Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-09-13

| chicago, sept. 13.-Ihere was lar
! trade III steers today and the general
market was about steady. Western
cattle sold at about steady prices.
For two days this week supply stands
/ $1,000 and OF this crop there nave been
! 1900 western rangers. General run
! compared with 22,S6l a week ago and
41177 year ago. but in view of the
! moderate supply this week bad action
of Mondays trade came as a surprise
to sellers. 1t was a case Of packers lay
! ing back on Monday until the shipper
| then the slaughter began. The extent
to which prices were hammered may
! be judged when it is stated that steers
which sold at s1.65 early in the day
were no better than kinds of like
weight which had to take $40 on the
close. The last selling was considered
% cents lower than last Thursday, al
tho this, along with numerous other
sales at like decline, was an extreme
Instance. General market at close
Monday showed 1920 cents break. and
even some $3.50 500 grades which
were cashed after noon in that session
V ere worth at least 10 cents more early
in the day. Mondays buy for the
packers was thus on a cheap basis. all
things considered, but it was by no
means as satisfactory deal to the
sellers.
Supply situation hardly calls for
price drubbng, sellers say. since the
general run at six markets thus far in
the week is only 10000 in excess of
week ago. when the Labor holiday put
supplies below normal. A year ago
these points had 139. 900, an increase Of
% 600 over the two days run at six
markets this week.
High beef cost and sluggish move
lnent in consumer channels are the
packer argument for bearish action in
the trade This same argument has
beer brought to bat for weeks past ev-
cry time the killers have attempted 70
break the market, but it is significant
fact that they have been operating on
a hand-to-mouth beef basis for some
weeks past.
Hogs were weak. being to 10 cents
lower on the good shipping and butcher
stuff, while the bulk Of packing sorts
went about like those Of yesterday.
A numerous enough showing Of little
pigs ranging from sixty pounds down
| is being made to indicate that swine
health in many sections are not all that
is 10 be desired. One year ago not
enc of these little-weight Lilliputians
was to be found where forty show up
these days, and the sequel is obvious
If this keeps up for some weeks
longer a big pig crop is admitted
by shippers from various sections as
all nc e~r No
out to cruise the prospective hog
crop, but this marketing of little, i'm
mature stuff is rapidly reducing that
portion OF the crop that would have
been convertible into a big surplus If
carried on TO good weight.
The packers and the railroads and
some of the paper people are inclined
TO think there is a big surplus crop of
pigs The wish is father to the thought
with the first two classes. There are
spots on the map where the porcine
population looks very dense. but that is
no, in comparison with normal condi-
lions.
America is the only country on the
face of the globe where there is any
thing approximating an average crop
of pigs. And our crop is only in spots
There are big sections in the south
west and on the Pacific coast and
places in the east where there is a
shortage instead q, g surplus
Then there is not a little loss from
sickness. Herds in a good many popu-
lous sections have suffered from this
and are liable to suffer more.
Il is granted that at this season the
packers have a right TO expect a good
; mai ,est ant consequently harvest
prices. but conditions in this regard are
changing not a little.
The old days of enormous winter
marketing and packing during cold
months at extremely low prices are
past The hog business IS not so much
a seasonal affair as il used to be. Two
crops of pigs are raised in many places
and there is no reason why there
should rot in future he a more even
distribution Of supply and demand and
prices.
Sheep.
Sheep and lambs were 10 to Is cents
higher.