The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-11-14
WEDNESDAY. NOV. II. 1906.
THE A

Shippers Of Montana livestock have
had an experience the past season that
calls for something more effective
than protests and claims for damages.
There never has been a season in the
history of Montana livestock ship.
ments in whichsso much Inconvenience
and loss has attended the marketing
of beef and mutton, and conditions
have become so intolerable that legis.
lative action or some other method of
providing a remedy is demanded by
the interests affected.
There has been more or less com.
plant regarding shortage of cars or
power in other shipping seasons, but
these complaints have been met with
promises that more efficient service
would be given thereafter. These
pledges, however, have not been kept:
the conditions have grown worse, un-
til there has been delay in loading OF
in transporting nearly every livestock
shipment that has gone out OF the
state. These delays have caused lose
to Montana stockmen aggrega ting
many thousands of dollars, not only
10 the expense of holding iocks and
herds while awaiting shipping facil.
titles, but also in their shrinkage of
weight, their less attractive appear.
ance, and the changes in the market
quotations that occur from day to
day.
One of the effects of this wretched
and inexcusable railroad service is
the encouragement it gives to eastern
operators who wish to purchase Mon.
tana livestock in the home market.
One OF the largest eastern sheep buy.
ers, who has usually handled nearly
1OO, 900 head of Montana muttons each
season, was out of the business this
year for the reasOn that he received
such a hard deal from the railroads
last eason His experience was SINH.
lar to that of others who are made
subject to risk Of loss in shipping
their purchases, as we'll as the uncer-
tainties Of market conditions. Those
interested in Montana livestock desire
as much competition as possible
among the buyers OF their products,
and are injuriously affected by any
circumstance that keeps eastern oper.
ators out OF the local markets.
According to a recent press dis.
patch, the railroads that transport
Montana livestock shipments had a
most profitable business the past
twelve months. The net earnings OF
the Great Northern were greater than
ever before, and those OF the Northern
Pacific were equally satisfactory.
These millions OF dollars in profits
were furnished by Montana stockmen
and other shippers, who are entitled
to good service for the charges paid.
II is not an unreasonable demand that
at least q part of these enormous net
earnings be applied to the purch ase
Of cars, locomotives, and other equip
ment necessary for the business which
these railroads should be prepared to
handle in good shape.
This car shortage evil was an issue
Of the recent campaign in Valley coun.
ty, the successful candidate for state
senator being pledged to introduce a
bill in the tenth Legislative assembly
to this effect:
Section l. Every corporation, as.
ISOLATION or person operating a rail-
way or railroad in this state who,
after thirty days notice given as in
section , hereof provided, shall fail,
neglect, decline or refuse to furnish
and deliver, at such station or siding
as may be designated in such notice,
the number of cars, with the necessary
power to move them, ordered by any
person desiring to ship any property
in carload lots Over and upon such
railway or railroad, shall be liable to
pay a penalty OF ten dollars per day
for each and every car which such
corporation, association or person so
fails, neglects, declines or refuses to
furnish as herein provided. and said
corporation, association Or person
shall be liable for all damages sus-
tanned by any person in consequence
Of such failure, neglect, or refusal tc
furnish the said cars, or the necessar,
power to move them.
Section ,. Every person desiring
and intending to ship any property II
carload lots over and upon any rail
way or railroad in this state, shall
either in person or through his agent.
give notice to any superintendent,
chief dispatcher, commercial or sta
ton agent, traffic manager or tele'
graph operator of such railway o,
railroad, which said notice must
specify the number and kind of car.
required, the station or siding where
the same are to be loaded, and thu
date upon which the loading thereof
will occur.
Section ; Every corporation, as,
sociation or person operating q rail
way in this state who fails, ~neglects
declines or refuses to furnish and de
liver, at the station or siding desig'
mated, the necessary cars and power