The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-07
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
DEAD ANIMALS IN TRANSIT.

A SToCKMAN GIVES HIS VIEWS IN REGARD TO
RIGHTS OF OWNERS.
To the Editor of the San Francisco CaIl-SrR: In
your news column of to-day and your editorial
column of yesterday you make somewhat i'm
perative demand for law giving the City the
power to condemn and confiseate all animals
dying IN transit. In your opinion public health
requires it. Very we'll, but would like you to
calmly view the situation and then see if you
can agree that such q course is just.
1 am cattle dealer or trader. I will no
doubt come under your proposed law. That is
it such law is passed will be apt to suffer
with the rest. would therefore ask for a tair
trial at your hands.
The commercial value of dead steer, or as it
is technically known O 'downer,' is SO. This
much was testified to by ex-Supervisor Jeff G.
James. You seem to doubt the statement so
give you herewith the details, which are as
follows! The hide is worth from 81 to 3d. fat,
hoofs, horns, ETC., 81 IS to ST. rs, bones, 81 %
to 81 so. You may see from the above figures
that ex-Supervisor James was right in his fig
ure. make my figures from the business col
uInns of THE CALL, which are generally correct.
The above value is what the contractor for
the removal of dead animals will realize.
The death OF animals in transit is at the most
loss to the owner. Every precaution is taken
to prevent it: good man always accompanies
the train. His business is to keep the cattle ON
their feet and prevent any bruise or other in
jury from Detailing his cattle. Yet deaths are
bound to happen.
The owner or shipper of the animals are in
no way responsible for their death. They have
violated no law, they have in no way inter-
Tered with rights of others, and now you pro-
pose that they shall be deprived of their prop
erty upon their arrival in San FranciscO-and
that too, without any consideration whatso-
ever.
You say the public health requires it. Very
Well. But / ask is it fair, just or honest that
this great City should take from any man
property to the value of So and give it to the
fortunate holder of the contract for the re-
moval OF dead animals? Does not that seem
somewhat unfair to you?
Granted that public health or public good
required the confscation of the carcass of every
animal dying in transit, would it not be fair
Tor the City to compensate the owners for such
animals as are seized? If the Board of Health
thinks that the health of the City is endan-
gered by these cattle dying in transit, why not
propose law providing for the seizure of the
Objectionable carcasseS, authorize the in
spector to sell the same for its market value,
ana turn over the money to the owner?
The cattle and pork interest OF California are
put little understood by people out OF the
trade. They have bright future and will ma
terially add to the value of California manu-
features. The great City of San Francisco
should help and encourage this greal indus
try. Beef and pork made Chicago rich. 1t
migh do much more for San Francisco. OPP
therefore it should be the aim of every fair
minded citizen to treat such matters fairly,
honestly and Justly. SToCKMAN.
Oof