Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-10
URGENT INQUIRY FOR STOCi
CATTLE FOLLOWS WITH BET.
TER RAIL CONDITIONS.
SHEEP REMAIN WEAK
Eastern Mutton Markets In HUT
and Consumptive Needs Sharply
Curtailed; Decline
Ensues.

the bull side Of the ledger at TIE - mum
Stock yards this week. deadlock mas ma
prevailed in the hog market ana mar :
ference and slumpy business zone III
the sheep and lamb market.
Chicago failed again to get Its eX-
pected allotment of hogs this week, the
run falling short some $4,000 heau,
Price changes have been Irregular TO ~
M15c under last weeks close out the
final wind up for this week is about on
a par with the previous comparative
close.
In sheep and lambs the tendency mas
been downward Notwithstanding Una
receipts are below the estimate for the
week to the extent of some SIX thou-
sand. The record price for yearlln5
wethers at $3.50 last week was not dupN-
Gated the best this week selling al
1925 and not few sales OF Mandy
weight western wethers down TO 80.
Fer lambs this week the top is 80 cents
less than q week ago, S7.SO buylnS the
best in this class although sellers tried
hard for the SC mark.
In the native beef cattle class, prime
sorts topped the market at 1915, the
same as last week but under the nine
dollar mark can be found drop of lOc
for stuff between SS.50@pS.10 and the
same old Indifferent demand has pre-
vailed from both packers and Shippers
in trade for the S7.60lt8 sort OF Killers.
On that class around 50 and upwards
last week it is 15M zoe higher market
than the close last week. TINS advance
put the better sorts Of bullocks back 10
levels shown at the high spot WedneS-
day of last week. and up to basis or a
year ago. The percentage of Wefl-fed
cattle this week has been larger than
for a few weeks past in comparison TO
n rivals Of unfinished stock.
Stockers and Feeders Strong.
This weeks broad demand from
country BUYERS for stoclSers and feed
ers was expected by yard dealers FOL
lowing the snow bound weather or the
past two weeks in the east. Low prices
in force week ago, when railroad traf-
fic was impeded by snowdrifts attracted
wide attention over the country, and
result has been a considerable swarm
of buyers here from Ohio, Indiana ana
Illinois in recent days. The trade is now
firmly of the belief that prices will not
go materially lower later this season,
since demand is bound to show strength
as grass season approaches. Feeder
stuff is notably scarce. over the corn
belt, and even though market is on a
much higher level than a short time
ago, the desire to run cattle on grass
doubtless will induce lot of owners to
hang onto the thin stuff in the belief
that they are worth as much or more at
home than at market.
The market this week has a steady
climb upward, due to revival OF strong
country demand. Buyers from the coun-
try have been more numerous In recent
days than any time in weeks past. ana
a big batch of orders were executed by
local operators acting for country
clients. Thursday trade again showed
CT III hn there On1V
rather small supplies of good to choice
cattle left in the yards, broad demand
on Wednesday effecting close clearance
Of everything decent. Fresh run was
small and cleared freely at the strong
prices shown in midweek, and general
basis of values, while quoted 15@2oc
higher than the low time a week ago,
really showed some greater advances in
numerous instances. Cattle Of kind
landing last week at $7@7.5O are show
ing biggest gains now, although the
s65O@6SA stuff has often sold of late
at 25c rise.
In the butcher class prices are about
on a level with the best of last week.
In the heifer class above the cent line
and most everything in the cow line
above the cutter quality Is 10M20c
above a week ago. The she stock shows
less strength than for steers which is
evident of packers small needs.
But little change of price is noted in
the bull trade and only the fat grades
show any material betterment over
week ago. The top for prime beef bulls
went at $3.50 this week against $3.50
the close last Saturday.
Bolognas Of plain and medium kind
had slow action, due to short outside
orders, but it was fairly good market
for beefy big weights. Little general &C
tivity in the trade for any class, though
this condition, has been shown all the
week Absence Of brisk eastern demand
for the big -weight bolognas has held
prices for them down all this week, and
a general break of 25@35c is still
shown from high point two weeks ago,
while beef bulls are largely 15@25c
lower
The advance in butcher cattle values
this week has been scored only after
hard efforts on the part of sellers and
on moderate supplies. Missouri river
markets are getting little and only
curtailment Of demand through high
priced beef seems to stand in the way
Of a good acting trade.
Gamers and cutters have been sadly
neglected this week and even the sup
plies have been light. Prices are no bet
ter than the low point last week.
In the veal calf trade there appears
no decided change in price. The market
has been easy throughout the week
receipts above last week
and last year Heavies of killing grade
have been scarce and at the same time
not much desired.
Beef Reports not the Best.
Beef trade reports are not encourage
ing, but they have been bearish for
weeks past. and still the killers and,
eastern houses, running their plants on
hand to mouth basis, have been COM
PEELED to buy freely and at advancing
rates on every little turn toward bet
ter situation. Lent is having no mater
ial effect on the market and the sup
plies of eastern fed cattle are not run
ming as freely now as few weeks ago.
when they proved a bearish factor in
the trade. but there is still a generous
of this eastern fed stuff to go
forward later this season. Its effect,
however, promises to be offset in some
measure by the small fat beef supplies,
which are bound to come into the river
markets where shortage has been in
the acute stage for some weeks past,
and the future promises an even
quota of good quality grades
for those markets.
Combined total of cattle, hogs and