown by the
neighboring fields in Idaho and
Washington. In these two states the
condition is / per cent less than in
oregon. California shows a condition
of but 80 per cent, within a fraction
of the smallest in the entire country.
Wheat crop conditions at the pres
ent time could scarcely be improved
The plants have made such headway
that they were not hurt in the least
by the recent cold weather. Under
normal conditions there would have
been severe damage, because most Of
the wheat was unprotected by snow
when the chilly weather arrived.
BY Hyman ii. Cohen.
Portland Union Stockyards, Dec. 26.
Dullness the usual holiday quiet, but
the lack of serious price losses, was
the story of the livestock market dur
ing the past week. A run that was in
all Instances smaller than a week ago
was too heavy the past week to suit
the whims of buyers and, although
there was no slashings of values,
there was little disposition to trade.
Higher prices are the rule in the
sheep market, and for select quality
still higher values than those listed
are probable. Those who have ship
ped sheep to market lately should
have little If any cause for complaint
for the prices received, for, consider
ing everything within and without the
market, the market stood at a very
high point. 1t was hard to secure
best quality of sheep in the yards dur
ing the past 10 days, and what few
head came in first class shape were
quickly disposed of, in most instances
above the values quoted. The trade
wants good quality and is quite willing
to pay for it.
Course of the Hog Market.
A decline of about 15c in the price
OF hogs in the yards here during the
past week should not be taken by the
raisers as an indication that the mar
ket is going to break, for such does
not seem the case at this period. The
run of hogs in the yards during the
week was less than half Of that which
showed a week ago, but owing to the
turkey season killers found less de-
mand for block stock The packing
houses are ~taking a holiday until af-
ter the first of the year, and for that
reason purchases made during the
meantime are simply for block trade.
This is the reason why buyers were
not inclined to buy at former prices
and why best east of the mountain
stock did not bring over s6.l5 after
the first day of the week.
Small Trade i'm Cattle.
With n small run that would have
insured a higher price during any
other week than the one just ended
the cattle market was dull during the
past six days. The class of stock
which came forward did not meet the
views Of the buyers, and they were
not inclined to bid anything over $3.50
for steers. and it took the best that
came to bring this price even to IA
nominal degree. Like the trade in
other lines of livestock during the past
week cattle were inclined to be slow,
but there is every promise of improved
conditions after the year has ended
and the new one is started.
The following Is the general range |
of values on stock running in the yards |
for late shipments:
Hogs-Best east of mountains, So
a 6.10 ordinary, Sc; blockers and
china fats, $3.50; stockers and feed
ers, S5.
Cattle-Best steers, weighing 1900
pounds, $3.50; medium steers, s4,25;
poor steers, $3.50; best cows, $3.50;
cows, $2.75@3.25; stags, $2.75
as; bulls, $2Q2.25.
Sheep-Best wethers, $4.75Q5; or
dinary wethers, $3.50; lambs, $4.75@
s. straight ewes, $4.25@4.50; mixed
lots, 81.
Veal-Choice young calves, $4.25@ !
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