Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-26
PRICES Of MUTTON
SHOW A DECLINE
FOLLOWING A TWO WEEKS BULL
MARKET PACKERS HAVE
CALLED A HALT.
BEEF VALUES STEADY
Short Supplies Of Butcher Cattle Helps
To Sustain a Firm Basis, Though
Suckers and Feeders
Suffer.

The fire works in the sheep and lamp
market the past few weeks In Chlca-
go run into q. cloud burst this week
and the soaking has been somewhat
expensive for the producers. Packers
have succeeded in biting off quite a
chunk in both lambs and sheep, the
former 25@40c under the high point
for shorn and q quarter Off for WOOL
skins, the latter 25@35c off from the
weeks high point. Compared with last
weeks closing the declines are 1O0l5c:
While the beef market Is reported
still in an unsatisfactory state, the
cattle market this week showed better
action than for the two previous weeks,
Mondays trade was Irregular to
general decline of dime but closes
strong with its loss about recovered
on butcher stock to a basis Of week
ago. Prices of stockers and feeders
were dwelt a severe blow after making
another new price record of 1885 on
Tuesday, for selects In this class and
under price changes figure 2oW4Vc
from the high point.
Action Of the hog market is still be-
ing guided by sentiments Of the pack.
ers What little strength prevailed
throughout the week was at the cost
Of shippers and spectators, packers
playing the waiting game. Price
changes compared with week ago
have been few, in spots higher.
While corn planting is undoubtedly
delaying the marketward movement
and a swelling supply may be expected
when that task is completed, the cur
rent movement does not suggest pleni-
tude, and the only theory on which
abundance can be forecasted is super
excellence of quality and increasing
weight, the average Of last weeks
receipts being 237 pounds, the heaviest
since last August.
Many people in the trade are con-
fident that the summer hog run will
show a big deficiency. If supply were
normal prices would be materially low
err, which would not be serious mis-
fortune to all concerned, from, grower
to consumer. If the market was on a
71hc basis the country would have
more ready access to the product, the
price being prohibitive to many at
present
Chicago Prices Govern.
Chicago is being used by the pack
ers as market to regulate hog values
elsewhere. Missouri river prices are
relatively higher than local quotations.
which is having the effect Of forcing
Iowa and Missouri shipments else
appears to be holding the lid down
firmly at Chicago at the expense Of the
trade of this market.
May receipts at Chicago are $4,000
less than year ago and buyers have
been forced to resort to strenuous
measures to prevent appreciation In
stead of dropping to IS, the common
price has held up around $3.50. While
May receipts show a deficiency of 3d.,
600, eastern shippers have taken 5000
more than q year ago. consequently To-
cal packers are securing far less than
their normal quota.
All around the market circle killers
are making good prices at the expense
of Chicago and business is being di-
verted in consequence.
Unofficial receipts this week total
1858 against 100000 estimated and
compared with $4,000 for the CORES
ponding period a year ago. The weeks
top at $3.50 is fifteen cents under that
Of year ago.
College Steers Hiahest.
A top of $3.50 was reached for fancy
college fed steers this week. These
were yearlings and only five head at
that price. AS basis Of comparison
for the average run Of prime heeves
firm and active on light run of this
class. Steers valued at So and under
are in less active demand as compe-
tition from county buyers on heavy
feelings classes has been reduced by
late extravagant prices.
Short supplies Of butcher cattle COM
tinue~ to hold this market on a high
basis relatively to steers and the trade
sees little likelihood of the supply
swelling to sufficient proportions with
in the next few weeks to give the buy,
ing side opportunity to effect declines
from high prices current. Texas stuff
is not showing up In promised profu--
sion and run Of grass natives Is still