Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-26

turage conditions continue favorable
the longer will be deferred buyers OPP
portunfty to bear down on values. The
customary discrimination may be ex
pected on grassy stuff, however. when
ever it shows up In any numbers.
The run Of cows and heifers has not
been in marked volume and as a result
prices for she stock hold relatively
higher in many instances than for beef
steers.
Dairy cows and the plain light heif-
ers with little flesh for slaughter trade
have had slow going all the week and
some price weakness is shown for such
kinds compared with week ago. but
the general range for good to choice
cows and heifers now holds firm with
last week. Reaction in steer values
the past two days has. OF course, been
somewhat of factor in effecting a
firm trade for fat grades Of she stock.
Supply Of bulls on the market this
week has been about equal to the call
with prices showing scant change from
last week closing levels. Only short
supplies permit sellers from holding
the market immune from declines.
Trade Is still largely on, q basis OF
s6.50@6.7O on bolognas with meaty
kinds dime more; butcher bulls
around $6s5@7.25 and prime heavies
$3.50 and better; ripe handy weight
1915 and better
Stock Cattle Decline.
Declines Of from Csc to 40c are shown
in trade on stock and feeding steers
from the extravagant prices prevailing
one week ago, only few of the top
notch light stockers escaping with less
loss. Investment demand has been
curtailed by high prices, the failure
Of the beef cattle to respond with good
advances to light runs and the busy
corn planting season, many prospective
buyers in the corn belt being out OF the
market for the time being because OF
the rush Of work on the farm. Few
stock steers were good enough to pass
1925 and $7.65@s.15 took the bulk.
against So to $40 a week ago.
General demand has had a big slump
since the high buying session last
week. Everybody seems to have come
t the conclusion that the going was
very dangerous and resolved to slow
up. Few Pennsylvania and other east
,ern orders have come into the market
in recent days and there has likewise
been much shorter inquiry from Illi-
.nois, Indiana and Ohio buyers. Dry
course, been factor depressing de-
mand, but chief force was the record
high prices OF last week.
Demand for calves this week has
been less eager aside from heavy sorts.
These continue to get a ready call and
land at $L75@8.O0 and better. Com
mon butcher calves are bringing about
$3.50 and lower with prime sorts up
to Sill, and choice grades at $10.25@
1880.
Eastern Run Starts.
Eastern cattle are running freely this
week, and are likely to do SO for sixty
days to come, az many Of them are not
contracted they do not show in the fig
ures, but cut q considerable s"ath In
supply and eastern beef demand. The
Mexican movement has dWindled to
small proportions, and is now mostly a
stocker run. Texas advices are that the
spring movement is likely to be far be.
low advertised proportions.
Rain has fallen continuously on the
southwestern range, and as many OF
the cattle are under age, there is q pro-
nounced disposition to carry them over
another year. There Las been some
dissatisfaction with market conditions
and as replacing young cattle is almost
impossible, growers are reluctant to
part with them. OF course, flies will
begin to aggravate cattle next month
but by next November most of the stuff
will weigh 5O@7J lbs more than at
present and the Texts grower detects
keen competition for stock cattle next
fall should the corn crop prove a
bumper one.
Looking ahead. the trade is not
hopeful Of continued further Price
strength Beef outlet Is not growing
and there is free movement of east
ern fed cattle running into the eastern
plants now, which handicaps demand
from that quarter in the local market.
The fact Of very moderate receipts
here is a force in holding prices on
their current levels.
Next week the second largest crop OF
Argentina beef to come into tho Unit
ed States since the tariff was removed,
is due, and it's effect on the eastern
beef markets can only be surrnised as
likely to be strongly bearish, especially
Argentina beef, Of course, lis not a
competitive factor in trade for the
choicer grades of corn-fed domestic
steers, and commission house advice to
the country is to slow up in moving the
medium and lower grades until the
eastern markets recover from the eff
fects Of the expected heavy supply
from the Argentine.
The beef market is still an unsatis-
factory affair. The season has arrived
when heavy beef is hard to sell The
local industrial situation is clarifying
and there is prospect that tho long
drawn out brick strike may be settled.
Resumption Of building operations in
Chicago would put 100000 men at
work almost instantly and greatly in
crease demand for all kinds of meats. A
literal run is in sight for next week as
feeders are anxious to clea,4 up heavy
cattle. No Involvement to throw them
on grass exists and the changing sea-