New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-17
HORRORS Of THE CATTLE SHIPS.
AN EVIL AGAINST WHICH EXPORTERS AND IN.

AN EVIL AGAINST WHICH EXPORTERS AND Inc
sURANCE COMPANIES ARE COMPLAINING.
The loss of the steamer Queensmore OF Mizzen Head
Ireland last week. has given impetus to a project
which is being agitaed among the cattle shippers OF
the Atlantic seaboard, namely, to compel steamship
lines engaged in the cattlecaTying trade 10 furnish
better accommodations for their cargoes carry fewer
cattle. The losses due TO overcrowdng and severe
storms at sea have become heavy lately that not
alone the shippers. but the insurance companies also
are anxious to find remedy for the evil. Ths
oueensmore was bound from Baltimore to Liverpool,
and she had on board 907 head OF cattle belonging to
NJ Goldsmith and Meyer HOuseman, OF this city. and
Lehman Brothers, Of Baltimore. All these were loss
except five bulocks that swan ashore. and twenty
that were rescued by boatmen. This is the heavtoss
loss, at one blow, OF live cattle shipped from
America for many years. But, though not
so many beeves Perish at the aggregate
Of losses occurring all the time from the two causes
mentioned MISUNDERSTANDING and storms-s apf
palling.
The business N shipping cattle has become one
OF great importance within the last two years. since
this country has been raising such enormous corn
crops and it Is likely continue About looOo hesd
of live cattle it safe to say, are shipped every
week from American ports and chiefly from New-fork
TO Europe They nearly all go to the United Kingdom,
but about 700 week are sent 10 Germany. Tho
rates at present-from 10 IS shngs a head. msl,d
the transportation Of cattle exceedingly profitable.
and one great transatlantic line the National. stopped
carving passengers entirely TO engage in the cattle
trade.
The exporters complain that tho chief object OF The
steamship people is to crowd many cattle aboard
as can be done without regard to the safety or COM
fort Of the brites Some steamers carrying high as
900 live cattle have sailed from here recently, tho
animals being confined below decks. Their main
source OF air Is through the hatches As long the
weather IS fine they do comparatively WE'LL but when
the sea rises and waves sweep over the decks, the
matches are battened down and there is way
possible with the present construction OF these cattle
ships 10 supply the animals with sufficient air. All
they get IS from a few pipes with funnel like
tons that lead down below. The consequence Is that
the poor bruies die by from suiiOestlon. On
recent voyage the Span OF the National Line. took
on the way over All this loss falls the exporters
or the insurance companies and II Is making so
rious hole IN the profits OF the business. The In
surance companies are threatening that II the prac
tee OF Overcrowding Is not stopped they viii NOS
insure over 800 or 700 cattle In one ship.
There ought 10 be special law passed. SAID .
largely Interested In cattle expectation reg'i-
ating this ocean traffic Just a. there is law regu-
latilg cattle transportation In railway cars, II for
other reason, for humany's sake. There ought 10
be Government inspectors or some inspectors VINO
60 aboard every ship before she sails and see tnss
the number Of cattle on board Is properly n nasss
AS It inspectors from the insurance ecm , 4.
go board. but their orders are not cas,e rlrht al
the insurance companies send .Rs are MARKED
so n goes and the tracks Of the cste sep "a
across the ocean Oy n the .rOt Ssrsd he q.
ventilated holis and thrown overso,r n,ns ssnses
comes from the makeshitt poMsyy Be- sons day they
steamers into ,s.2 build for the spseI
VIII ou'a ~ 'r ciprryina cattle CS''An'' 'A' 0u''As
q sncS as to Justly II no~.