Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-03-13
Hogs at Record Price
In Portland Yards

Portland, Or, March l3.-Yester-
days hog market made the most SEN
sational jump in prices ever made here.
There was but light supply here
about 1900 head-which was bought
up at sellers prices. The demand was
several times larger than the supply
and first bids were on a 80 cents high
er basis. After short while bids were
aeain lifted and several loads were dis
posed of at $14@14.10. Prices for the
day were from 80 to IS cents higher
than last week S close Three loads of
prime hogs sold at $l4.35 to outside
packers, with several other punches at
$1425. All other sales were made at
$14 and $l4l0. Pigs were advanced 70
cents, with best stuff being taken at
$13 and the bulk of the sales at $l2.75
The market closed 6n a firm basis, sew
eral buyers not getting their orders
filled.
| The bulk of hogs sold a week ago at
$12.S5@13.50; month ago at $12@
1920; a year ago at $S.60@9; two
years ago at $7@7.25; three years ago
at $S.60MS.70; -four years ago at 500
9.25.
Cattle Are Weaker
After last week s large run of cat
tie, which totaled over 2200 head, and
the market closing with an easy tone,
yesterdays run of cattle totaled over
400 head. There was a good demand
from small coast butchers, who took
their supplies early on a steady basis
with a week ago. Large killers who are
all well supplied with present needs
were rather bearish and the bulk of
the days beef was disposed of at 10
to 20 cents lower than at last week s
opening. The feature of the day s trade
was the sale of a few heavy steers
owned by F. c. Oxman of Durkee, Ore
gon, at $1,000.
There were 10 loads of prime steers
from Montana which were weighed to
local killers. The receipts of cattle are
much heavier than was expected and
the present decline in cattle values is
believed to be only temporary.
Sheep Prices Hold Up
Sheen supplies yesterday were light
and prices on steady basis. Demand
was fairly good, although packers are
not killing very much on account of
the light demand from retailers. One
load of good wool ewes brought 1919
with q load of shorn wethers at $1,000.
There have been no lambs on the mar
ket for over week, but prime wool
lambs are quoted from 1920 to $3.50
Wool Situation Tight
Z. w. Rumble, manager of the Co.
lumbia Basin Wool Warehouse Co. in
reviewing the wool markets and the
outlook for the year says:
"The wool situation is certainly get
ting to be a tight one. Wool markets
in manufacturing centers keep mod
erately active, and prices have been
mounting rapidly. Back of this is the
fact that London sales are finishing
at the highest point, with greasy Me
rinos selling three to six cents, and
cross-breds four to six cents above
January.
"Boston has now reached an asking
price at east of about $l.40 clean basis
Tor good staple fine woods, $3.50 for
French, $1.25 possibly for half bloods,
and $110 for three-eights. Quarters
have not been taken hold of so well
lately, but undoubtedly they will i'm
prove shortly.
'Dealers throughout the northwest
are taking contracts for wool on the
sleeps back, when the growers are
willing to SELL at prices ranging from
33e to soc for fine woods and 40c to 45C
for medium and eross-bred woods
These prices, at the moment, woulC
not appear out of line with asking
clean prices, Boston. The fact remains
however, that TIE entire market at tht
present is purely speculative. Grades
and qualities seem to be remote con
sideration, as it is an evident fact tha
both dealers and producers are content
ing themselves with the thought tha
wool is WOOL and that the real mer
its of the trade will not be known un
til the woods are prepared and read,
for market.