Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1894-03-15

transfer 16 hours after being loaded, were
there side tracked for 6 hours, and before
Igot them unloaded and fed hay at $4,000
per ton, they had been 26 hours without
feed and water; fully eight hours longer
than was necessary. Sheep are not
gormands. but very choice in what they
eat OF dry food, and when it is attempted
to replace loss with $1,000 hay, which
has been bailed wet and green, you are
left. The Alert says, in late issue, that
Mr.. Frank Jandel reported shrinkage
of 20 pounds per head through slow
freight 90 the complaint is universal and
l am sure my loss was not less than
% per cent.
Now il that is the best service the
railroads can give their patrons We must
give up these branches of diversified
farming, or sell to local butchers at their
own price; for by the time we pay
freight, yardage, commission, feed bills,
fare back home, and stand shrinkage of
20 per cent, there is not much left but
expense, OF which I have had my salts
faction. as Mr.. Carley has of hogs which
a few years back he had to dispose of
at 3 cents per pound, when he was ey-
periment1rg. Bro. Carley thinks we
might arrest these abuses by votes 'in
our interest," of course, but have con-
cluded to quit the branches OF diversified
20 ohnya
perimeDting with votes, and conslgn to
our railroads only such products as are
imperlshable until I know that their
service is greatly II proved, until they
will agree to deliver stock at certain
places in so many hours and furnish feed
at less than - per cent profit.
What the farmers need is assistance in
marketing his produce. The rigorous
winters and the long seasons which be
must feed stock make neglect on the
part OF others intolerable, and dis
| courage those who lead in new
lines, and has caused many of our settlers
to move to other localities where their
| requirements are complied with. We are
! not in the worst part of the world; our
climate Is healthy the year round for
man and beast, with only very few days
in winter but that stock. relish outdoor
exercise. And with mutual understand
| ing between the railroads and the people
| that the stock interests would receive due
! consideration from the railroad COM
panies, we could compete with the more
| favored western localities, and many who
are now farmers in this part, inst making
living growing wheat, would be farmers
| in the full sense of the word, if their iu-
terests in marketing were duly consld-
cred: for to succeed as farmers We must
have something to sell each season of the
| year Exclusive wheat, or grain raising
does not occupy the year, nor does
1t consume the unsaleable products
which should be fed to stock. But |
find that the shrinkage caused by irreg
ular railroad transportation takes away
the profits Of sheep and cattle. l have
kept at every branch of the business and
thought that
"One of these days. when the good times
| come.
There will be lots of money and We will
get some.
SO we pray our prayer and sing our song
And we are waiting till the good time
comes along"
But Just now city advisors are load
! ing the farmer down with advice all
wrong, or else saying with Bill Nye.
Damn farmer any how
JNo. MILsTEAD.