Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-10

\
preuim buyers are paying for some.
thing that is ripe. The ordinary line OF
heifer stuff in the feeder class has t.
show good killing flesh to SIS. The best
strength of the week Is shown in feed
) ing she stuff and breezy stock calves
! For the latter there is a good demand
( at higher prices.
Speculative and shipping demand fol
bologna bulls holds up well and prices
! are steady to a shade better. 49,.
The foreign supply situation exhibits
few new developments A wire from
Seattle asserts that 100000 pounds of
frozen beef and mutton have reached
that port from Australia, but the pro-
portion Of beef is not stated and con-
sidering the supply source the consign-
ment is probably largely of mutton.
Such reports ought not to receive
credence, however, as distributors of
such news are always generous in the
matter Of ciphers which are inexpens-
i've when produced on a typewriter and
cost little to send over the wires. Had
all the foreign beef and mutton report
ed arriving since free trade went into
effect actually been received the domes-
tic market would have been a thing of
shreds and patches by this time.
Although IL meat-laden boat direct
from Buenos Aires reached New York
last week receipts were somewhat less
than the previous week, only $500
quarters of beef reaching that port,
against 14,411 quarters the previous
week. Only 2,122 quarters came direct
from Argentina, 2,710 quarters being
sent via Liverpool All was chilled beef
from Argentina except one lot of 1000
quarters OF Australian beef that came
via England. Considerable Argentina
stuff is on the way, however and Feb
ruary receipts will be liberal, conse-
quently if any considerable number of
eastern cattle are cut loose simultane-
orsly the domestic market will wear
little bloom.
London advices are to the effect that
the trade there is seriously concerned
regarding probable demand for South
American and Australian beef and
mutton on this side Of the Atlantic.
Not only has British consumption of
foreign meats increased rapidly of late
but the price Is steadily advancing and
distributors are worried. Gilbert And
e"son, London trade authority, talk
ing recently on this subject. asserted
that he did 1oI believe Australian sup
ply could be materially increased. A
peculiar phase of British meat trade
is that retail prices in England are ac-
tually lower than in Australia, indi-
eating more efficient and cheaper dis
tribution in England, and also demon
how cheap water transporta-
ton is.
At the beginning Of February, 1918,
heavy cattle stopped at $500 and year.
lings at $780, but few steers were able
to sell above $3.50 and killers were
getting considerable dressed beef ma
terial below IS. Two years ago the
spread was much wider than at pres
ent, killers getting a lot Of plain, light
cattle at s4S5@5 $50, while a decent
grade of killing steers sold at $3.50
$50 and good fat bullocks at $3.50, al
though few specialties made 1915.
There is a pronounced tendency to mar
row the spread, owing to demand for
cheap beef and stock cattle.
about 5000 less than estimated, the to-
tai arrivals in round numbers being
46,577 against $4,000 expected; 49,763
last week and 51,132 last year for the
same period. The top price a year ago
for the same period was SO and 1915
two years ago.
Sentiment on the hog market con-
tinue bullish, reports coming in from
all directions, especially the west of a
small visible supply of porkers. Pa
cif1c coast demand for hogs has reached
the territory of Omaha and Sioux City
and Seattle and Portland are monop-
sections of South Dakota and Nebraska.
They have been buying freely around
Aberdeen, Yankton and Sioux Falls and
Indications point to their working fur
Their east as their needs are imperative. |
Coast points in California, Oregon and
report that hogs have
been dying off like flies. Producers in
that region say that lung trouble is re-
sponsible to large extent and pneu
mn a 1Sn n To ftn ony.fn itvy ,
So closely garnered is the eastern
Canadian hog crop that, minus some
what generous shipments to Toronto
from Manitoba, that market would be
On 81 basis. Calgary is sending hogs
to Puget Sound points. Toronto hogs
are on a SO basis, while Montreal quotes
1915, yet choice stock is worth but
s7.75 at Winnipeg and 81 at Calgary.
That country sentiment concerning
hog is bullish admits Of no doubt. Were
it otherwise the recent advance would
have swelled instead of shrinking the
movement. Since ascer-
tanning the intrinsic value of their
growers have been decidedly
Independent. When asked by country
buyers to price hogs their invariable
fat has been SC at the loading point.
eastern demand is constant
" asserting itself and every display of
strength at the market inspires growers
with bullish notions of what the future
las in store. Much &c prophecy has
oeen disseminated, and as hogs are now
/ good feeding proposition growers are
not adverse to putting on weight,
whereas two. months ago selling shotes
was regarded as good policy. Eastern
demand is a sturdy prop under the
market.
The price changes for the week run
Up to 5000 on some class of pigs and
he general advance is fully 10@15c. An
excess supply on Tuesday and Wednes-
lay caused q break from the closing
prices of last Saturday amounting to
July Gee taken altogether but this has
Ill been recovered and the market
closes in a healthy condition.
Receipts this week, unofficially re-
ported are $4,000 against $4,000 es-
imated and compared with 149,452 last
week and 13S,135 for the same period a
year ago. The top this week was $50
,ompared-with SS.15 for the same days
4 year ago.
Sheep on the Slump.
Although movements Of sheep and
ambs at the Chicago yards were sew
sra thousand less than estimated this
Jailed to check the decline started two
weeks ago and prices for the week have