Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-14

portation interest 10 admittedly the
principal artery Of trade and when
circulation is sluggish in that channel
activity is repressed elsewhere. It Is
not exactly what is happening, but fear
of further contraction that is pinching
From all sources the story Of retrench-
ment Is constantly replenished. even
the coal mining industry encountering
an accumulation of product necessitat-
ing temporary suspension of opera
lions.
What influence beef importation Is
exerting will naturally be the subject
Of dispute, but 1t Is at such periods as
these that foreign competition acts
most injuriously. A year ago the south
American beef now arriving would
have been digested without difficulty,
but under curtailed consumption con-
ditions it is undoubtedly exerting an
adverse influence.
February import statistics are just
>out During that month 1853 cattle
were imported, with valuation Of 81.
321,71.. During the same month last
year imports were 30,620 head with a
valuation of S472,359. Canada sellt g.
1872 head valued at $149,74s. and Mex
leo 1896 valued at $1,1s0.96i. In Feb
ruary, 1918. Canada's contribution was
1882 head valued at $43,55s and Mex
clos 1852 head valued at $39S,453.
During tn: eight months r:.ding Feb
ruary cattle imrL,ts agy" ga'eG i!s.035
head valued a: $13.765,5S?, against 222,-
236 head valued at s3,701.544 last year
and 1S9,45O head valued at $2.1s7,53S in
1912. Canada's contribution during this
eight-month period was 206,577 valued
at s6,936.172. and that Of Mexico 1885,
5o5, valued at S6,6Ss.521. During the
uted 23,943 valued at $s75,s72. and
.Ecxico 1878 valued at SASS, sos
During the eight months ending with
February 1912, Canada did not sell the
United States single animal, but i'm
ports from Mexico were 1878 head
valued at $2,s9O,293.
Imports Of beef In February were
15,2S1.576 pounds valued at $1,2S3,160.
year ago this trade did not exist.
Beef imports for the eight months end
ing with February were 63,849,000 lbs.
valued at $5,181,955.
Total Chicago receipts this week will
barely figure $4,000 head against 49,
900 estimated the smallest run since
the week ending July IL Of last year
when 1876 head were received. The
top this week at $3.50 is thirty cents
below that for the same period year
ago.
April Receipts Less.
April receipts to date are nearly 49,
900 less than q year ago and the west
ern market shortage since January /
continues to pile up, although swelling
Of the southwestern movement will
make the discrepancy look less odius
from now on. Compared with the same
period Of 1911 receipts at the six prin.
cipal western markets since January
are approximately 1,644000. a decrease
Of 900 head.
April hog receipts at western mar
kets promise to be phenomenally light
There will be no actual famine, but
that the marketward movement will
be Of sufficient volume to materially
increase provision stocks Is doubtful
Chicago's hog receipts last week were
the lightest In II months. with the ex-
ception Of Fourth Of July week. for
which the holiday was responsible
Last week eleven primary receiving
points east and west, received only
vious week, and 900 year ago. The
season is at hand when Chicago de-
Ponds on western Iowa for q supply
and that is the region where cholera
has been most virulent during the past
year. On much heavier supply last
year prices were considerably higher
1910 being paid during the cores
ponding week OF 1913 Both cattle and
live muttons are realizing nearly as
much or more money than year ago
consequently present hog prices look
Legitimate, if supply is reckoned with
"A year ago Chicago average hog cost
was 1920, against 1887 at the close last
week. AS meat consumption Is at low
ebb, Stock Yards sentiment Is not
rampantly bullish, but S9@9.25 mar
ket during oats seeding and corn
planting would be in line with many
forecasts.
In speaking Of the outlook in the hog
market a prominent Chicago provision
socialist has the following to say:
1--WE do not see or hear Of anything
on which to nase hopes for cheaper
hogs very soon and a very moderate
increase in the cash demand would
suffice to start the market, in our judg-
mant, on to much better levels, as pork
product is still without serious meat
competition from any quarter. and
that explains the high priced hogs
said he. Our general information tends
toward the belief that the hog shortage
in Iowa will now begin to manifest It
self-that the east will have to come
here for supplies until next winter and
that Kansas. Missouri and Illinois
have only moderate supplies, leaving
eastern Nebraska about the only ex
tensive territory with normal guam
tity Of hogs"
Price changes have been few at the
union yards this week, fluctuations
being extremely narrow but the tone oil
the market has a semblance Of strength
and since the peg has once more beer
lifted from 1886 it would not be sur.
prising to see it go beyond the 81
mark. The top this week stands al
$s.92k.
The proportion of stays among tn.
:, thtc nntfooo ~,