Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-12-31
PRICES GO SHARPLY UPWARD |
BECAUSE OF STRONG DE-
MAND FOR OFFERINGS.
FRESH ARRIVALS FAIL
TO REACH EXPECTATIONS.
Prices for Light Hogs Make Material
Gains and Price Range Narrows-
Cattle Market Shows Strength Be-
cause Of Light Reosipts-shesp and
Lambs Receipts Relatively Scarce.

Chicago. Dec. 31.--Hogs advanced
sharply today In response to an ur-
gent general demand and because OF
the small number of arrivals
Underweight light hogs, which sold
a week ago at 5.40@5.5O on the low
spot, We're of the same class which
made 6.40@6.50 yesterday. More ma
tured animals were also higher, but
the gain was not SO sharp. Conse-
quently the spread in prices narrowed
up considerably.
Despite the sharp upturn noted in
light hog prices the demand continues
broad, and greatest part Of the crop
taken on shipping account consisted of
these offerings.
Sellers and country shippers can well
appreciate the narrowing of the
spread between light and heavy ami
mails, as it is much easier to transact
business satisfactorily.
underweight animals have fallen off
to some extent within the past week
or ten days. and il may mean that the
receipts of such lots will be compare
lively short from now on.
Country holdings are picking up in
weight, but because Of the abundance
of soft corn it takes more feed than
usual to put weight on stock.
Cattle.
Cattle ware relatively scarce and the
market was strong.
January is looked to as probable OF
bringing out continued heavy run Of
LOO to 1,380-pouud warmed-up and
short-fed steers from bad corn coun-
try. Liquidation has been ON for weeks
past and in many sections as fast as
corn was eaten up the cattle have oeen
moved. Where corn was more plenti-
full holding on has been a practice fol-
lowed. but with the price Of corn ae-
vancing as 1t has in recent weeks,
tendency to buy more Of It once the
home grown crop is exhausted is not
strong among many feeders.
Preference for the light steers OF
medium to pretty good grade az
against weightier sorts Is well ex-
planned. That class II meeting more
favorable beef action and killers as,
sert that q lot of stuff costing around
$3.50 and a little better, which has been
popular this week, have cost cheaper
in the beef and dressed out fully as
well as the $S.oo@s.25 kinds.
Plain big steers are bad actors and
promise to be for reason that the
butcher rarely wants heavy carcass,
and when he does he wants 1t a
strictly good one. A lot Of the 1900 to
1.400-pound and heavier short fed
cattle which have come in recent
weeks have had to sell at prices very,
little above their cost as feeders last
fall, and having eaten q lot of high
priced corn, they proved bad invest
ments. AS the season wears on and
weah-kneed holders Of such grades cut
loose, a smaller number. fed longer and
Of harder flesh, should sell to better
advantage. or at least the trade in
clines to this belief.
A generous run was today sighted
for next Monday, estimates being up to
$4,000 in frequent cases. but crop
nearer to 10000 doubtless would fill
orders. Tax time is at hand Jan. in
some states and tendency to cash cattle
to get them out of the way of the as
SCISSOR is always strong. The first Mon
day in January, 1a15. 22,4Ss arrived.
Sheep.
Sheep were not in abundant supply
and the market held steady.