The Dickinson press., 1906-10-13
RAILROADlNG.

O0
Methods Needed. Rep
resentative PheIan Gives
Timely Suggestions on
the Handling Of Live
Stock Shipments.
To THE EDITOR:
Our grand old Agricultural Emperor
Jim Hill has just been talking to the
Business Mems Union of Chicago and
has mixed up the mental machinery of
his hearers with the problem of Nautilus,
as we'll as the possibility of the ultimate
exhaustion of the resources of the earth,
and various other remote problems that
only men of leisure or extremely busy
men have time to consider. Besides
such exalted subjects, Mr.. Hill OCCASION
ally talks to the farmers, and from such
talks we all know that he is remarkably
we'll posted on the business of the
farmer. 1t is likewise correct, as MIR.
Hill says, that the farmers and the rail-
roads are mutually dependent on each
other. But for my part, l think history
repeats itself, and by delving a few
pages into what we think. we know about
Egyptian history a few thousand years
ago, or ancient and modern history any,
where, including China, Babylonia,
Greece, Rome, India, Europe, America,
including what little we think we know
about evolution, and we must grasp the
conclusion that our principal duty is here
and now, to do the needful and the cor
rect thing, as far as possible, every day.
By perpetuating such practice, | believe
the future will pan out all right-also
the farmers and Mr.. Hill. Y
Just now | am more concerned in get
ting my cattle to market in proper shape,
and at the right time, than | am in the
population Of the country fifty years
hence, and l wish l could get MIR. Hill to
take a trip on one of his stock trains, so
that he would learn something about
railroading from the shippers standpoint.
Last year ranchmen drove their stock
to Great Northern shipping points and
waited days for cars. Shippers not only
waited. but could get no information as
to the time when cars could be secured.
Many cattle were sold and driven back
to hold over a year. One man l found,
who had spent weeks in rounding up his
small herd, and after taking it to the
railroad and waiting several days for
cars, returned them to the range and
turned them loose again. En- route to
the marke ct this year shippers have told
me that it is a scramble in which un-
certainty prevails. One shipper, after
loading, was held at the loading point
eight hours, awaiting loading, for
more cars, but time waited not, and the
tw%enty-eight or ~thirty-six hour limit ex-
| pired not far down the road, and cattle
were unloaded to repeat the operation.
This shipper had been waiting three
hours at Belt Line Junction for a switch
engine to take his train to. Mr.. Hills
Twin City yards when l met him. One
stock train was held over twenty hours at
a terminal before unloading, after the
time loading and unloading doesn't
with, and all they had to do was to for
get about any possible damage to the
stock. Now to my mind these everyday
problems are of far more importance for
immediate consideration than the prob
lem of increased population fifty years
hence
Two years ago on the Northern Paci-
fc line similar conditions prevailed, but
at their worst they did not show anything
like the abandon or disregard for ship
pers' interests displayed on the Great
Northern.
A year ago on the Northern Pacific,
| with few exceptions, service with live
stock shipments averaged good, though
the situation was relieved at that time by
500 cars, more Of less, going to competi-
tors south and as many more elsewhere.
This year the traffic and executive de-
partments of the Northern Pacific made
preparations to take care of live stock
shipments by building new cars and plac-
ing them in service. The early ship
ments were successful until the available
supply Of cars reached eastern terminals
but on the return trip stock cars were
scattered and congested en- route be-
tween St. Paul and Montana, principally
east Of Mandan. A week in advance o.
a shipment there were seven hundred
cars or more en- route to fill a weeks
orders for six hundred, but when loading
dates arrived, the cars were yet coming
but not arrived. Since that time it has
reminded me of the economical farmer
who always required his family to ca
the specked and rotten apples from the
barrel first. AS a result, nothing but rot
ten apples were eaten all winter. Car!
arriving from a day to a week late for ar
order, satisfy nobody and raise HI will
everybody.
What is the matter? The only way
know Of to remedy the matter is to Civ
the facts as we find them. We nigh
stand the evaporation, but when we ar
made the victim of hit and miss method
and get our cattle dumped in Chicag'
two days late, on the tide of a spasmodi
cleanup by the railroads, and W. lose S
per head on our shipment in. conse
quence, it is time to admonish Mr.. Hill
to "know myself" and study transports
ton problems awhile, and let the popu
lation evolve.
Before the movement of live stoc
commenced, there was congestion c
dead freight at terminals. One carloa
of posts, I understand, arrived at Dicl
inson recently, six months after the orde
was placed. Having cars en- route fror
the coast for months, instead of days {
weeks, is getting frequent. One freigf
train out Of Mandan, eastbound, stale
on the Bismarck bridge and went int
Bismarck in three pieces. Too muc
tonnage or defective engine? | don