Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-31

ever, as evidenced by tests of the va
rious markets "a drove of plain but fa'
1404-lb steers sold Thursday at $3.50
being a cut off of drove OF Identical
weight and quality that made only
1926 at Kansas City last Monday, a
clean 30c margin in favor Of Chicago
despite the break in the midweek
market. this being a class that would
easily have made sS.7o@S.7b here or
Monday. Sellers cited similar instances
Of better prices prevailing here this
week AS matched against ''split" sales
Of identical quality goods at other river
points.
No more Argentina beef has reached
Chicago. Last weeks consignment was
largely in the nature Of novelty. EV
erybody wanted sample and the YER
dict was unanimous. Assertion that
South American product is equal tc
that Of domestic beef Is pure brag. The
Stock Yard bunch has tried 1t out
and Judgment from that source Is not
open to dispute. Argentina beef 10 all
right in it's way, but it lacks texture
color and flavor, and does not stack UP
with corn fed beef
Various reasons have been assigned
for failure of beef to distribute readily
Diminished consumption has been the
one receiving most credence This idea
is confirmed by an Associated Press
dispatch from New York which says:
Roswell D. Tompkins, secretary OF
the united board OF business agents OF
the unions in the building trades In 8
report made public yesterday, said thai
the number Of unemployed mechanic.
in this city had decreased in the las
five or six weeks Between fixe and 81,
weeks ago, he said, there were abou
10000 building mechanics idle and a.
present the number Is about $4,000
with improving weather conditions II
Is stated another 10000 Of these unem-
ployed men will be at work In the next
few days.
Men out Of work do not use much
beef nor do their families. At other In
dustrial centers a similar condition
exists. These depressions come around
at irregular intervals and must be
reckoned with. 1t so happens that al
this iuncture beef cost is almost pro.
hibitive, while in former depressiOns
cattle were selling low. {
Revival ce beef demand awaits i'm.
provement in the industrial situation
and eventually that must occur.
Receipts Of cattle this week will to-
tai 41,S59 only few hundred less than
estimated for the week, against $3.50
for the same period year ago. The
top this week for prime beef Is sixty
cents higher than for the same six
days q year ago.
The hog market this week failed tt
benefit the producer. Packers continue
persistent in their bearish tactics and
sight the fact that hogs at present
prices are losing them money. De-
clnes this week have been gradua
since Tuesday and closing prices are
about at the bottom. Mondays market
displayed the most strength when re.
ceipts failed to come up to expecta.
tons The top this week Is 2Hc under
that Of week ago at sS.a2h on Mon.
day. The loss for the week Will run II
@25c. .a.
Receipts for the week are some 49,.
900 less than expected, total arrivals
unofficially being $4,000 compared
with 121.059 a year ago.
Sellers and lambs and sheep have
had their inning this week, resulting
in an advance of 150 soc. Factors il
the upturn were moderate receipts ant
a better eastern demand from shippers
Local packers have been keen competi.
tors and seemed to care little abOu
the prevailing price as long as they go
the goods.
Sheep were remarkably scarce, 8
search for eve stock revealing thu
presence of only a few small ODD
punches, neither enough nor the righ
kind to test the market, but eVerybod!
wanted good ewes. A string Of choice
Michigan fed western wethers wa!
since last May. Some Minnesota ant
Wisconsin-fed yearling wethers q
$7.25 averaged about IS lbs. and while
good. lacked top class
Some urgent call from packers ant
fair eastern shipping demand were
the factors in the continued upward
trend Of the market. Buffalo, on ligh
Friday run Of 5000 head, scored al
$3.50 top, csc above Thursday.
The booming market this week hal
come as big, agreeable surprise t
the selling side. Expectancy a weel
ago was for some little improvement
but had anybody forecasted a full 81
@5Oc advance on wooded sheep ant
lambs this week and a bulge Of any
where from 50@75c in shorn stock
mostly 60@s5c. advances which hav,
scored over d week ago or fat classes
he would have been considered } fl
subject for a lunacy commission In
curry. Improved dressed trade condi
lions, light runs, east, good shipping
demand and broadened call to satisf.
coming Easter trade requirements hav,
been Strengthening factors that TO-
the time being. at least, have lifted tn,
market out Of killers grasp. The higl
levels the market is now hitting give
it a topheavy appearance and Will,
handy lambs should enjoy a good pre-
Easter cull next week, trade conditions
will deepnd largely on the receipts
From advices thus far received, Colo
RADIO has not loaded heavier than thi
week for the coming weeks market
but the advance will doubtless brin,
out good runs Of fed western stool