Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-12-16
SUDDEN CHANGE IN WEATHER
CAUSES APPREHENSION BUT
TURNS OUT ALL RIGHT.
CORN MOVEMENT IS ON
Fall Of Cont and Halt to Half to Two
and Half a Bushel Comes With
Bettsrment Of Country
Roads.

and Half a Bushei Comes With
Bettsrn1ent Of Country
Roads.
Chicago Dec. 15.-Business in COM
| mercial circles on the Chicago board OF
| trade during the week just closed was
] fairly good. The leading speculative
markets were quite active. but trading
still largely for local account or be-
| tween the other grain exchanges. Crop
advices from the southern hemisphere
were again quite a factor III shaping
values, more especially wheat, also the
trend of values in the leading markets
, Of the old world. Domestic weather
conditions were also an influence IN
! making prices for coarse grains. the
| movement Of grain and reported sup
plies in sight the world over were other
important influences in the cereal list.
Transactions in cash grain were OF
somewhat larger proportions. Receipts
Of produce increasing and shipments
only fair. Colder weather was favorable
| for enlarging the interior mar1et1ngs OF
grain, and receivers are hopeful or
broadening trade in the near future
Weather Favorable.
Weather conditions in this country
during the past week were more sea-
sonable The lower temperature was
helpful in drying out corn and placing
| the crop in understandable condition.
Quality Of the receipts this week was
| better. but most Of the high grade came
from the northwest. The sudden advent
Of cold weather. with little or no snow
protection to winter wheat, caused
growers In the southwest some appre-
hension. AS growth this fall was abnor-
NAL, it left the plant soft and placed it
in condition where sudden and severe
freezing weather might work heavy
damage. The condition is now reported
as very high because Of rank growth
and state reports, as far as received.
show a much higher average than last
year. Pasturage Is still in fair condi-
ton, and reports from the interior
showed less disease among swine.
The movement Of grain from the
farms and interior elevators during the
past week was again Of fair proper
lions. Weather conditions were. on the
whole, more favorable for handling
grain in the interior. and the arrivals
at. the leading terminals made a fair
| showing. Deliveries in the northwest
showed considerable shrinkage, while
in Canada the movement Is still very
FIR, but with the advent Of rough
Wea Their Is expected to show heavy
falling off. In the west and southwest
the movement Of grain was very fair,
and in the middle west was moderate
ly enlarged. Locally the receipts in the
aggregate were more liberal. Consign-
ments enlarging and more new corn
coming, while purchases to arrive were
larger. \ The shipments Of grain east
ward were fair. and arrivals of wheat
at the seaboard continue liberal, but
small of other cereals Exports OF
breadstuffs enormous and limited Of
corn.
A little better trade was witnessed in
the market for cash grain during the
past week. Consignments a little larg-
er, and purchases to arrive more lib
eral Wheat was in very fair request on
milling and export account, but sales
were smaller than last week. Premiums
on winters little changed. Corn sold
moderately we'll, but there was no urg-
ency in the demand. Prices lower fol-
lowing futures. Oats in fair request and
moderate supply. Prices were compar-
ativeIy steady. Eastern demand fair
Rye ruled firm. Demand moderate. Bar
ley in larger supply and IN moderate
request Market rather easy. Seeds were
inactive and prices steadier. Hay was
in moderate supply and fair demand
Prices were steady.
WHEAT-Rather more interest CEN
tered about this market the past week,
and trading was Of good volume. The
feeling prevalent, while mixed was firm
at the finish, and the close showed the
December up M@1c, while May gained
&c and July lost A@Ac. Situation at
the start was quite strong and values
being due in the main to the return Of
unsettled and rainy weather in Argen-
tine, with disappointing yields and
poor quality reported in the early har-
vested wheat. European markets, too,
were a little higher, and the colder
weather southwest and heavy exports
also proved supporting factors. May
advanced to 923ac and July to S9hc,
when the selling became more pro-
the domestic visible supply proving
quite a disappointment to holders, and
much liquidation followed. May react
ed to 91Nc and July to SSA @8SBc,
around which figures a BETTE: class Of
buying developed. The smalle- market
ings toward northwestern distributing
centers, stronger tone abroad. and
some further buying Of futures here for
foreign account helped bring about the
change in sentiment and shorts" COW
cred freely on the advance which fol-
lowed, May selling to 92# and July to
89hc. Part Of the buying was on con-
tinued cold weather and absence Of
snow protection In parts Of the belt,
and the decrease in supplies abroad. A
local crop authority, in commenting on
the effect of the cold weather on the
crop, said: 1.-THE abnormal growth Of
wheat this fall, leaving it soft and
sappy, and without any gradual hard
ening to cold weather. puts it in con-
dition where sudden and severe freez-
ing weather might work heavy damage
The fact that condition is now reported
very high because Of rank growth above
ground must not be taken as any in
dication of capacity to withstand win
ter trials. The contrary is more apt to
be true because with warm weather
and abundant surface moisture the
tendency is to make tops instead Of
roots. At moderate dry, cool fall is the
best preparation for winter wheat"
The domestic visible supply increas-
ed 4,071,000 bu, as compared with s.
ST. 900 bu addition same week in 1912,
and now totals 72,127,Ooo bu, including
the bonded wheat in this country, or
6,363,0O0 blu more than last year.
Winter wheat in store held quite firm
ly and was quotably 7@8c over Decem-
Der, and ranged at 94A @97Ac. Track
lots Chicago billing was quoted 8Q8hc