Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-01-15
MARKET NOTES

Whatever prospects of decent horse
market at Chicago existed Monday
spent it's force yesterday. Buyers were
more apathetic than they have been
lately and many were bidding below
country cost. Not one of the eastern
markets reports anything doing and
none Of the big dealers seems to be able
to offer even a plausible solution Of the
trouble. One New York man, who says
he has done less business this winter
than ever before at similar season,
insists that the mild, springlike tenn
peratures are to blame. Another says
that the industrial unrest, which pre-
walls all over the country, Is at fault.
People do not know about the income
tax, merchants are as yet uncertain
about the tariff there is lot of talk
about Argentina and Canadian corn
and oats and so forth, the net results
that most people who need or at least
should need horses are up in the air
and doing nothing. A third blames the
automobile and the auto truck for the
stagnation in the horse business and
and take your choice.
Whatever Is the reason, there are
not orders enough here this week SEEM
ingly to take more than half of the 500
fresh horses on hand. Concessions In
price do little to effect sales. Such buy
ers as have orders seem to be willing to
pay late rates for their goods, but the
volume Of their trade is not great
enough to absorb the receipts. Prices
are substantially without change, but
with downward tendency, trend Of
business being distinctly in favor OF
buyers. Top so far reported is 1855,
with but one at that price. General run
Of farm geldings make from $40 to
1910, bulk about $40 or below, farm
mares $3.50 to 1920. bulk $3.50 to $3.50 for
good sorts.
Corn traders In general are less bear
ish than Of late The news that Argen-
tina has sold all it's good old corn was
taken as significant. Some OF those who
were in the pit all day said traders have
sold too much short corn the past two
days. and that the market was in shape
to do some better. There was a lot Of
gossip about the buying Of offers on
100000 bu by Lamson. as they have
been free sellers of late. Southwestern
houses were sending bearish messages
and selling orders here early in the day.
A few reports from down state said the
cold weather had started the shelters,
and some increase might be expected in
the movement. The purchase Of May in
the pit by large shipper toward the
last was taken as indicating a big
SllpplnS BUSINESS. II WAS SdlQ ny lHOSe
who knew, however, that the buying
represented cash business spread over
| several days. Largest holders Of cash
corn here are said to be selling freely
at prices that make it difficult for 9TH
ers to compete.
Sentiment in oats is more divided.
Trading is light, and specialists are not
looking for the market to do much for
the present.
A great many traders are bullish on
wheat, but are not buying to any ex-
tent. The fact that prices have not de-
clined sharply during the recent de-
cline in CORN is regarded by some good
traders as evidence Of a strong position
| A revival Of the demand from seaboard
exporters, here and in the southwest, ID
taken by them as indicating a good
| healthy feature. Local exporters said
that had May sold at e11sc yesterday
there would have been a much larger
business done in hard wheat. At the
same time New York messages said
that less than three-quarters Of the
wheat recently sold from Chicago to
exporters there had been sold abroad
1t was the gossip in certain quarters
that the leading long interest is selling
| its wheat as fast as possible on all
| strong spots.
Wheat traders call attention to the
| light movement in southwestern mar
l:ets, as compared with 1912. During
the month Of December ST. Louis re-
ceived 100000 blu, against $4,000 bu the
previous year, Kansas City 100000 bu
against 100000 bu the preceding year
! AS the crop Of winter wheat was larger
| than last year, they believe this show
| ing has more significance than most
| men in the trade are aware Of, and
should not be overlooked, as it Is of as
much Importance as is the movement In
| the northwest.
Irregularity prevailed in the cash
| corn markets Of the west yesterday. the
| prices at Chicago being unchanged to
| 1c lower, with shipping sales Of 200. OOC
blu, rumors Of 100000 bu being sold by
one cash handler proving to be without
| foundation. st. Louis reported a good
demand. with prices A@1c higher
| while Kansas City and Peoria were
unchanged to kc lower, Omaha Nc
| higher to &c lower, the latter on low
grades, while Milwaukee was h@1c
lower. Demand at Minneapolis was slow
and prices nc lower.
An excellent demand for cash wheat
| existed Tuesday, details Of which will
| be found in another column. Sales tr
all positions, for export and to sea
board exporters aggregated 425,0OO bu
, including 100000 bu for direct export al
Kansas City, a cargo of $4,000 bu
| Manitobas to Portugal and 5000 bU
| hard winter from Omaha and Chicago
to seaboard exporters.
! Wheat prices at Kansas City and St
Louis were unchanged, Omaha un-
changed to Nc lower and milwaukee,
| unchanged To nc lower. No. 1 hard
spring at Minneapolis sold at &c owe,
! May, while No. I northern was 1c owe,
| to 11ac under May.
Cash oats prices were ii az lowe,
at Chicago and Omaha yesterday. shin.
ping sales at the farmer market beine
10000 blu. st. Louis was. unchanged tC
| Nc higher Kansas City unchanged tf
| Nc lower, Peoria 1ac lower and Mi.
waukee unchanged to nc lower. No.
white oats at Minneapolis were in tail
demand at 3A @4c under Chicago MAY
/ Export business in wheat yesterda,
was checked by the strength in the
market, but fair sales were made. Kan.
sas City confirmed 100000 blu sol6
abroad during the day, while Omaha
! made sales Of $4,000 bu direct to the