Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-01-03
1910 HOGS HIGH RECORD
Lights and Piss Make Phenomenal
Rseord-Rise in March Abnormal
enormous Shortage in Supply
Compared With 1909.

into live stock history as the season OF
the great hog shortage. Compared with
1909 the six principal western markets,
Chicago. Kansas City, Omaha, st. Louis.
st. Joseph and Sioux City, rounded out
the twelve months with supply def
cheney Of approximately 100000 head.
compared with 1909, Of which 100000
is to be credited to Chicago and Kansas
City. On basis Of comparison with
1908. year Of normal supply. the short
age is about 100000 head
December according to the FORE
casters OF large and we'll matured
new pig crop, was to have turned the
supply tide and put the price list on a
new basis, but the shortage Of the cur
rent month has been OF the acute kind.
Pyrotechnical advances have marked
,hs course Of both hog and provision
.rade; all suspicion of liquidation or
fear Of lower prices Of the grower has
been eliminated. The country may re-
gard the future OF the cattle market
with skepticism. but where hogs are
concerned 1t has Astounding and deep
rooted confidence. 1t now develops
shat the price breaking November run
Of pigs and light stuff was caused not
by fear Of lower prices. but sporadic
/, outbreaks OF disease.
Less than a month ago packers man
aged to break prices about 81 per cw'.
and put up few droves below 81. but
.heir victory was brief. The second
week Of December saw re-establish-
ment Of the IS quotation with the pack
ars powerless to dictate. Instead OF
putting up 6Ec droves as they had
promised, much selling OF January
provisions having been done on that
basis. they found themselves unable TO
atisfy their fresh meat trade when
hey offered 7ec for hogs. Instead O.,
accommodating product in December
hey were facing diminishing stocks
The cash buyer taking current product
before 1t is fully cured.
Not only as to prices. but IN man!
other respects has 1t been unique
market Light hogs and pigs nave
never before sold as close to weight and
quality: in fact. for many weeks DUR
ing the summer bacon weights COM
handed substantial premium HOGS
were relatively much higher than corn
and the crop was fed out IN profitable
fashion. There were some irregular1-
ties, notably the rise OF March above
the 11-cent lire and the drop below
7-cent in in November. but most OF the
wear the market was fairly steady. The
rise Of March was due. largely to In
.errupted railroad service, the drop OF
November to bear campaign of brie:
duration from which the reaction Of 81
per cwt was prompt and emphatic
At every stage the trade has gone
against the packer. Competition for
limited supply has been keen at all
lines and the hundreds Of small kill
ers and the special-cut maker in the
.rade have insisted on getting their
share Of the crop The November mar
ket afforded some encouragement to
killers, but the grower promptly re-
asserted his ability to dominate prices
and disaster overlook those who. plac.
ing faith in the prediction Of a SWELL
ing supply. sold short.
The year 1910 demonstrated that no
surplus exists. The custom Of carry
ing AGED sows for breeding purposes
mas been practically dicontinued and
the winter market run Is now one OF
barrows, sows following the succeeding
summer after raising a crop Of pigs.
The new practice will continue until
FORK production overtakes consump-
ton.
Average prices are, Of course. an ap-
Proclamation. so far as the total crop Is
concerned. but the general level Of the
market may be ascertained with some
degree Of accuracy by the cost Of pack
er.' droves, any one of which will serve
for illustrative purposes. The figures
at which a local drove Of good butcher
mixed was purchased during the year
follow and will serve the purpose:
January %. S.4e