, 1885-04-23
KICKS LIKE a STEER.
A Man From Missouri Objects to
the Quarantine Law.
Flippant Charges About Extortion
at the Stock Yards.
Safety Depending Upon a Rigid
Scrutiny of Stock.

N0a1k @"(
in the yards here and are now being held
under the quarantine proclamation issued
by Gov. Warren, whereat Mr.. Jackson is
indignant. He claims that the cattle are
in perfect health and asserts hat he is be
ing held up by the manager of the
stock yards, who charges him $25 a ton
for hay, when he can get a better bay for
less money. He also claims that unless
he buys the stock yards hay, he will be
charged a price for the use Of the yards
equal to the cost of the hay. Publicity
having been given his side of the story, a
reporter of THE LEADER made a thor
ough investigation last night.
Mr.. r. s. Van Tassell, the manager OF
the stock yards, was seen at his residence
on Ferguson street Mr.. Van Tassell
knew nothing about the cattle in question,
but was satisfied a mistake had been made,
or a false rumor circulated. He sent for
n of his yard men and while awaiting
the mans arrival the matter of charges at
the yard was discussed.
The rates for hay include the use of the
yards, water, care and all other needs of
the cattle, Mr.. Van Tassell makes the
rate from SIS to $1s per ton for qnardn-
tined cattle, the difference in price being
that between the cost of native and Ne
braska hay. Stock in transit is charged
$25 a ton for hay. In Nebraska yards,
where hay is obtained for 81 a ton, the
standard rate is $40. Here it costs from
SO to Sl4 a ton and is sold for $25, a ratio
Of charge which is strongly in favor ofthe
Nebraska yards. This man Jackson has
never called at the managers office, has
never seen the manager in fact, and has
yet to make any report about his cattle.
"0ld Uncle Jimmy" one Of the yard
men, arrived in due time. He was ques-
toned about Mr.. Jackson's cattle and
stated that Mr.. Jackson had brought the
eighteen head to the yards. jackson
asked about the price Of hay and was told
that the usual rate was $25. Uncle
Jimmy told him, however, that if his
cattle were held in quarantine the price
for hay would be made satisfactory, for no
quarantined stock ever paid $25 a ton for
hay, although transient stock was charged
that Price. Jackson made no complaint
and after asking if one Of his bulls could
be put in a shed he left the yards.
1t seems, therefore, that MI. jackson
complains that he is compelled to pay a
rate for hay, when, of a fact, he was as
sured BY one of the yard men hat special
rates would be given him provided his
cattle were guaranteed. 1t also appears
hat he made no complaint, and it is
shown that he did not even consider it
necessary to call at the managers office
with a purpose Of learning what he would
be charged.
Immediately after the above facts had
been learned the reporter saw a member
of the executive committee OF the Stock
Growers association. The gentleman
stated that the quarantine had been issued
for the purpose of protecting the herds of
the territory. 1t is well and generally
known that pleuro-pneumonia now exists
in Kansas and Missouri. The disease
will lay dormant in an affected animal for
from thirty to ~forty-iye DAYS. Were cat
tie from the infected regions not auaran-
tined against they would be brought
here. would be turned out on the range in
apparently good health, the disease would
break out in a few weeks, and the result
would be a direct loss of many millions of
dollars to the stock growers not to
mention the serious indirect losses
which the stock interests would
necessarily suffer. The quarantine was
needed and was a wise measure, although
it might work a trifing hardship in indi-
yidul cases. All that is asked of Mr..
Jackson or of anyone else is that a clean
bill of health be shown.
In the case under consideration the cat
tie came from Missouri. Mr.. jackson
says they came from a county adjoining
one where pleuro-pneumonia now exists.
1t is certainly not asking too much to re-
quire him to produce satisfactory evidence
that his cattle were not exposed to the
~contagion, and were in good health before
they left Missouri. If the situation we're
reversed. if he had a herd of cattle on the
range, he would not want a lot Of Mis-
souri, cattle turned loose among his stock
without the exercise of proper precautions
against the spread of disease. He can
telegraph for the necessary afidavits as to
the condition of his cattle and in three OF
eorr dovs tho rarers will bo have
', P"pS'' w i'll,