Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-03-20
LIBERAL SHIPMENTS TO CHICAGO
HAVE TENDENCY TO WEAKEN
MARKET.
PRICES CENTS UNDER
SATURDAYS AVERAGE
Cattle Offerings Relatively Plentiful
and Prices Weaken-Somethins Of
Scarcity Of Sheep and Lambs Re-
view Of Market conditions-Currsnt
Quotations at Market centers.

CnlCaSO, MARCH IV.-I1o5 AeSeiPSS
were too liberal for immediate re-
quirements and had weakening effect
on prices. which sold cents under
Saturdays average. 49,.
Receipts of hogs at Chicago for the
week totaled It's, 800. an increase Of IL
600 compared with the previous week.
So 500 compared with the same week
year ago and 80, 500 compared with the
corresponding week two years ago. The
run last week was about $4,000 larger
than generally expected. e.,
Average weight of hogs at Chicago
for the week was estimated at 2lo
pounds, the heaviest since the last week
of last September, pounds heavier
than the preceding week, 10 pounds
lighter than the same week last year
and 81 pounds lighter than the corre-
spending week two years ago. The
same week in 1909 the official average
weight was only 209 pounds.
Top hogs at ChicagpN"fer the week
made 10.021a, against 1910 the previous
week. 700 a year ago and S.92k two
years ago. While the top receded 1T
tie the average price worked hlgher
and was figured at 9.7o, the hlghest
since April, 1910, or 25 cents higher
than the preceding week. go higher
than same week last year and l.oo
higher than the corresponding week
two years ago.
Eleven markets received 40,700 hogs
Saturday, making $4,000 for the week.
or 10000 more than the previous week.
&c, 900 more than the same week lase
year and $4,000 more than the .corre-
spending week two years ago. Total Ior
1916 to date S,38O,000, or 1,342,Oo0 more
than the same period 1915 and 2,624,0oo
more than the corresponding time 1914
Cattle.
Cattle offerings were relatively plen-
tiful.
The reaction in the market from top
levels shown early last week was
not unexpected Beef has been go
ing higher at wholesale and retail for
some weeks past and a slowing up OF
consumer call for it is the natural re-
suit Of advanced costs even tho the
higher prices are logical in view OF
shorter supplies this season.,
The trade has been running into
period OF smaller supplies for five weeks
past and the result was price gains all
the way from 81 to s1.5o on rank and
file Of the receipts. altho killers have
been able to hold down the tops. {
A big share Of the run which sold
at sS50m925 this week went fully 81 20
higher than low time in February and
this advance in cost has naturally been
reflected in retail prices.
Consumer purchasing power has
broadened. however and becoming ac-
customed to the new scale OF costs.
beef eaters will likely want as much OF
it as any time. Current prices are
legitimate. There is far shorter crop
of fat beef than usual available for
spring markets as result OF bad corn
over wide section of the country last
season. and the industrial situation Is
such as puts the consumer in position
to buy beef. even tho it is high.
AS result of the favorable business
conditions any little setback from a
bu!lish market is looked upon as OF
merely temporary duration.
Cattle are in strong hands. and the
price weakening in recent days Is not
expected to have effect in lettering
bullish sentiment. A continued dose OF
light supplies. which seems assured, is
bound to drive out bearish sentiment
that now exists in some of the packing
channels. Big local houses are trying
their best to arrest price advances, and
while they have succeeded this week,
1t is apparent that their beef stocks
are moving as fast as they are accum-
ulated, and this is not a bearish con-
dition. Rather it should have the OPP
posite effect.
Sheep.
There was something. Of a scarcity
of sheep and lambs.
Lamb prices fluctuated all week, and