Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-23
CATTLE WE'RE ABOUT STEADY
THO TRADE WAS SLOW AND
WEAK TARUouT.
MORRIS COMPANY ENABLED
TO TRANSACT SOME BUSINESS
Packers, Having Practical Control Of
Hog Market, Able to Force Price Re-
ductions Generally Of About 10 Cents
sheep and Lamb Trade Democrat.
ICED in All Branches.

C1iCago, Dec. 2o.-Cattle prices were
about steady, tho il was a slow. weak
.Crade from start to finish. A read
justmeut Of the situation caused by the
fire in the beef houses of Morris & Co,
yesterday was MADE, SO tina 1t Was
possible for this house 10 buy 20 some
extent 20 Keep pace with the demand
u is ely iraue.
Ine process contemplated the secur-
ing OF one OF the otner packing plants
Tor the killing of sucn cattle as they
bought. Buying proceeded slowly ana
the finish was rather late iii the DAY,
there being notnias OF good Qua4lty on
ne market, Butcher cattle We're eA-
ceptional!y dul! and even weaker than
yesterday.
Suyp.y igure continue buiiish, Blu;
the cattle market OF the week prior 10
Christmas is never a ROBUST affair and
a lew thousand head more MS week
would nave eXerted a para!yziag lnaa-
euce. Shippers, who filled orders We'd
aesday. taking about one-ihird the sup
ply, explained mat purchases made
Thursday would not reach eastern
destinations until Monday. when no
killing would De done, necessitatlnS
carrying over. Their advices were that
the beef market was stagnant. coupled
with Instructions to go slow. Local
buyers old that stunt Wednesday, as
they never followed the early market
which was made almost exclusively by
outsiders.
There were about 10000 cattle at the
five principal western markets yes,er-
day, making a four-day run OF about
40, 900, against 171,0oo last week A
year ago III run was only 10000,
showing that current supply is heavy
TOR the holiday season.
Sharp switching OF conditions from a
builish to very bearish aspect effects a
state Of extreme uncertainty regarding
the probable ,urn OF affairs next Mon
DAY. Aitho that day will be officially
observed as Christmas IN all other lines
of commerce the livestock market will
he open as usual. but in view of the
disgustingly weak state OF demand
right now, Int a heavy decline from
the recent high point, a light dose Of
receipts viii likely be all that will find
decent outlet. II Is up to the country
10 take cognizance of the new turn in
affairs and cut next Mondays receipts
TO the minimum. Market will be a
very bad place TO drop anything like
u o1As IL Ian AN A4oSS
been wishing for a normal supply next
Monday surely their actions yesterday
were not conducive to getting 1t here.
Evidently a few cattle Will suffice
next week and the Monday session will
not do the shipper any good If 10000
or more arrive. After next week. when
holiday beef stuffs have been cleaned
up and poultry is reiegated to a back
seat, the market is expected to act bet
ter, as beef makers are not carrying
heavy stocks and Chicago territory
contains the bulk Of the visible supply
of marketable beef. Very little Is
available at Missouri river markets
and the season Is not vet far enough
advanced for competition from east
ern beef makers.
Hogs.
Packers were IN almost complete
control Of the hog market and were
able to force price reductions. Values
were steady with the close yesterday,
at the opening Of the session, and sales
were made as high as 1895 but the sup
port at this level came from the scalp.
ers and a few buyers with eastern
orders. The demand from these quart
.ers was by no means sufficient to alb
serb the offerings and with a cessation
Dl tllS inquiry pdcheIe loOh COItIOI dUQ
forced a decline OF about 5 cents. put
ting the market about 10 cents under
the best time Of the previous day.
Supply conditions are still bullish.
altho there were a few more hogs IN
the map than last week. the d prtn-
cipal points having about $1,000 against
.A4.00o last week and $4,000 a year ago.
but the four-day run at these points
this week is only $4,000. against 277,-
coo las, week and $4,000 a ear ago.
Shipping demand is easily the price
making factor. Attic four-day re-
aeipts here this week are only 10000
against 100. 600 last week, shippers ave
taken about $4,000. or only 1000 less
han last week, so that the slice Of the
crop falling to the share OF local kill
rs is small. December receipts to date
are 5000 less than last year. while
shippers have taken $4,000 more. The
hogs packers are not getting. blu which
they need in the worst way, are num-
erous.
The January provision deal Is un-
doubtedly exerting an influence. The
peculiar idiocity hat prompted free
selling Of January product on . ba sis
OF SIC hogs Is now apparent. Stun
has been sold that can not be made in
time for that delivery and those who
had temerity to do it are paying the
penalty.
In the provision pit enormous short
interests have been covered, but 1t is
not believed that the shorts are all in.
Cash men report a good inquiry for
January n February shipment, al
tho spot trade is quiet. The sweet
pickle market Is strong, with offerings
light and a fair demand. A provi-
sion man sums up the situation In this
language: with heavy sales for fu-
ture delivery. both in cash and options.
with a possible strike ahead that would
put hog receipts to a much lower mark
than they already are, and with no
possibility OF increasing u stocks this
side OF March 1, I believe that the mar
ket will work higher, but it has had q
big advance and some reaction seems
due"
Sheep.
Sheep and amb trade was dull. Prices
where there were changes were on the
side OF lower levels. Late tra0e ln a..
branches was SO thoroughly democrat
lied that sellers were willing to let
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