Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-07-07
N. s. Beal, of Tama, Has Plan
For Better Distribution of
Livestock Shipments
WOULD RELIEVE CONGESTION
Tendency Of Farmers to Ship for Mon
day and Wednesday Markets DepIor-
ed-Railroad Find Difficulty in Han
ding the Traftic-Thayer's Rural
Letter.

In watching the market reports one
will notice that at least one-half the
total receipts of cattle for the week are
received on Monday and Wednesday
This causes an over supply and as a
consequence a bad break in prices is
likely to occur. There Is reason why
Mondays market SHOULD be heavy. The
railroads offer better transportation
facilities on account of many passen-
ger and local freights being taken off
on Sunday which enables stock trains
to make better time and cattle men tell
me that on the first three days Of the
week the eastern buyers and exporters
are on the market which makes a bet
ter demand for cattle. 1t would seem,
however. that il the cattle did not come
the first three days of the week that
the eastern buyers would be there later
to get them when they did come.
Mr.. N. S. Beale of the C. M. & st. p.
Is working on a proposition to enable
a better distribution of cattle turnout
the week. The following is his idea:
THE thought Is to try to get an ar
rangement between the livestock ship
pers and the railroads whereby bull
letin would be issued each afternoon
showing the total number of stock
cars ordered on the different lines, say
up to noon, for shipment the following
day.
This perhaps could be done by hav-
ing each railroad make report to
someone having charge of this matter.
who in turn could give the summary
to the railroads interested and they to
notify their agents. who could give
the information to any intended ship
per making inquiry.
"A report showing a large number OF
stock cars ordered would be sufficient
warning to keep any more from being
ordered for shipment on the day In
question.
II believe it would be advisable to
have committee appointed by the
feeders and shippers of the country to
take this matter up and see what
could be DONE"
Mr.. Beales' idea Is all right In some
respects, but hardly reaches far
enough to keep the individual farmer
shippers posted, who can ship or not on
a few hours notice. He must depend
somewhat upon the help from his
neighbor to get his cattle or hogs to
town, so. as is often the case they
agree that on such day we will help
Jones take his stuff to town, and plan
their work according.
To the shipper who makes living
out of it, it would prove great bene-
fit, because he buys a bunch here and
a bunch there to be delivered during
the week, when he is ready he tele-
phones to the farmers to bring the
stuff in tomorrow, and 1t comes. II
the suggestions of Mr.. Beale were fol-
lowed out it would unquestionably be
of benefit to the great majority and
would be the starter to something bet
ter.
1t would also be good thing for
railroads. Under the present condi-
tons it is necessary on Saturday to
send light engines to the western end
OF the division to be ready to go east
and again Monday finds CATER
a big Sunday all the motive power at
one end Of the line. This costs money
which the shippers must pay. So if the
traffic in livestock can be so handled
that they can haul empties west and
loads east in regular dead freight
fashion, it will be great saving to
the railroads. Mr.. Beale's suggestion
is a good one, at least merits a trial.
nEOPCE II THAYE,R