Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-18

chicago, Dec. fS.-AOgS were active
today and prices generally strong. For
choice grades $3.50 was reported as the
early top. The close was slightly
weaker and light hogs were hard to
sell.
Local supply has swelled materially
this week, but prices have not suffered
seriously, yesterdays trade being right
up with that of a week ago. The five
day run here is about $4,000, against
100000 last week Evidently several
weeks of such receipts will be needed
to put killers on Easy street, as fresh
meat demand is so insistent that the
accumulation amounts to nothing The
weekly provision estimate, published
elsewhere, shows that since December
the stock of mess pork has actually
decreased, that only a few tierces of
lard have been accumulated and that
but few ribs are being stored away.
Cattle.
Cattle were nominally steady. Clos
ing prices were higher than they were
at the low time of the current week,
this being due to the sharp recovery on
Thursday, which advanced values
from 10@25 cents compared with the
prices of Wednesday.
Revival of activity in demand Thurs
day and Friday has been the most
pleasant experience sellers have enjoy
ed in long time. After a period Of
constantly dropping prices for over a
week, In which the market for some
steers went down as much as 81
from high point and biggest share of
sales of common to good were 60@75
cents lower, the turn about of condi-
lions in trade has revived sellers hopes
all around, but there is still danger of
flooded market again and another re-
action toward low levels early next
week, since the conditions over the
corn belt are not much improved. How
ever, the bracing up of prices since
Wednesday may have the effect of i'm
parting some courage among feeders
who might wish to ship. The demand,
altho broad, is still not of strength
sufficient to care for another excessive
run at the start next week without ef-
fecting serious breaks from the mend
ed prices " in force.
Shippers activity in the trade since
early Wednesday has been the chief
factor in boosting prices. Thursday
shipments were 1o,4s4, an unusually
liberal supply, which included good
many cattle that were held from the
Wednesday market. The big outside
buying of late has run total shipments
for Ave days this week up to $4,000, an
increase of $500 overaa week ago, and
thus 1t has been the outside buyers
who were the big factors in imparting
strength to the badly weakened mar
ket
Packers, however, have had use for
a big amount of beef turnout the
weeks period of price depression which
has just passed. They bought big
pile of cheap beef in that time and APP
parently it was needed by them, wheth-
er cheap or not. Coolers. however. are
now heavily filled with beef, and altho
the market has taken a new lease of
life, the situation does not warrant
heavy shipping for next weeks trade.
Having feasted on low prices the kill
ers apparently enjoy the experience
and are likely to repeat the bitter dose
on getting another opportunity such as
has been afforded them until within the
pas. two days.
Sheep.
Sheep and lambs were low and it is
doubtful if the very best lambs the
market could afford at this time would
bring over $3.50.