Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-24

on most classes Of bulls during the
] last two weeks have been severe, this
| weeks business being done on basis
Of last weeks decline, big beefy
bulls now selling at setback or 6On
75c compared with few weeks back.
Even the medium and light weights are
down SOC from the high point.
Veal Trade in 4 Rut.
Another slice WIS taken off of veal
prices this week, the decline being a
full 81 under those Of q week ago, in
crease supplies and benrish veal trade
being factors in breaking the market
though prices east have not suffered a
proportionate decline. The arrivals this
week are several hundred head In eX-
cess Of both last week and last year.
The top this week was 1925 70 prime
veaers on Mondays market while
closing prices are far below that. A
brcedy kind of strong weight calves for
feeding purposes have value.
General prices for stockers and feed
ers this week were maintained on a
basis of small change from those in
force the close last week. Demand is
centering on top classes choice fleshy
cross and qualified light stockers get
ting the best call. These classes are
going to the country on about the same
basis as a week ago. A few concessions
were granted by yard dealers yesterday
and today on stuff below top notch
quality.
AS the grazing season approaches
demand doubtless will grow, but high
cost is bound to put some restriction on
the general outlet. Mainly an Illinois,
Indiana and Ohio demand this week,
with scattered buying by Michigan
and Wisconsin feeders. Few Pennsyl-
vania orders have been filed for weeks
past and inquiry from that quarter is
likely to be considerably reduced this
spring as compared with a year ago,
since Pennsylvania feeders have been
roughing through lot Of little Can
adian stockers the past winter, and
these will shortly go on grass.
High Prices Reduce Demand.
There is general acceptancy in trade
circles OF the theory that high cost toi
has reduced demand for beef !
to an extent that is paralyzing distri-
button. Round steak at 25c per pound
and plate stuff at 15c, which are COM
mon prices in retail establishments,
could not exert any other influence.
All over the country beef consumption
has dropped to low ebb. The industrial
is partly responsible, but 9TH |
err factors have been at work. Here !!
tofore during periods OF industrial de-
preston cattle nave Deen cheap, out
this time the reverse Is the case. No. |
Q and No beef Is wholesaling any |
where from 2041sc per pound higher
than two years ago, when $685. was the
top Of the cattle market and 5000 |
S.25 took the bulk. With the industrial |!
on short beef rations no i'm |
is to be expected.
The intermirable wrangle over retail |
charges has been resumed. The New
York Journal Of Commerce recently |
made the accusation that retailers were
exacting exorbitant prices and the dis |
tributor retorts with the usual defense |
that his business is not profitable. In |
this connection a comparison between
current wholesale beef prices at Chi
cago and those of two years ago when
1886 bought choice steers and 5000 |
s.25 took the bulk, are interesting:
No. 1 No. 2. No. 3.
1914 1912 1914 1912 1914 1912
Ribs .16A 20h Is 16 liz 10
Loins ..22k "a 171a IS 13 10
Rounds .12h 10 liz II IN |
P1atsk -. ::ns ~ : 81 * x 81 -
While this statement exhibits few
especially in the case
Of No. | beef, it shows that scarcity of