Evening star., 1934-06-30

CHICAGO, June 30.-Hot weather,
among other adverse factors, depressed
all live stock this week. Some reac-
ton in hog prices following the earlier
spectacular climb to the 500 level was
naturally to be expected with con-
sumption slowing up because of high
temperatures. The beef market was
unable to absorb an unwieldly supply
of light cattle grading below choice.
Hence it was only a matter of time
until such cattle worked sharply
lower. Southwestern and also North
western grassers running more freely
than heretofore this season. A COM
paratively small crop of strictly I'm
:shed steers and yearlings held Up.
1.220-pound Nebraska fed offerings
making 10.40 at Chicago, the peak
since January, 1882.
Inactivity rather than activity,
however. featured all branches of the
late trade. increased receipts and mar
row pre-holiday demand contributing
to the break. Lambs lost more than
other species of live stock. declining
50a75. occasionally 100. while cattle
and hogs finished largely 25s50 down
with few exceptions.
Pig Crop Smaller.
At least, the prospective outlook is
favorable. According to survey
made by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture in cooperation
with the Post Office Department
through the rural mail carriers. the
Spring pig crop of 1884 on June !
was % per cent smaller than the 1888
crop and prospective decrease of 80
per cent in the number of soWs 10
farrow next Fall, compared with the
Fall season of 1888 was indicated.
The decrease IN the 1884 Spring crop
was general all over the United States.
with sharp reductions IN nearly all
States. In the same survey it was
found that the number of hogs over
months of age on farms was con-
Slderably smaller than last year. the
decrease for the corn belt being about
l per cent and for the entire country
about II per cent. For the United
States this decrease amounts to about
100000 hogs
The Government continued to push
its drought cattle-buying campaign.
Up to June 81. approximately 49O.6l8
cattle have been purchased in drought
afflicted areas, mostly the Dakotas,
Minnesota and Wisconsin on Govern
ment account to be processed for re-
lief distribution at several packing
centers. In addition. 25.l52 have been
purchased for condemnation on farms.
Several thousand head of drought
cattle have been picked up in Texas
and Arizona by the Government and
the work is also getting under way in
Montana and other Northwestern
States.
Heavy Steers OFF Slightly.
This weeks decline on fed steers and
yearlings did not effect heavies seri-
ously. but comparatively speaking only
a handful falling in the latter cate
CORY showed up. Long yearlings and
light steers reached new highs early
in the week. l.120-pound offerings. for
example making 1000 at Chicago
Light yearlings. mixed yearlings and
heifers shared the full decline as the
creased
Native lambs brought $50 at Chi
cago before the break. the late bulk
going at 8 so downward closely sorted.
In the Willamette Valley. Greg. it is
estimated that 40 per cent of the
lambs have moved, contracts for June
and July delivery ranging from $50 10
500 with a few to $50. San Fran
cisco Bay district lamb slaughter for
the first five months of 1884 is about
per cent less than the corresponding
period in 1888. Future contracting of
feeder lambs in the intermountain
country is as yet of extremely small
volume.
The Chicago hog top this week was
Sis. with 490 paid at the close. Bet
ter grade hogs scaling 220-32O pounds
brought mostly 4.8oa4 90, Thursday. at
the same point