Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-05

making stunt Wednesday, Feb. rs. HIS
sixth annual sale was most notable
event. The top sales were not nearly as
high as many had expected, but the
marvellous uniformity of the cattle re-
suited in an average that was $79.O6
larger than year ago. The cattle were
presented In the usual pink of condition
form that all would expect from James
Hendry. Cattle were sold exactly In the
order Of the catalog.
IS bulls at .$16,520: av. .$66O'Oo
90 females aa at as's soo: av Sos or
Top male sold at ..............SS, 10Y
Highest priced cow ......... 2,45o
Eight cows and bulls sold at $500
and above.
Forty head averaged ............ $500
Fifty head averaged .......... 7l9
Sixty head averaged ............ 6S
! Nine bulls sired by Perfection Fair
fax sold at $450@3,750 total Of So
725.oo, averaging $1,oSO.55.
Seven females by Perfection Fairfax
sold at s5oo@1,425, or $5,sa5.oo, averag-
ing $762.14. -
Sixteen head by Perfection Fairfax
sold at $15,06OOo, averaging $s4l.25
Cows and heifers in the sale ranged
from $225@2,450, with only 16 head un-
der $410.
!. Bulls sold at $2so@375o with only
seven head below $400.
A year ago rs head averaged $52644:
so head averaged $672.20 and the ex-
; treme range was SITS $500. The AZ
cows in 1913 averaged $405 and the ~
: bulls $735.92.
The cows this year averaged $173 per
head more than last year and the bulls
averaged 1882 less than in 1913.
A statement Of quantities Of imports
of meat and meat animals for the fiscal
years of 1912 and 1913, and the first
five or six months Of the fiscal year
1914 shows that the total number Of
cattle. including a few introduced for
breeding purposes. imported IN lsl2
| was 31S,372; in 1913, 21,649. and in the
first five months Of 1914, 404,313. The
imports Of the five months are almost
entirely from Mexico and Canada.
The imported sheep Of 1912 number
1858; Of 1918, 1928, and for the first
Ave months Of 1914, $500, mostly from
| Canada.
During the first six months Of the
fiscal year 1914 the imports of beef and
| veal had a total Of 36,645,364 pounds:
of mutton and lamb 439,O65 pounds;
| Of pork, 2S6,S71 pounds: Of bacon and
hams, 116,13O pounds The imports for
! previous years were so small that they
were not separately designated in the
reports of the department of commerce.
The figures are Of great importance
to the meat trade as whole.
There Is always a reason, of course.
sometimes many and X. B. Thonlps on
Of the national wool warehouse offers
these in explanation Of the present up
| ward trend of wool values:
Eastern markets are practically clear
| ed up and foreign wool is being bought
freely The papers are saying mo one
| looked for any such market as now
prevails" and there Is much casting
about for explanations.
| In looking back. Because the Brad
ford Top and Yarn mills sold produce
ton ahead before covering with wool
] they forced prices up at the January
London auctions when few expected the
market to hold it's own.
| Because of the strike In New Zealand
| it was impossible to get to London
sal in January the usual supply of
crossbreds. and American mills have
/ had to obtain immediate requirements
/ here.
Because American mills are getting
more business than they feared they
would under the new tariff, they have
required more wool.
! Because no one knew how tremen-
dously short the American wool clip
was last year. the stock Of wool was
greatly overestimated
! In looking ahead. there seems to be
good prospects Of advancing prices.
| Because worlds stocks of old wool
are the smallest in years and the new
clip will be much reduced. perhaps by
fifty millions abroad and thirty millions
at home.
Because the number of people using
wool is increasing, while wool produc-
tiol is not holding it's own.
| Because the tendency Is worldwide
| toward mutton and not wool production
the shortage may become more acute.
Because the fashions point to an
increasing demand for fine productions
Merino wool raisers can reasonably ex-
pect to obtain higher prices.
depression, due to wars, over produc-
ton, tight money. liquidation, etc.
production is again under way.
AS matter Of fact wool got too low
| and prices are now seeking their ma
tural level.
| Notwithstanding the great increase
in the Canadian wheat crop, which
amounted to more than 200 million bu
in 1913, there is little profit in raising
wheat in that country, according to a
report Of the Saskatchewan grain COM
mission which investigated the sub
ject. The commissions report shows
that the average cost of producing
wheat is SIS cents bushel. and to pro-
duce and deliver It on board cars at
primary points costs 81 cents. AS the
price in 1913 averaged only 68M cents
the farmer actually makes a profit OF
only An cents bushel, according to
these figures
The commissions estimates that the
cost Of transporting wheat from the
farmer to England is 346 cents blu. OF
$346.60 for a carload Of one thousand
bushels. The country elevator owner
gets $3.50 a car, the railroad $162.5O
the government $1.60 inspection and
weighing), the commission merchant
SO, the exporter IS. the terminal eleva-
tor $3.50. the bank $16.40 Interest and
exchange) the lake steamship company
$40, the transfer elevator company SIS
marine insurance $500, sundry charges
!, $40.
! At recent meeting of the Chicago
Stewards club the veal question was
taken up and debated.
During the discussion John Hill OF
the Stock Yards inn pointed out that
dairy bred calves, which furnish the
major part Of the veal SUPPLY, are not
InA Iii