The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-20
CIRCULATING SIRES
REAL COCK AND BULL STORY FROM
THE SEABOARD.
Mr.. GABBETT DISCREDITS IT.
DOESN'T BELIEVE THE SYSTEM
WILL LEND OUT BULLS.

story Has it That Both Fine BOOSTERS
and FLOODED Bulls VIII BE Sent
Ont by the Senboard for the Inn
provement of the Breed of Chick
ems and Cattle Along Its Route.
Road VIII own the Animals and
Fowls and Lend Them to Those
Desiring to Improve Breeds-PIan
Would he Something Like That of
Circulating Libraries.
The Seaboard Air Line, whose railroads
extend over 1900 miles of country south
and southwest from Richmond, Va, is
about 40 engage in the laudabe enter
prise of promoting the raising of fine cat
tie and fine chickens along the lines OF its
roads, says the New York Sun.
The company, continues the Sun, OF
which John Shelton Williams is President,
has purchased a choice lot of arstocratic
bulls and fashionable cocks, which it pro-
poses to lend to the farmers along the
lines of the road for the elevation of the
race of beeves and the race of poultry.
1t may be that abe officers of the Seaboard
Air Line have visions of increased freight
rates, when it becomes generally known
what kind of cattle and chickens are
raised along its roads and when the rest
of the country understands that it must
go on to Richmond and beyond for the
real thing in the way of choice meat and
poultry The following circular explains
the enterprise:
Seaboard Air Line, Industrial Depart
ment, Portsmouth, Va.-To S. A. 1. In
dustrial Agents-Dear Sir: The industrial
department of the S. A. L. have the fol-
lowing breeds of full-blooded roosters:
Light Brahmas, Black Langshans and
Black Minorcas. which they propose to
loan to those who are located on the line
of the S. A. L. system for the purpose of
improving their breed of chickens. These
roosters will be loaned to parties for the
term of ninety days, which time Will be
ample to get the breed of same. 1t Is ex-
pected that parties who have the use of
said ROSTERS, for which there will be no
charge will see that they are we'll taken
care Of and not allowed to be disturbed
by any other ROSTERS that they may have
on their place.
1t is important in order to get a good
pure breed of chickens, to let the roos-
tiers above mentioned exclusively run in
pen with not more than fifteen hens.
Those desiring the service Of any one
of the above-named roosters will apply to
me at the address given below. Appli-
cations will be recorded and served as
they come in turn. 1 am very truly yours,
]. Strang,
Assistant Chief Industrial Agent Ports
mouth. Va
Supt. Cecil Gabbett of the Seaboard was
seen yesterday about the report, and he
pronounced it a regulation cock and bull
story. From what he knows of the exec
utive officials of the Seaboard Air Line
he said he would be willing to wager
4taS ga L. he.
that it has emanated from some one in
spired by nothing more than the possbili-
ties of fun. There was once such a bull
owned by the Seaboard, that was sent
out here and there over the system by
Land and Industrial agent Patrick but
Mr.. Gabbett had not heard of the animal
for some time and was inclined to believe
that President Williams had decided to
dispense with him as an attachment of
the system.
1t may seem to the lover of royal-blood-
ed chickens that the Seaboard Air Line
has been a bit exclusive in the choice of
the breeds of cocks with which 1t hopes
to improve the breeds along its lines
Light Brahmas and black Langshans and
black Minorcas are all we'll enough but
since the Improvement is planned on a
large scale and is intended to spread over
large territory, the question may be
asked What's the matter with including
In the list a few Plymouth Rocks, white
Leghorns, Cochin Chinas, Dominicks
Houdans, Wyandottes and white-faced
Spanish? These all belong to sterling
races, and they are just as good to lend as
any others. 1t may be- however, that the
company has consideration for the feel
ings of the hens. 1t can be readily imag-
lined that the plain, questionable domes-
tic hens of the Southern farmyards will
be thrown into enough of hutter at find
ing themselves suddenly associating with
Il i
Minorcas.
The information as to the particular
kinds of bovine aristocracy which the
company purposes to have visit around
among the yokel COWS Of the Southland
is somewhat meagre. All that is definitely
known is that the bulls have been pur-
chased and are ready to lend to whoe-
soever may apply. This is shown by the
following:
Dear Sir: Please arrange to deliver
s. A. L. Bun to Mr.. -. S. A. L. Station
Agent at -. the -, who will ship him
to on said date. Please confer with
Mr.. for the shipment Of said animal
on the date above named and oblige.
yours truly, j. Strang, A. c. I. A"
care Seaboard Air Line, Portsmouth,
Va"
The company does insist, however. that
the bulls shall be as carefully looked after
as the ROSTERS, so that they may be in
fine fettle and of good appearance when
they continue on their circuit. 1t is well
known among stock raisers that the
home-bred Southern bun is a hot-blooded
beast and like the Southern men, quick
10 resent insult, slight or any encroach-
ment on his prerogatives. II would seem
20 be necessary, therefore, II the corpora
ton bulls are TO continue on their mis-
sion OF improving their species, precau-
tons should be taken to segregate them
from the native progcntors. Once the
horns OF a blue-blooded bull become lock-
ed with the horns OF peboian bun Il
If JUST possible that the sons Of the soil
might win.
Il IS said. although this could not be
verified yesterday. that the company has
Insisted, for the protection Of its chick
ens, that special pains shall be- taken 20
guard ne hcuroOsis. whore the birds may
pr NHitnE nt night II D. snd that this
N' 'uuoh wnt made nrccfsary by the
M.i ihnt certain ciuzcm Of the south
wy hafe prediction for Rlln nieni.
cicero would say. Once IL becomes wei