The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-28
CATTLEMEN STIRRED UP.
MUCH ADO oVER A CHANGE IN RAIL
ROAD RATES.

"N""
The Large Interests and the Small Ones in
tho West Widely Divided in Opinion
as to the Desirabi1ity of tho Aboii-
tion of the Feeding-in-Transit SYSTEM.
OMAHA. Neb. May 25-stockmen and in
terests OF n kindred nature between Chicago
and the Pacific slope will not soon forget this
date because to-day the feeding in-transit rates
were abolished on all Western railroads. Proba-
bly, no event in the history OF the West since the
completion Of the Union Pacific means so much
to the Western stock interests as this departure
from n policy established a quarter OF a century
ago. Though n very animated discussion has
already developed US TO what interests will
most lose or profit by the change. there ia no
difference Of opinion as to the material effect
the abolition OF these rates will have in the
way OF stimulating the live stock industry
generally.
Those cattlemen who raise and feed small
lunches OF stock annually not exceeding,
perhaps. a hundred head. are pleased with
the change. and insist that they will profit by
the new rates. although perhaps at the ex-
pense OF the great cattle outfits and big
breeders Ct the West. The large stock SYM
dicates and breeding companies. whose herds
run into the thousands-the great range
owners with their thousands OF rough stock
for sale-they are not so well pleased with the
change. In fact. from them come vigorous
protests. but the railroad managers, for once
at least. are listening to the voices of the small
stock raiser and the farmer. The range owner
and cattle syndicate managers candidIy assert
that a continuance Of the new rates means tho
practical abolition OF their interests. but the
small stockmen OF Nebraska. Kansas. Wyoming
and South Dakota mildly reply that though this
may be the case the destruction of fecding-in-
transit rates means the promotion Of n nun.
dred small stock ranches for the abolition OF
each one big ranch.
These feeding in -transit rates made the great
cattle outfits OF Nebraska. Wyoming. South
Dakota and Kansas possible. and the abolition
OF them will very likely deprive those interests
OF a considerable source OF revenue. Just what
relation the range owners and large breeders
will sustain to the small stockmen in future 10
not quite clear yet. To prevent the rates being
changed the range owners and large cattle
outfits declared that they would be forced out
OF business II the old-time rates we're abol-
ished. but the indications are that they made
their side Of the case as strong as possible and
that the result will not be- Us severe as they
predicted. But the opposition asserts that.
even II the apprehensions OF the big fellows do
not prove groundless. the stock interests gem
orally will be improved by the change. because
the aggregate Of cattle fed and bred in the
Western States will be increased. and the
number OF persons engaged in the business
will be correspondence increased.
The feeding-in-transit rate is a relic Pf the
pioneer days in railroading and cattle raising
in the West. After the Union Pacific was COM
pleted it was found that there were plenty OF
cattle west OF Nebraska and Kansas. but moth
ing but range grass to feed them on. There
was plenty OF corn in Nebraska. but 1t was OF
little value because there was little stock to
feed the grain to. The Western stock could
not be put on the market prodtAbly without
first being fed corn for several months-in
other words. being finished" Freight rates
In those days were enormous from the noun
tains to the Missouri River. and the local rates
were still worse, A car Of cattle cost about
$500 from Utah and Montana points to
the Missouri River. and IL the big range owner
from the extreme West wanted to send
a trainload OF stock into Nebraska to ps
,aan.at mna .nep .o'n M men on 10
market. ne hau 10 pa, as nuch 10 the local
point in Nebraska as to the Missouri River.
m.rket ho mo-. ,nr,"d 80 n 10 in.,
mSrhet nc was ,oreee TO pay the local rate.
fore hs could not utilize Nehra.ka corn and
Tho Nshr,st. t,rn,ar .nrara1 in avn Wv
TO find a home market for Nebraska and Kan
sas corn and promote the stock interests in
tho territory the line traversed. the Union
Pacific officials established the feeding-in-
transit rates. Other lines followed as they
were extending west.
It'll worked in this way: The range owner
80 20 '. Lie oiE s'USk synuicate oiliea ms
tram U ieouers 10 the Htissourl ana paid the
ii.s. Of mnioad,no and isodtno his az pf. Y.
Kearnev and having than rahulad n tha ,sI
to st tha Mis ana ha Rinsr mem n,1hd rsoi.lsa IN ,ns tsll
pense other than A switcbin0 charge n, s6
car Immsd,s,sIv tba nrina y, anx ~ ~ tSa