Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-19
PRIME STEERS TEN TO FIFTEEN
LOWER, BUT BUTCHER STOCK
GENERALLY STEADY.
HOG PRICES CLOSE ON
LEVEL WITH LAST WEEK.
Market Looked About Five Higher,
Early, But Packers Refused to Pay
the Advance in Values, Which Fell
Somewhat - Sheep Ten to Fifteen
Lower on Most Offerings.

Chicago, April l9.-Cattle-Steers
were slow and Irregular. Prices for
prime We're 10 to Is cents lower, while
those of plain quality ruled steady, tho
demand for any class was rather tame.
Butcher stock was generally steady,
and good cows and heifers We're
scarce and in good request at the pre-
vailing price levels. Stockers and feed
ers We're in meager supply.
Local buyers have been extremely
hard to trade with lately and COM
plain that beef is higher than the
consumer wants to pay. Wholesale
rates on dressed beef have been low
cred some, but that has failed to slim
ulate any noticeable activity in the
market at the retail counter. Lack of
purchasing power on the part of the
consumer is the cause of most of the
Depression This condition is worse in
the east than here, tho it is felt ev-
erywhere. Many of the small butchers
in the east have been instructing their
representatives here to buy fewer cat
tie and to get lighter ones. AS long as
the situation is in this shape there
is not much hope of getting materially
better prices for cattle and a heavy
supply at any time will surely result
in a bad break in the market.
Hogs.
Activity on the part of spectators
and shippers early, made the market
look about 3 cents higher early, but
when packers came in and refused to
pay the advance, values went to a level
about steady with the closing prices
last week. The supply was liberal, 49,
600 followers being placed on sale in
addition to "a 600 fresh arrivals.
1t has been plainly evident for some
time that shippers found prices too
high to suit the way fresh pork was
selling in the east. They had been the
backbone of the trade for a long time
and We're directly responsible for the
elevated prices. They We're also re-
sponsihle for the elbow up" in the
market last week by withdrawing
their patronage. 1t is hard to tell what
effect the hard jolt will have on the
country, but most traders are of the
opinion that it will check receipts this
week and possibly result in the market
getting back on an even keel Re-
ceipts for the week total about 49, 900,
against $4,000 previous week and
10000 a year ago. The weeks ship
ments were $4,000, against $4,000 last
week. At the five markets the total
for the week stands at 100000 against
100000 previous week and $4,000 a
year ago.
Sheep.
Sheep We're 10 to Is cents lower. on
most stuff offered. Lambs made up the
major part of receipts and those show
ing good quality. found ready sale.
There has been a, noticeable dis
elimination for a week against the
heavy grades of both sheep and lambs.
At this time of the year demand at
the retail shops is largely for the light
cuts, and killers are finding some diff
ficulty in getting rid of the heavy
grades
Reports from Colombo are to the
effect that about everything is shipped
out from that country and in few
weeks it will all have been marketed
| Colorado feeders say they We're well
pleased with the prices they received
this year, but they needed them, for
! it cost more to finish the lamb and
the gains We're lighter than usual.
Receipts of sheep at the five prin-
cipal markets in the past week total
$4,000 head, against 1890 previous
week and $4,000 a year ago.