Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-17

IllaTketS fTlQdy COIaleQ oo,OUU, OF o,uoO
less than the previous Friday, 29, 100
more than year ago and 2s,s00 more
than the corresponding day two years
ago. Chicago and ST. Paul had more
h ,gs than week ago, but other mar
kets either had only the same number
or less and the decreases were most
numerous Practically every western
market had more than year ago, but
Buffalo and Pittsburg had less. Total
for five days this week. 100000. or 49,
900 more than the same time last week,
900 more than the like period year
ago and $4,000 more than the CORES.
ponding five days two years ago. Total
for 1912 to date, 100000, or 100000
more than the same period 1911 and
1.513,00O more than the corresponding
time 1910. Z.
Cattle.
Cattle were 1ominally steady. Ex-
pected small receipts next week be-
cause of the coming of Lent made
prices uncertain.
So suaroe have been the choicer
grades this week that there is no ma
terial difference In values for them as
compared with last week. They went
little higher for a time Wednesday,
in the early dealing that day-but tho
close of the Wednesday market showed
the advance all gone, and since then
conditions affecting higher grade steers
have not been materially changed. al
tho the situation, due to the close
proximity CT the Lenten season, Is by
no means encouraging to prospects of
a right good demand for any class Of
steers in the first days next week, no
matter whether the supply then is
moderate or not
The proba bility is that the crop will
be generous. There are. in fact, a lot
of traders looking for excessive steer
supplies despite the warnings which
have gone forth to the effect that a
big run will have a distressingly bad
influence. Cars are available to feed
ers in many quarters now. however.
who were not able to get them in re-
cent weeks owing to cold weather con-
ditions and the general tie-up of roll
ing stock and if the car orders are all
filled today and Sunday, there will be
a big influx Of cheap and medium
priced cattle These are due to come
firing of feeding high priced corn in
conditions now are not much worse
than they have been in recent weeks.
and the further into the season the
better the prospect for let-up in gen.
erous marketings, since 1t is pretty
generally concluded that before many
weeks have elapsed that long expected
beef shortage. direct result Of high
priced corn and smaller feeder output
last fall is likely to materialize. The
feeder who would cash his cattle now
in face of a prospect Of running against
a big run at market at time when
the beef demand is now low and facing
the opening of Lent, must figure that
things are going to the bad indeed a
few weeks ahead. bat that kind of
reckoning is not general among traders
at market
Conditions affecting the general Sit
uation have been told over and over
again in this column in recent weeks.
The country should be as well posted
by this time as regards the Partially
for weight and quality at market. as
are the local traders themselves.
Scarcity of the heavy gr9des and a
good beef trade demand for them is the
secret of all the wide price spread at
this time, which affords dandy out
let for stuff worth above $500 and
right close up to $500, If it Is prime
enough
Tops this week sold at $3.50 for load
lots and few head went at $3.50 q
SIS, against a $500 top for over load
Of prime 1868 pound steera last week,
while a year ago this week the top
notch was $3.50, and there were, then
few above 1915. It was time when
the markets were crowded with good to
choice heavy beeves in contrast to the
dire scarcity of like classes just now.
Still the general range Of common to
pretty good warned-up and short.fed
steers at this time is not much better
than was the case q year ago, the
cheap kind then going down to 5000
$50, such as is the case now, while for
| bulk Of the pretty good grades 1t was a
s5.7596.25. deal then, while the same
kinds are going today largely at $3.50
6.75 II.
Receipts in five days this week stand
$1,000. against 5O,537 a week ago, and
56,957 a year ago, while the shippers
have taken 2 800 Of this crop. against
21,056 a week ago and 24,s36 a year
ago. In the west the total at six mar
kets this week, including Chicago, has
| been i5I ,00U, All increase CO cn!y 4ann
over a week ago and $1,000 less than
a year ago.
| Sheep.
Sheep and lambs were steady at yes