Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-05

ly watched by the trade. Arrivals at
Fort Worth continue scanty and this
weeks receipts Of quarantine stun at
river markets are meager Texas
has been going wet persistently, an
other downpour being reported all over
the state this week. filling water holes
and insuring feed abundance. Until
flies get bad in south Texas cattlemen
down that way will be in excellent
position to nurse the market. The
Texas shipping season is usually a
feast and famine affair and If the run
of grassers from that quarter can be
distributed at all equitably, a more
stable market will be assured.
Mexican Movement Stops.
The movement across the Rio
Grande has practically stopped and
few Mexican cattle are expected the
rest Of the season Both federalists
and constitutionalists are anxious to
reduce the duty which reached pro-
hibitive level recently. but with 200
miles of the Mexican border cattle are
as scarce as in Labrador. The move
ment through Galveston has stopped
entirely According to advices from
Texas, beef is very scarce everywhere.
After orders had been placed by the
government last week at Galveston
there was not enough stuff in that
city to stock lunch counter. In case
a Mexican campaign Is necessary ev-
erything slaughtered in Mexico will
be needed for army and naval purpos-
es. Trade experts figure that even a
brief scrimmage below the Rio Grande
would result in material advances in
cattle values all over the country.
Since the recent decline market senti-
ment is more optimistic, nobody is TAX
ing higher prices, but the new scale
Of values find the trade In more opti-
mistic mood. Cost to the consumer
has not been reduced, but the bargin
of the killer and distributor has been
increased and they have more incen-
tive to push sales. Reports from Tex
be better Generous rains have fallen
everywhere during. the past week,
cattle are still putting on tallow and
as two months remain In which to
market the crop no haste is discern
able. Meanwhile every week Of mod
crate shipments reduce the visible
supply and the present prospect Is
Of without the usual price smashing
performance.
Argentine Cattle Diseased.
Argentina is being scourged by foot
and mouth disease as never before.
Calves of the 1913 crop have sue
cumbed to its ravages by the hundred
thousand. England and Ireland are
both quarantined and apprehension ex-
lists that traffic with South America
of the scourge in the United States.
Should that ever happen the bars will
be put up against Argentine beef for
all time to come. Free trade having
failed to reduce beef and mutton cost
to the consumer, its champions are
dividing their time between accusing
the packers of responsibility and pro-
testing that Argentine imports pre-
vented much higher cattle market this
year. AS matter of fact, imports
have exerted no influence on retail cost
but the industrial depression has SO
curtailed consumption that the pro-
Queer has suffered.
The extent Of this depression is not
generally understood. even in sections
where it's influence is most felt, and
pay roll pairing by railroads has ex-
erted a paralyzing influence.
Cattle receipts this week were about
up to expectations, the run of 47,462,
unofficial, is but few hundred head
more than estimated.
Scarcity of calves Of the beef breeds
Is market at every trading point on
the map and word comes from Texas
that breeders are all disposed to con-
slider offers for their spring crop that
would have had a bonanza sound a
$3.50 has been paid for 4S5-pound
calves and when the. feeder takes
them on around $40 per head he must
handle them sagaciously to make a
profit In Texas offers of $35 for
calves have been turned down and II
the southwest gets good crop corn
belt feeders will be able to get a few
~ ,{y,4 hot
Feeders had a surfeit Of heavy cattle
last fall, consequently current elaine
Is for yearlings and light stuff At
Kansas City, 1925 Is common price
for short yearlings.
Prices Back to January.
Concentration Of bear energy at Chi
cago has put that market out Of line
with, OF relatively lower prices that
at the other hog trade centers. This
is expected to check the slump now in
progress but that the common price is
headed toward So finds no serious dis
pute, Shrinkage in the visible supply
Of hogs notwithstanding.
Hogs struck the lowest points since
January this week at $3.50. The top
this week at $3.50 on Mondays mar
ket was just shade above last week,
were the lowest unless some late trad
ing today bring prices down further.
Chicago's April hog run Is but 49,
600, the)lighest for the month since
1893. The country, however, shows a
disposition to cut loose on the break,
thus reversing the policy it has con-
sistently followed all winter, signifying
that bullish sentiment has disappeared.
The commission interest is not encour-
aging growers to hold mature hogs and
with any sort Of May run further
soc decline would cause no surpriSa