, 1921-07-07

consider.
The receipts to June 18th at the
I important markets for the past
five years are as follows:
Cattle Sheep
1921 ---3.646.OO 4.79l 900
1920 -----4,O1O,OO 3,715.OOO
1919 --------4,45O.OO 4,l54.OO0
1918 -----4,745,0O 1854 900
1917 -----3,95S.OO 3.a74.O0O
You will note from this that sheep
still continue to come in large num-
bers and that the decrease since
1918 in cattle is consistent and has
changed but very little in percent
ages since the first Of the year.
The Market Reporter. fort June
18th. published by the Department
Of Agriculture at Washington. makes
the statement regarding sheep re-
ceipts which we quote below:
considering the facts that the
estimated number of sheep and
lambs on farms January list this
year was 2.OOO.O 900 less than on the
corresponding date OF 1920 and that
the number slaughtered during the
first four months this veal was APP
proximately 1000, 900 greater than
during the corresponding period last
| year, IL Is pOSSlUle u Eel d ldlT lutd
of the extent to which liquidation in
the sheep industry has been carried"
1t is well to note carefully this
information. also the statement they
have prepared showing the average
weight OF dressed beef during 1920
as compared with 1921. We have
always been led to believe that a big
corn GRO meant excessive weights in
dressed carcasses of cattle. but the
figures provided by the government
show that in 1920 the average weight
for April was sos pounds, while the
average for 1921 "a 53S pounds.
This sixty-pOund difference means
an enormous decrease in the amount
Of dressed beef available. Those in
terested in securing correct infOr-
nation about live stock matters will
find the Market Reporter published
weekly by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture in Washington
a most valuable source of informa-
ton. This paper can be secured
without difficulty. 1t is one OF the
very best features that the Depart
ment of Agriculture has provided for
the benefit of the stockgrowers.
Since January list, 1921. fluctua-
ton in weekly receipts at the 20 big
markets has continued to be violent
and we note hal the largest week
shows a total of 2S6.00O cattle as
compared with 1913, 900 for the
smallest week. The f%luctuation in
the receipts of all kinds OF live stock
for that period varies from a total
Of 1,569,00O cattle, hogs and sheer
to a minimum of $4,000. The
largest week was in January, the
smallest. the first week in June
Producers should realize the diff
Guilty of trying to take care Of sucf
a wide difference. in totals, with cor
responding variation Of money re
quirements. and something must bt
worked ont to correct that situation
as 1t has much to do with price
making.
Leaving these figures. to return tt
them shortly. 1t is our opinion tina,
the present prices for live stock are
somewhat below that at which they
will finally become established. A.
a matter of fact, some important
commodities seem to average higher
in price than justified. while others
such as wool, cotton and hides. arc
lower. Live stock prices have, un,
doubleday. been affected by the poor
price paid for by-products. such as
hides and wool. There seems to be
some improvement in the demand
for these by-products. however,
which should help cattle prices. We
will stand by our guns in predicting
Better cattle prices for the fall
months of 1921.
We note in Armour's Magazine,
the following statement is given
prominence:
"Under the surface of things the
packing industry made some inn
prOvement last month in the condi-
ton of its business. A continuation
Of healthy foreign trade. with fur
Their adjustment OF international po-
"litical tanples that gives exports a
chance to breathe. gave an impetus
to the encouragement that had been
felt in the industry during the
previous month"
In connection with present-day
situations. the financial stringency,
ct course, is the big cloud that shad-
ows all lines OF business. After III.
we think 1t is more or less a scuti-
iental cloud. and feel that if prices
should recover slightly an improve
ment in business would come about
and money would almost instantly
ease up and credits be restored
There is just as much money in the
United States as there was two
years ago, perhaps more; and. as
things are cheaper. the money she Md
20 further; but confidence seems to
be lacking. and it is the business OF
everyone to try to tempt confidence
out into the open again, and restore
normal movement in commerce.
While this letter Is being writ
plans are being considered in Chi
cago with the object Of taking care
Of the present conditions through
some financial plan. How this may
work out is hard to tell. but it is our