Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-01

year have varied greatly. mere nave
been times when the profits to rails
ers and shippers have been excellent
and there have been times also when
business was done at loss. The
amount o! business has been greater
than during 1906, with the exception Of
hogs. 1, is evident that the Brighton
and Watertown markets are losing
none Of the prestige. The slaughter
houses take large proportion Of the
sheep and lambs. calves and hogs that
are received. but most OF the beef cat
tie for the domestic trade are sold at
the yards, and the Brighton market
for mich COWS is becoming more and
more the center Of trade in New Eng
Land. The system 0; inspection gives
buyers practical guarantee of the
soundaess N cows for tuberculosis has
proved is value and will probably be
extended. in the future.
Mich COW trade suffered to some cx-
tent by tho shortness OF the no.
weather during the summer and late-
by tho general advance in the price Of
milk. which caused a marked decrease
in consumption. During most of the
year there was a good supply Of mich
cuws. The prolonged drought dried UP
the pastures and forced raiSers to send
their cows TO market For the choic"
cows. the icnvy rilkers there has
been q good demand and this grade al
ways finds ready purchasers.
The receipts Of cattle have been
somewhat larger than during 1905.
Prices If the best cattle have ranged
from 5H and ! cents n pound. and
have been i'll good demand most of the
time The receipts of cheap cows have
been large. and prices for these have
been very low. sales of bolognas and
Gamers having been made alte in the
year as low as Ia cents per pound.
while they were hard to sell at that
price. New York shippers found n bet
ter market here for their cheap cows
than in New York City, and shipped
large ns4nbers here.
The export demand for beef has re-
covered from the decline Of 1906. due
10 the agitation against our meat
products. and shipments during 1907
were active and Europe found it was
obliged to have our cattle. and that
there was no valid excuse for shutting
them out. The expectation Of dressed
meat alone has been on a large scale.
Receipts of sheep and lambs have
been heavy. particularly from the West
and Canada. The New England re-
ceipts nave come chiefly from YER
mont with Maine not far behind. The
greater part Of these receipts. and
particularly all the sheep and lambs
from the West and Canada. go direct
ly to the New England Dressed Meat
g. Wool Co. Sales OF sheep and lambs
at tho yards are very small. "a there
ar" few slaughters outside for this
stock. Prices for sheep have ranged
from 4,aNS cents. exclusive of spring
lambs.
The market for calves has held steady.
Receipts have been considerably larger
than they were during 1906 AZ Before.
most Of the veal valves came from New
England. Despite the increase supply
the demand held firm and there has
been few weeks during the year when
veal valves did not sell readily. Prices
have been as high ~ cents. and as
how as s cents pound. but Very few
sold at the low figures, and they were
of inferior quality.
Hogs have shown the greatest change
Of any kind Of livestock. The supply.
early In the year was light. both from
New England and the West. and prices
advanced to the highest figures in some
years. High prices were attained about
Feb. I. after which they fell to somc
extent. They advanced again in Oc-
.ober. but since then have suffered a
sharp decline. which carried them 70
ha in, nj ~, &c.
slump started in the West. where the
big packers refused 10 purchase ex-
cept at their own prices. There has
been some recovery from the extreme
~ low prices. at which it was impos-
slble for raiserS or shippers TO make
any profit. The receipts have fallen OF
10 largo extent since the decline.
Prices ranged from I and ~ cents per
pound. dressed weight.
Late trains have been Il constant
source of complaint during the year.
and il has been unusually for stock
to reach the yards at all promptly.
Many times the trains have been to
rate that shippers have found scarce
ly any buyers left at the yards and
have suffered accordingly. Several
suits have been brought for damag &c
to stock in transit through delay. :.
The horse market throughout 1907 Up |
to the beginning of the fall trade tran
Sacted n large amount of business sue
cessfully. Receipts were heavier than
in the preceding year and the demand
was urgent on all good quality of com-
merciai horses. Heavy drafts were
scarce. but We're constantly in active /
demand and commended the highest |
prices for years. Fresh, sound horses
Of 1000 to 1900 pounds sold readily at |
$500 and $3.50. Expresses, milk team
and general purposes horses held stead.
In value. with small fluctuations in the
duh season. and heavy supplies were
consumed BY the local trade weekly.
Western horses have ruled high
throughout the year at cost. and deal
ers have not always been able to buy
and sell at profit
With the opening Of the fall trade.
the horse market began to feel the er-
fects of the disturbances Of the money
market. with the consequence business /
restrictions and at present the gen.
erai trade is In discouraging contii- |
ton. The building Industries are re-
tarded, and contract work has fallen |