Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-09-22
James v. Curran

many years. On the other hand. indus
trial depression has been aggravated by
the European war, and idle mechanics
and laborers are not heavy consumers
of meats. Claims Of an enormous pig
crop may be taken with the proverbial
grain of salt. Sows were also killed off
by the thousand during the cholera ep-
idemic last year, and summer receipts
OF grass widows' do not support the
big pig crop theory. 1t Is fair crop,
and the country Is to be congratulated
on the fact that 1t Is reasonably healthy.
Washington Etatisticians know no more
on, this subject than the average lay
man.
Packers are showing decidedly
bearish attitude toward the hog market
They are hammering prices lower at
plies are comparatively light.
Hog meats at current cost are high.
The consumer Is a wary buyer and is
patronizing the butcher to only small
extent. To lower prices on the moor
and put pork meats at retail on basis
more tempting to the consumer isSthe
packer endeavor.
There is decided aversion to laying In
hog meats for future use in provision
lieyes, as does nearly everyone else,
the midwinter hog supply will be gen.
erous; at least the hog cholera scourge
has not killed a great many thus far
this season, and unless there Is stu
penduous demand, lower level OF
values will then be In force as result
of increased marketings.
The packer is not DESTROYS OF laying
provisions away in the cellar and TAX
49, - l-~r ~ n loss "a M
months hence. That's the chief beartsh
force behind the present market. 4
The top this week at $9.65 10 nickel
under that of last week. Unofficial re-
ceipts for tho total 86,326 head against
10000 expected to arrive and compar-
ed with 1O9.612 received for the cor
responding period last year.
New Record Prices.
In aged sheep and yearlings, as well
as In lambs, record September prices
are being hung up. For the first time
In September trade history the Sc line
was crossed here Monday for range
sheep, three cars OF Montana wethers
making 1915 and four-car string
$50. The former top figure Is $1.25
per cwt above the September top last
year. September. 1907 is the only pre-
ceding September to score sheep top
up to So.
Feeding yearling wethers have kept
IN with the procession by scoring on
Monday $40 top. which Is soc per
cwt. above the former banner Septem-
Der price Of 500, paid In September,
1907, and is CSC higher than the high
est price paid for feeding yearlings in
September. 1913
Even at the record September prices
now being paid, demand for feeding
sheep and lambs is not being met,
though prices are keeping hundreds Of
prospective buyers out Of the market.
The July and August output Of feeding
sheep and lambs from Chicago totaled
but s0,956 head, as against 107,59S for
the same two months last year and on
up to 2S8,573 for the corresponding two
months Of 1910. In September last year
272,149 head Of feeding and breeding
sheep and lambs left this market. I'm
less supplies come much more freely
later on than they have come thus far,
1t will push the current month to show
an output one-half that size. All Of
which indicates scarcity OF fed western
stock for the coming winter that
should tend to create a set of prices
agreeable to the feeders who are show
ing nerve enough to buck the game at
prevailing high feered and grain prices.
All of the advance on aged offerings
which was scored the first three days of
the week has been eliminated and
closing prices were about steady with
a week ago. Yearlings were probably a
little higher for the week. Feeding and
breeding stock showed practically no
change since last Friday, although at
one time this week sales looked a little
higher.
The sharp break in prices since early
Thursday will probably shut off the run
to some extent next week, although
prices are still phenomenally high for
this time Of the year.
Compared with the best time Thurs
day native ewes are fully SOC lower in
most instances and showed a quarter
decline compared with the bad close
about 10000 lower. while a band OF
western wethers. housekeeping kind
showed 20c decline.
Lamb prices took a sharp tumble and
all efforts of resistance on the part OF
sellers were useless Packers were de-
termined to break prices and insisted
on severe concessions or refused to
participate In the buying. Eventually
the market ruled soc lower than the
best time Thursday In the native d.
vision and about Csc under the bad
close that session. Most range lots sold
to killers 10000 lower, while some
were around 40c off. Many had antici-
pated break in prices, but generally
expected 1t to happen next week. Re-
markedly high prices have slackened
the consumptive demand and packers
had no intention OF waiting until next
week. Even feeder demand was smaller
and this class loked 10@15c lower, and
probably more in spots.
Compared with a week ago western
lambs offerings still showed 10@15c
gain, and even quarter in spots, but
feeders were about steady.
The weeks top for native lambs was
So. again $40 last year and sheep al
$500 against $4.35 year ago. Unoffi-
cial receipts were 10000 head against
@ IN hn Coz fVron a o0