Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-03

only few orders being received, but
in a local way the demand was fair FOR
all grades, especially choice, ana the
limited receipts prevented more pelng
done All offerings met with ready SAFE
and taken mostly by speculative buyers,
the wheat being bought and sold again
in the speculative market.
CORN-The irregular strength in TINS
grain the past week was accompanied
with a big trade and more or less ex-
citement. There were many to desert
from the bear" to the bull side or the
market early. and heavy buying by sew
eral of these big traders not only ap-
sorbed the offerings as rapidly as they
were thrown into the pit, but 1t caused
new buying to develop, ana IN oroer 10
secure the grain those wanting 1t were
obliged to bid up for 1t. The reduction
Of the Argentina exportable surplus was
probably the leading bull help OF the
week. The cables from the southern
hemisphere, however, We're conflicting
and this fact more than anything else
was detriment not only to the buying
power, but to the price gains as well:
There was an almost complete reversal
Of conditions late in the week, When
bears" gained control. There were
some in the trade who advanced the
opinion that stocks Of corn in country
elevators in Iowa are largely exhausted.
and that farmers show little disposition
, to sell That to q considerable extent
the same appears true in Illinois. That
the mild damp character Of the winter
to date has made it difficult to handle
corn and 1t is not keeping we'll on the
farms. while country dealers are AFRAID
to buy and ship under such conditions
of quality as long as mild weather con-
tinues. Argentina corn was being orer
ed at the eastern and gulf ports at
chaaner pripaS One the larger Dull
longs" in the market, who recently
switched from the bear" to the bull
side lin a talk referred to the small
| amount Of corn on ocean passage ana
as the east has not been in this market
for sixty days a demand may spring up
from that section. The visible supply OF
the United States increased 4l2,OOO bu
to 15,692,000 bu against an increase OF
f.638,000 blu to q total of 100000 bu
| for a like period one year ago. Chicago
stocks in elevators increased $4,000 bu
to 100000 bu; supplies one year ago
| were 2,326,000 blu; afloat increased
1876, 900 bu for the week Worlds ship
ments were 2,123,000 blu, as compared
with $4,000 bu one year ago. -@
OATS-Fair trading within higher
range was the feature of this market.
The business was mainly local, but
there appeared to be a good demand for
May and July on the weak spots, as
commission houses had resting orders.
At the close sales were unchanged to
NC higher for the week. There were
few new Developments in the general
situation of an interesting character.
Country offerings were not large. The
northwest is consigning domestic and
Canadian oats here all the time, and the
latter are passing into consumption
| without attracting attention. In the
shipping demand there was fair vol
| ume. with supplies not large enough for
the trade, and prices In the sample
| the week were 608 cars, against 700 cars
the previous week. and LIZA cars last
! week. In the visible supply there was
| a decrease OF $4,000 Blu, against an in
crease Of $4,000 bu last year. making
| the total 24,722,0OO Blu, against ssh
! 900 bu last year. Local stocks In all
positions decreased 10000 bu and the
total was 10,S39,000 blu. against 2,977,-
900 bu last year Contract stocks de-
| creased 5000 bu last week and were
$4,000 blu. against $4,000 bu last
year.
RYE-A little firmer feeling was de-
celoped the past week and slightly bet
ter prices were obtained. The re-
ceipts have been small and buyers had
more difficulty in supplying their wants.
| However, the demand was not par
IlCuIdTly urgent, Dut IL was edSiCl W u
feet sales and the market was kept
clear of offerings. The few cars on
sale were taken by local manufacturing
concerns. No export trade was re-
ported, but a little taken now and then
at the seaboard. The visible supply de-
creased 32.0OO>bu and is now $4,000 blu,
compared with l,535.000 blu one year
reported at 425,000 bu, against 424,000
bu last week. and 100000 blu one year
aao. Receipts for week IL cars. There
| were 16 cars withdrawn from UNI
licensed houses during the week. No. 2,
| track lots, local or Illinois billing, in
| light demand and sold at 81 @62c. No.
| 8 qnotable at $4,000, with sales at $50
soc. No. quotable at 53@58c, with
sales at 55c. Sample grade sold at 530D
SAC. A car not graded sold at SEC.
TIMOTHY-There has been q good
movement, as shown by the receipts
| and shipments. AS a market, however,
it was about as flat and uninteresting
as it could be. There simply was no
desire to purchase. Commission houses
had some seed to offer, and a good deal
| has been put away which for the pres
| samples also were shown for bids and
value. With all this going on there
was very little business done. On some
days there were no sales. The bids
were as rule disappointing. A weak
market was quoted, with prices some
easier. On low grades more especially,
lower values were placed. For this sea-
son of the year. when business should
be picking up, the market made very
unsatisfactory showing. Even future
delivery timothy was neglected. No one
showed any interest in that. A bid
and a selling price at times would be
named Such prices were at gradually
weakening prices March in this way
met with $3.50 to later $685. bid and
was offered at $40 to later to $3.50.
Contract was nominally around $4,000
$40 Country lots were finally quoted
at $3.50@5 for poor to choice; fancy
shade higher; very poor, lower. Fair
to good $4.10@4.50.
BARLEY--There was some decrease
in arrivals. The reduction was not i'm
portant, however. Postings gave a total
of 306 cars inspected in, compared with
32S cars week ago and ZIG cars two
weeks ago. The supply was at all times
equal to the demand. Mating demand
was only about fair. Some Of the usual
buyers were having barley delivered to