Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-06

was large today and prices dropped.
The top Monday was highest since
the last week in October while the gen
eral average price at 1924 was highest
since Oct. Is, when the top was $3.50
Prices have advanced sharply since
Dec. when the average at $1.52 was
lowest since January Of last year. II
was July IS when the average at $3.50
was highest since June, 1910.
Eastern shippers took approximately
one-third hog receipts at Chicago last
week. This was largely responsible
for the 30-cent advance. While the
trade realizes that present prices are
mainly due to broad shipping demand.
there is little reason to apprehend seri-
Gus contraction Of that outlet. east
ern hogs have been closely garnered.
The recent half dollar advance may
have the effect Of reassuring growers
and prompting them to give growing
hogs q more effective corn crib cross.
1t Is a foresone conclusion. however,
that what happened in 1913 will be
reversed this year and that the big run
will reach market early at deficient
weight. The real scarcity Is promised
when nearby hogs have disappeared
and the trade runs into the season
where western Iowa. a region that has
been devastated by cholera, is the
principal supply source.
Cattle.
No activity was erracen. Il cattle.
Run at $4,000, Monday tho late esti-
mate, was trimmed 2sooe from the ini-
tial guess, but stood about at expectan-
cy~ and compared with 22.061 q week
ago and 1851 in the first Monday Of
1913. Six markets received $1,000.
against 45,4oo week ago and $500 q
year ago. Moderate general supplies
west as we'll as at the eastern points
suggests a disposition on part OF feed
ers to check the HQu1dAting spell as
long as the market shows a tendency
TO hold fairly firm and weather condi-
tons are propftious for weight making.
Lack Of severe winter weather is af-
fording good gains IN the feedyards,
and even tho corn continues high in
cost there is no tendency NOW to cash
in big supplies as was the situation
here few weeks back.
That this is saving feature Of the
trade needs no reiteration. Given an
overdose, the market surely would
show severe price dropping tendency,
but with killers operating on hand
to-mouth basis. and they have been for
two weeks past, there is no opportunity
for them to erect an early January
bargain counter In the steer trade.
Following the two holiday weeks
both of which brought forth small sup
plies Of beef steers, 1t was logical that
a decent-sized Monday crop should And
fair demand. The eastern and local
coolers az we'll have been unloaded Of
a reasonable amount OF beef in the past
two weeks despite holiday poultry COM
petition, and this was evident lu the
current session from the willingness OF
buyers to take hold Of supplies, altho
a generous midweek run. should 1t foi-
low, can hardly be expected to main
tain price strength.
Sheep.
The trade had a surfeit Of sheep ana
lambs.
Packers made a halfhearted at
tempt at the start to weaken lamb val
ues. but fair eastern shipping and city
butcher demand developed and pack
ers' needs too proved to be real. so
that the selling side experienced little
difficulty in holding prices to Fridays
levels. Sheep and yearlings formed a
relatively short quota OF the crop and
were easily sold at a full steady basis
with Friday.
There was nothing in outside condi-
tons TO furnish buyers with bearish
ammunition. Buffalo wired an $3.50
lamb top on a sixty-car run and Mis-
souri, river markets hold a relatively
good basis with Chicago. News came
from New York to the effect that 2,40O
frozen sheep carcasses and LOO frozen
lamb carcasses reached that port from
the Argentina last week. the first i'm
portation of mutton and lamb of any
importance from that country since the
tariff vas removed, but its presence
apparently had little, If any, influence
on the trade here.