The Cecil Whig., 1882-05-27
BRINGING CATTLE EAST.

bNINIlNG IA LIE EASl.
Few persons comprehend the magni.
tude which the live stock trade of this
country has attained during the last fif-
teen years. Fewer persons realize the
conditions of the fresh meat as it is offer
ed for sale to the public Some thing has
been said by the human societies about
the cruelty that is practiced upon the
animals before they are slaughtered and
the danger arising from the consumption
of meat from feveriSh and otherwise un-
healthy creatures. And the effort to pre-
vent abuses has gone SO far as to secure
the passage of law by Congress prohib-
lting the continuous confinement of cat
tie, sheep, swine and other animals for
more than twenty-eight hours without
food and water. But this law has re-
manned a dead letter. Notwithstanding
the case with which its daily violation
can be proved at any time. and the other
abuses to which live stock in transit is
subjected are permitted to pass Hnnoticed.
The number of cattle received in Chica-
go in 1866 was 393, 900, as shown by the
the report of the Union Stock Yards
Company. The number has steadily in
creased from year to year, until in 1881
the receipts were ,49S. $50. During the
last sixteen years the receipts were 49,
045, 4S;' cattle, and also 60, 517, 1G1 hogs
5,1G0, 033 sheep and 13j, 922 horses. The
total value of all this live stock is given
at 81, ,4SS, SIC, $50. The shipments to the
Eastern markets during the same periods
rose from 263. 693 cattle in 1866 to 93S. 112
in 1881, the number for the sixteen years
mentioned being g. 921. i45. The remand
er represents the local consumption and
cattle slaughtered for canning and ship
ment in refrigerator cars, etc. OF live
sheep for the same time the shipments
were 2,329, 911, and of hogs, 81, 1O7, 9S4.
OF the million and half cattle which
reached Chicago last year only 5000 were
driven into the yards, the remainder
coming from all parts of the Yves, and
Southwest as far as Texas and Colorado
by railroad.
LOSSES FROM CRUELTY AND NEGLECT.
y gentleman who has paid much atten-
tion to the subject of the transportation
of live stock, spent several days in the
Chicago cattle yards recently, and made
trip on a cattle train from Chicago to
New York, il order to make himself
familiar by personal observation with the
abuses that prevail. He gives the follow
ing account of his experience:
"Some idea OF the condition of the an
imals on arriving at Chicago may be
found when it is known that the dead
hogs average fully one to a car load, and
this when the weather and other condi-
tions are favorable, while a careful inspec-
tion of the books of the railroads shows
that the dead cattle, including those
which are SO badly crippled as to have no
greater commercial value than if dead.
average about five per day. These dead
animals include only those which have
died since leaving the last preceding feed
ing station, where the dead and badly
wounded were not reloaded. If by su-
prcme effort, induced by extreme torture
and desire to accompany its companions
the animal can rise to its feet and leave
saw a poor creature, after repeated and
most desperate efforts, succeed in rising
to its feet, after it had been dragged from
the car. ard, trembling violently in every
part of its body, it was finally able to
follow its companions. The shouts and
thrusts of the attendants in another car
that had just rived at the yards had no
effect upon street which had been fore
ed down and trampled upon by its COM
rades until it was severely wounded, but
a deXterous twist of the tail, giving
violent shock to the spinal column,
startled the animal and it made Il last
desperate effort to rise, but in vain, and
further twisting of the tail and kicks and |
shouting We're of no avail. Unable to !
hold its head up longer, it submitted |
quietly to all the cruelty that was prac-
ticed upon it. 1t was dying. The records |
show that the number that reach the Chi |
cago yards in this condition is greater |
than that Of the actually dead. Broken |
horns with the blood dripping from them, |
and other evidences of injury, are seen
on almost every train. On arriving in
Chicago the cattle are driven into small |
pens, where they are compelled to remain
until Sold in mud and rain, when the
weather is bad, without shelter.
" 1t is admitted by dealers that it is
the common practice of shippers to give
the cattle great quantities of salt and of |
food intended to produce thirst. and yet |
on coming to the yards they are not al
lowed to have water. The troughs in the |
Chicago Stock Yards, are generally dry, |
and have seen the attendants drawing |
the water from the troughs when the an
imals were So thirsty as to make it dan. |
gerous to remain in the pens; and they |
would lick the muddy ground as the
water ran over it. When sale is made, |
however they are given all the water
they can drink, Immediately after which |
they are weighed. This is a universal
practice, ana it is upheld even by the |
most conscientious shippers ami dealers.
We are obliged to do all we can for our
customers was the plea in extenuation
of the practice made by the senior men,
Der of commission house noted for its
honesty and upright dealing"
RAMMY, RAMMY, RAM.
BurifagtoH Ua9keye.