Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-02

ing 25040c lower than a week ago,
light and medium bolognas declining
the most.
Final prices for Gamers and cutters
were affected to great extent by the
sc N of beef COW trade and prices
81 :, a decline OF 15@20c from the best
rates early in the week and week
ago. Packers have been the chief sup
port for what little firmness prevails,
few outside orders being executed.
Dry weather in the feeding sections
has made buyers little timid about
taking hold Of stockers and feeders, re-
CARELESS Of severe slashes in prices last
Week. Practically everything shows a
decline of 15@25c from last weeks
closing prices. Some sales were made
during the week for choice weight
around $3.50 but 1885 comes nearer an
official top.
Eastern orders have slumped hard
and Illinois, Indiana and Ohio feeders
also have bought sparingly. Dry wealth
err in many sections Is accounting for
the decrease in demand, though the
fact that would be owners are fearful
of going against the market on present
cost basis is, of course, a strong point
in Erecting recent breaks. Just how
the country will size up conditions as
they exist now is Il matter to be deter
mined later There may be general
revival of demand and strong price re-
action or a further decline. 1t depends
upon the volume of orders sent into
the trade. Order buyers now have a
fair batch Of commissions for light
cattle, but most Of them call for
purchases at lower range than pre-
walls, even in face Of the current wide
breaks from high point.
Buyers are simply hammering prices
all along the line, now that they have
an opportunity. and the big freak
should have effect in reviving country
demand, particularly If few good
rains are had in the near future.
Demand Reduced.
Conditions locally In beef trade are
averse to aNrevival Of demand in the
near future since idleness in the build
ing trades is proving a strong handicap
to the public's purchasing power, and
hottest May weather in years is a ma
tural factor in reducing demands.
Memorial day holiday, It is believed
by many in the trade, will have effect
in checking supplies for the market
next Monday. but the bearish condition
Of current steer trade in itself should
be enough to trim down the Monday
run. The trade is pulling for $1,000 to
$4,000, and a run much heavier at the
start next Monday promises to put
things In bad shape for sellers.
Of the spread which has been very mar
row. The country is pinning its conf
dence on light stockers and fleshy
feeders in the 1,000-lb class will prob
ably be neglected Quality has deter
iorated in conspicuous fashion during
the past week warranting assertion
that the winter made crop of big steers
has been closely marketed. A year ago
everybody was hanging on to big cattle
q nd tvofr nnnHHnrNp
existing that the summer market would
be a good one This year corn is high
and the future is regarded with dis
trust, consequently only few big feed
ers are carrying weighty cattle into the
hot summer. BY the end of next week
the country will have gone on q graz
ing basis and all cattle not to be turn
ed out on grass will be marketed.
Eastern cattle are being cut loose
freely and packers are receiving con-
siderable southern distillery stuff d.
rect that was purchased some time ago.
The bulk of the distillery crop will be
in by the latter part of June and while
fair run Of cattle is looked for during
June and July receipts in the aggre-
gate are expected to fall considerably
below those Of the same period Of last
erous run Of -yearlings during these
months as many people who put In
calves last fall are anxious to take
any market that let's them out at a
profit. The danger lies in throwing too
many OF these yearlings into the hop
per half fat, as it is an abundantly
demonstrated fact that in order to
make maximum results yearlings must
be fat.
Retail Prices High.
Current cost of beef, pork and NUT
ton has reached levels almost prohibi.
tive to many consumers. That a semi
famine condition exists Is demonstrate
ed by statistics. May cattle receipts at
Chicago have been the lightest for the
month since 1856, while the hog run is
the smallest since 1887. Chicago's May
receipts are 1857 car loads less than
last year AS recently as 1905 Chicago
received 264O0O cattle in May but this
months receipts will be 100000 less
than that number. Although packers
have been shipping many hogs from