The Dickinson press., 1905-11-04
Live Stock Service.

Live Stock Service.
Some time ago | was asked and gave
results of my experience in shipping a
train Of cattle from Evorts, S. D. to
Chicago over the c. NJ. St. P. ny. from
territy tributory to the Northern Pacific
Ry. understand that some criticism
has been directed against the Press by
an assistant general freight agent for
giving priminence to good service that
diverted traffic naturally tributory to
Dickinson.
As l understood the attitude of the
Press at the time, being ever alert to
serve the interests of Dickinson and
vicinity, it sought to call attention to the
diversion OF traffic with a view to protect
ing the interests of Dickinson and its
tributory business.
Now l intend to 60 into this matter at
some length because a feeling has been
aroused in the hearts of live stock ship
pers by poor service a year ago, and
some poor service this year, that is an
tagonistic to this community. and North
ern Pacific revenue. When owners of
live stock will deliberately drive cattle
for two and three weeks tc get good
shipping facilities, with no material ad-
vantage in rates, when Northern Pacific
territory could be reached in one third
the time, there is something decidedly
wrong.
For my part. | want to say l shipped
less than one-third of my cattle from
Evarts, the balance being shipped from
Hebron and Dickinson. Cars were fur
nished promptly for me this year by the
Northern Pacific and excellent service
was rendered and the shipments went
through without being hampered. Any
management enjoys a statement of this
kind and l like to make such a state
ment. By such service l was enabled
to attend to my shipments and get them
on the market in good shape, giving
each shipment my personal attention.
! Good service this year to me means at
, least $1,000 better evenu than being
subjected to such service as practiced
when the shipping season opened.
A similar number of cattle shipped by
me this year, as compared with last
year, netted around $4,000 more reve-
nue.. Last year my cattle were delayed
waiting for cars and herded from pillar
to post OF poor feed and water, harassed
and worried until they landed in Chica-
60 looking like slabs. and off their feed,
or in other words, sick. My records
show that my first train Of cattle last
year showed a fill of only q pounds per
head when 50 to 80 pounds is possible.
In justice to my;own interests | should
have put in, a claim for damages last
year Of not less. than 5000, and facts
and evidence in plenty would have sus-
tanned my claim. AS it was, l was
utterly disguised. ! put in no claim,
but my contempt for the in%capacity and
impotency of any part of a management
tolerating such a demoralized condition
of traffic would fill a large volume if
written out
Live stock may not be able TO
figure out their losses accurately in dol
lars and cents but the damage is suf
fered, an active industry of the country
is discouraged and disheartened and
corresponding loss ensues to transporta-
ton and commercial interests.
With such experience in the hearts of
live stock owners last spring, l was told
by reliable men that Live Stock Agent
Johnson told them that if they would
ship over the Burlington this year they
would have no trouble getting cars.
Excellent tact, wasn't it? Result: Two
hundred and fifty cars of cattle driven
1870 to l8o miles to avoid such expert
ence. l also have it on good authority
that 900 cars of cattle tributary to the
Northern Pacific west of Glendive, were
driven north to ship.
Now, what is the trouble, and what is
the remedy?
This year early in September made
a trip to Chicago to study the make,
and transportation conditions. Las,
year we were gouged by the dipping
craze and deMoralized car service. Thi:
year it started for a gouge for feeding
lots and hay at $40 per ton every little