Show GRAIN AND PROVISIONS Chicago Dec Dee 16 An Improved demand for cash wheat heat by millers in the Ule west had a strengthening effect on the wheat market today final quotations showing net gains of to 1 1 cent Corn oats o ts and provisions closed easy eal The wheat market was a nervous and narrow narro affair with prices gradually working to a higher level leel the th top tOI point of the day da being reached late in the ses aes session sion The close dose was strong at almost t the highest point final quotations UK on May Ja being belli at 1 and on July JuI The Ille market was strengthened early in the thc th day tJ y yb by b a report of liberal sales of flour over Ier overnight overnight night at St Louis but this report was later denied report from Kansas City Cit claiming that millers were werl active bidders for or cash wheat in Missouri and southern Illinois was largely lar e responsible for the late firmness Strength of foreign grain markets was an additional bullish influence ence Commission houses and local shorts short were the principal buyers buers throughout the day and selling scattered Corn was firm early In the day May Ia closed at GJ 62 and July Jul at 61 Cash corn was steady to lower The oats oatt market was vas as easy Cagy nith s unchanged to to i lower compard d with the previous close Final quotations on May Ia ay were at j 5 4 and on Jury July Tur Provisions were weak e k all day R Prices at the close chose were a n shade to 7 cents below belo yesterdays final quotations quotation The leadIng futures rang ranged d as WHEAT I Open I High Low I Close Dec Dee jit f May lay Ilo 10 a 1106 July JUl 19 97 I i I 1 Open I High i Low i i Close Cios Dec Dee i 57 il j 57 i i 15 57 May 61 1111 61 bl 61 July Jul 61 m 61 I OATS I Open I High I Low 10 t Close Dec Dee I i 1 19 l 4 May lIay 2 July Tuly 47 47 4 1 MESS FORK Per Bbl I Open Op n I High j i Low Close Jan Jar 1560 1565 1563 1565 1500 May lIay 1603 1605 1392 1592 1 9 LARD Per Lbs L s sI I I Open i High i Low L I Close Jan I I 91 i I I 91 May i 1 90 0 I t 9 93 SHORT RIBS Per Lbs I I Open I j High j Low I Close Jan I I I I 12 I May Ia 82 Cash quotations were as follows I Flour Steady Wheat Xo 2 3 spring No Xo 3 Xo No 2 red i 1024 Corn Xo 2 c No Xo 2 yellow S Oats Xo o 2 Sic ale No Xo C 3 I white 9 Rye Xo 2 Barley Good feeding 57 iJ fair to choice malting 60 c Flax Seed Se Xo 1 1 Northwestern Seed Prime timothy i Clover Contract grades i Short Ribs Sides loose ii Mess Pork Per barrel 1450 1 1462 b i iLard Lard Per pounds Short Clear Sides boxed Si Rec Ship 1 Flour barrels barres 53 44 41 4 J Wheat bushels i 1 Corn bushels Oats bushels I Rye bushels Barley bushels I W I |