Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-12

cred steady, while packers obtained
only small showing of the more COM
mon grades at $6@7.25
Carrying no material reserve stocks
of beef in coolers, locally or In the east,
slaughterers do not appear to be IN a
strong position to, force prices to their
liking for any extended period of time
A moderate run at Chicago next Mon
day. in fact, should afford some repair
of prime damage effected since Mon
day
A moderate movement Of Texans still
favors cheaper priced cattle, but at any
movement flood Is liable to cut loose
from that quarter. Reports from Texas
ranges are that cattle are making
weight and grazers are anxious to put
on the last pound Of tallow, conse-
quently there Is every probability that
the big flood will be damned up until
June Should heavy movement OF
Texans occur next month choppy
market would result as that stuff is
realizing good prices at present.
While high water in Texas has I'M
doubtedly Handicapped cattle gather
ing on the southwestern ranges, the
fact remains that even at the prices
Texas graziers are In no haste to I'M
load. Both Kansas City and st. Louis
have received a few more quarantine"
cattle than last week, but that killers
could use any more of these cheap
steers selling below $3.50 Is evident
and lack Of them. coupled with feeder
demand here and at Missouri river
points, is making an excellent market
for light killing stuff.
Total supplies this week 3S,400 head
Of cattle compared with $4,000 esttmat-
ed and against 47,718 the number re-
ceived for the corresponding week a
year ago. The top this week at $500 Is
coo above that for the same period a
year ago.
Packers Follow Lead.
Buyers have made little attempt to
check the advance in sheep prices this
week as they had considerable compe-
tition to contend with and could not at
ford to take chances and wait around
to play bearish game. Sellers have
have had everything in their favor.
Wooled lambs have shown the best
sellers and as high as 1915 was paid,
the seasons best.
Buyers still deprecated the condition
Of the dressed market on heavy lamb
carcasses, asserting that with the ex-
ception Of a little regular trade on
choice round lambs, the weighty stuff
is still OF forced sale. Their ability to
get enough Of the good tidy weights,
however, has forced the market up on
good heavy lambs for fully as much
gain this week as has been scored on
other classes.
A bunch or two Of native spring
lambs again put in an appearance. Best
OF them were right good, after sorting
and sold up to $40. while Greek
butchers paid 81 for some little 25-lb
stuff.
The advance this week has revived
prophesy Of the development Of a $500
top on Colorado lambs In the fl. ece
! but II 1t materalizes it cannot apply to
many as precious few are left to come
according to reliable information.
Having pried loose the lid on live
mutton values earlier in the week, SELL
ers decided it might as well be thrown
away and in an uneven trade that was
anywhere from steady to a full 15c
higher than best levels Of new high
set of lamb quotations for the year, OF
since April, 1913. were established.
Demand for aged and yearling sheep
was fairly urgent and often sales show
ed new advance. Advance has been
rather steady since Monday and outlet
has assumed broader scope. There
were 5000 carcasses Of mutton and s.
900 carcasses of lambs loaded in Ar
gentina this week bound for New York
the first since early last month, max
ing 10000 and $1,000, respectively, since
January 1.
Prices stood the highest Of the season
on short lots, although wooded kinds.
scarce as they are, are not up to the
best level Of the year principally be-
cause it is the season for clippers to
get the best favor. Compared with the
previous Friday most aged offerings
were up Csc and some of the best lots
showed CSC advance. while yearlings
ruled 40@50c higher.
Buyers wanted the crop OF lambs
available and sellers lost no time max
ing their ideas known. but found buy
ers willing to take them. even though
higher prices were demanded.
Closing prices on shorn stock were
chiefly $50 soc higher than last Friday
but some of the clippers showed more
advance, considering the light sorting
and the weight Of most arrivals.
Compared with a week ago, most
woolskins looked $4,000 higher and
few nearby farmers were in on that
gain, as most Of those In fleece came
from Colorado. Yearlings are up $50
soc.
Receipts were around expectations
but were heavier than a week ago and
year ago, although the five day sup.
ply this week showed decrease com
pared with same period last week and
last year. Other western markets had
little on sale and packers had to dc
their buying here or go without. Ship
pers took few loads and so did the
city butchers, but most offerings were
taken by the packers. Colorado has few
wooled lambs back and while the g.
cent quotation, If 1t is established. viii
benefit few feeders II will verify pre-
~ h. IN,