Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-09-14

Massachusetts, and all New England, having
borne as long as they think they can, the quail
ity OF the meat which is furnished them from
the west, and the prices when they pay for it,
have sent hther Mr.. Lucien Prince, an agent of
the Massachusetts society for the prevention of
cruelty to animals, TO examine into the matter
of cattle transportation, gather all the facts con-
nectcd Herewith, and report the same, for leg
slative use. In his efforts to secure better
transportation, Mr.. Prince viii contribute to the
health of New England by looking after the
health Of the creatures which are now treated.
with less consideration than boots and1shoeS or
millinery, sent by express. In fact, beef packed
in barrels is better taken care Of than the living
creatures that suffer according to their measure
Of life, and whose suffering is instantly re-
Yenged by the deterioration of their usefulness
to man, and the transformation from nutritiye
food to active poison. The evils Of cattle trans
portatiOn are gross and long standing. The
fault lies between the shippers and the railroad
companies, both being to blame. The former
claim that the roads do not furnish sufficient
accommodations; the latter assert that they
supply all that the shippers are will
ing to pay for. The result is that
cattle are packed, by means o. steel
goads, into unventilated movable pens as closely
as il they were inanimate freight packages with
this difference, that the packages would not be
so packed as to cause them to iniure each other,
while no such consideration is ever taken INTO
account in the packing Of cattle. They are
thrust in so CLOSELY that each constantly stTug-
giles TO get its head high enough above his neigh
bors TO breathe; and in its struggle all suffer a
Shrinkage between Chicago and Boston, of from
ten to forty and fifty per cent, while all become
more or less diseased, and many die from sheer
exhaustion. The same transpres between Kan
sas City and Chicago; and the animals that
reach tbs city in q dead and dying condition are
dragged from the cars at the stock yards, hur
hurried to the slaughter houses, the inspector
wnkiug, and served out to Chicago customers.
After a brief rest, the already exhausted surviv
ors are hurried again into their steam prisons,
and conveyed at such speed and with such care
as chance may afford, to their eastern destina-
lions. Cattle are known to be kept in transit
thirty, forty, fifty, and even sixty hours, without
food, water or rest. They cannot lie in the
cars, or change their positions at all except by
violent struggle, and if one falls, it never rises
again alive. 1t is slowly smothered or quickly
trampled to DEATH
The railroads arc under no special obligations,
outside Of Illinois, TO see that the cattle are
rested watered or fed. While dead freight is
hurried through at lightning speed, cattle trains
are permitted TO stand on side tracks ten, twelve
and fifteen hours at a time, waiting for chance
10 proceed. Ii the delay occur at cattle yards
they may possibly be dsembarked and fed.
But the delays do not occur, as a rule, at cattle
yards, but in localities where neither water nor
food is available
The wanton punishment Of cattle in trans
pul tdllOu Is uItCtly IGUeCleu upon Iuelf human
consumers 1t is a well established fact that
beef of ieyercd, exhausted and diseased animals
Is deleteriOus and poisonous IL the human sys-
ten. Malignant disease has been known 10
follow the consumption Of diseased beef and
mutton; and it is asserted by high authority
that the yearly spread Of obstinate and fatal
stomach disorders is directly caused by worth
less meat The remedies for the correction of
these evils are simple enough in theory; but
against the obstinacy Of railroads and the blind
folly of shippers, they will be difficult of app-
Gallon. The shipper hazards his chances in the
market and is anxious TO rush the cattle
through in the quickest possible time,
regardless of their loss in shrinkage
The railroad does not concern itself
about the health or comfort of the animals, and
instead Of giving cattle trains the right of way
next alter passengers, runs them at a snaiPs
pace, and keeps them motionless on side tracks
TO whatever extent is necessary for the couve.
nlencc Of everything else, The Illinois law re-
qulrc5 i've hours lest, unlOaded, with water
and food, for every twenty-eight hours ride:
and compels the. railroad to take care of the
animals, giving it a lien upon them Tor their
pay. But il should also prescribe thar cattle
trains shall have the right Of way after pasSen-
ger trains, and that cattle trains shall be run at
a speed Of not less than twenty-five miles an
hour. Ii is doubtful, also, if five hours rest il
safe hygcnic ratio in twcntyeight hours ride
Inc bill concerning cattle transportation
which passed both houses Of congress last Kos,
SION, ohi IS Still imperative by reason of house
amendments which the senate did not reach
VIII be pressed for passage early next winter
II Gmbodies the ideas we have suggested, and
WIN settle the question, already raised in many
otnef ufectous, as TO whether congress can re9-
ulate commerce between the states. This con.
neGtion we direct attention to the article in our
local columns on the same subject; and suggest
that the board Of health will do well to look
after their Inspector at the stock yards.
Abbott will sell thrty-one house lots for @. II.
Mnrd nm I..inn-L.. ~ -