Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-03-25
MARKET TURNS WEAK WHEN
PACKERS REFUSE TO BID
FOR LATE ARRIVALS.
OPENING QUOTATIONS
S CENTS OVER FRIDAY
Part of Gains Lost in Later Trading
Cattle Market Holds Steady, Run 3d.
ing Light For Saturday-Shsep and
Lambs Sell at Fridays LeveIs-Cur.
rent Quotations.

Chicago. March 25.-Hogs failed to
hold an early advance today, packers
failing to enter competition in bidding
for the small supply Of fresh arrivals.
Opening prices were 5 cents above Fri
days close, but the market weakened
and part of the advance was lost.
Commoner grades of hogs have been
gradually working up in the price list,
so the range of values at present is
quite narrow. The strong weight pigs
or light weights that is. the sort
averaging around 100 to $50 pounds or
so, are now selling comparatively
higher than the heavier sorts as COM
pared with short while back.
Eleven markets received 6S, 400 hogs
Friday, or 1920 less than last Friday,
$500 less than year ago and 700 less
than two years ago. Total thus far
this week, $4,000, or $4,000 less than
same period last week, 10000 more
than like time last year. and $1,000
more than corresponding five days
two years ago. Total for 1916 to date,
S,s75, 900. or 1880 more than same
period 1915, and 2,722.o0o more than
corresponding time 1914.
Cattle.
Cattle Held steady. altho receipts
were hardly sufficient to make
market.
This weeks run has been disap-
pointing to buyers. A fve-day total
of $500 stands among the highest
weeks runs Of the year to date. and
compares with 41.s1s a week ago and
31,71S a year ago, while there have
been small runs in the west as well,
only $4,000 arriving at seven leading
markets, against $4,000 a week ago
and 10000 a year ago. The increase.
over a year ago is we'll needed in view
Of the much greater purchasing power
Of consumers, which has created 1ar
wider outlet for beef.
The product at current cost is close
up to the luxury class. but there Is no
substitute diet to turn to now which
can be called cheap. AS one trader re-
marked, "A few years ago the buyer
of a pound Of pork chops asked for 1t
in low breath Now he shouts out his
order In the butcher shop to let folks
know he has the price to pay for It.
High pork and mutton is help to
the sale of beef, even tho the latter
commodity has been marked up
Sharply in cost during recent weeks
There Is reason enough for the ad-
vance in wholesale and retail prices
since cattle are selling now anywhere
from 1925 to s1.75 and even more above
low point in February. and while tenn
porary recessions may come they are
likely to be infrequent in the spring
markets unless for some unforeseen
ha oh O siderable
increase.
facing a scarcity which had been ad-
vertised as sure to be shown for some
months past. Thousands Of cattle,
which were liquidated in midwinter
owing to bad feed-stufr conditions.
can not be replaced in feed yards un-
til a new corn crop is at hand, altho
the current high price will encourage
big production Of beef on grass this
season and pasture prospects are ex-
cellent Until the grass cattle crop
comes forward, however. corn-fed
steers must rule high in price, and
their value now is a strong incentive
for owners to feed corn literally. This
is particularly commendable move
in view of the recent sharp declines in
the price Of corn. That commodity,
selling at country points around So
cents. certainly appears well worth
the money to the cattle feeder in view
Of current prices for fat cattle.
Estimates on the run for next Mon
day were put at 10000 to $4,000 and
traders believe that 1t will be some
months off before another 10000 run
is had on Mondays. Beef outlet. while
not broad, is certainly able to con-