Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-07

ed their purchases. making it easier for
the big concerns to keep the market in
stock. Quality was strictly good all
month and the price range was narrow,
with weighty lots selling at discount.
Grains this week on the Chicago
market will run from 10626c with the
closing prices the highest unless the
action. 1t has been hard shedding to
force prices beyond the SS.e5 level but
Fridays market raised the ante to $S.95
and the tone strong one There APP
pears good demand for pigs and these
had the biggest advance on Thursday.
Compared with year ago receipts
are some 10000 smaller and the price
difference about soc, the top then be-
inc $40 for the same period. st. Louis
is again on a Lasis with Chicago prices.
Kansas. City about 15c under and
Omaha zoe under
Sheep Prices Uneven.
Though receipts at Chicago and west
ern points have been moderate In the
run Of sheep and lambs this week, it
has done little to help the seller East
ern call for mutton has not been brisk
and next week is expected to see a
further sag in the demand from quar-
ter as coolers are reported Well filled
for the eastern trade The total run
this week falls short about 10000 head
unofficial count being 1921 compared
with S2,316 for the same period year
ago.
In speaking Of the available supply
center for sheep the Chicago Live
Stock World has the following to say
If accurate data was available Iowa
would probably be found to be the
union. having actually passed Colo-
RADIO this season, owing to limited oper-
atoms in the Arkansas valley .conse-
quent on high cost of hay. That Iowa
fed over million head this season is
admitted. The stuff began running
early and has been maintaining lively
clip. At the end Of January the trade
was confident that the Hawkeye state
had blown its Wad, but all through
February Chicago receipts from that
state were heavy. The trade was de-
ceived in the distribution Of the stun.
Much Of 1t went into the hands OF
former cattle feeders who had the fay-
orable example Of neighbors OF the
previous year. Owing to high cost Of
feed most Of the regular Iowa oper-s
ators were skeptical and did not fill up,
but thousands Of former feeders took
on sheep and lambs, and save in rare
In stances they have made money AS
the season advanced corn got cheaper
and the entire winter was ideal for
iAhhiuS CIIcdp grains. lOWav was en-
joyfng ideal weather, stock running in
cornfields at minimum expense OF
course it was bet on the weather and
the feeder won out. but continued
scarcity of stock cattle means that
Iowa will be a heavy purchaser Of thin
western sheep and lambs next fall.
probably to the extent Of one and one
half million head.
Unevenness has been an outstanding
feature Of the weeks trade. and at the
close the market Is showing a very ir-
regular basis as compared with week
ago There has been good, active de-
mand throughout for finished light and
tidyweight lambs, particularly wooded
stock weighing from 80 pounds down.
Such are fully as high as week ago.
the closing top, in fact. being SC high
er. Prime light shorn lambs are also
quotable up to last weeks best closing
levels, but on all other classes lambs
show a weak to Csc lower basis, with
heavy and inbetween shorn stock lack
ing finish taking the most decline.
Light yearlings are closing a point
yearlings and top notch grades Of sheep
as strong to little higher. though big
weight yearlings are practically on
sheep basis. Plain and medium grades
Of yearlings and aged muttons, both
ewes and wethers, are not now salable
10 quite as gOOO advantage as week
ago
The trade Is by no means sanguine
Of their ability to hold current prices
the coming week. The last week Of
Lent is a bad one in the dressed meat
trade. and while continuance Of good
call for prime light lambs for the
Easter market Is expected the first half
of next week to supply city trade,
Easter needs will then have been sup
piled. Colorado has loaded heavily for
next weeks market. advices indicating
the loading Of ESQ cars and while no.
big runs are expected from other
sources they will need be light, espe-
cially in the event of eastern live mar
kets getting fair runs and any swelling
Of the marketward movement Of Texas
grass muttons, which will be season.
able most any time now.
Demand for feeding stock has been
narrow the past few days and latest
sales Of the few odd loads Of lambs
available have been 15@25c lower than ,
Monday, when choice reached $7.35 al
good I 1 pound class selling late yes
terday at s. and right desirable light
feeders down to $3.50.
B. F.. F