The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1909-01-09
ABUSES BECOME lNroLERABLE

At meeting of the Rio Grande
Cattle and Horse Growers associa-
ton held in Del Norte, Colorado,
on January 3, 1909, the following
petition to the Seventeenth Gen
eral Assembly was approved and
the President and Secretary or
dered to affix the name of the
association.
The undersigned respectfully petition
your Honorable Body. and present here
with for your consideration the following
facts:
That there is no schedule time for the
movement OF live stock trains from San
Luis valley points to terminal points in
the State, and that the service in the
shipment of live stock over the Denver
and Rio Grande Railroad from the Val
ley to said points is, and has been for
many months, Of such a wretched and
outrageous character, that it is paralyz-
ing the whole live stock industry OF San
Luis valley. That very frequently when
cars are ordered and promised for Ger
tain day for shipment Of stock. the cars
do not arrive until several days there.
after and meanwhile the stock must he
held in readiness in yards with poor
facilities, or none at all, for feeding and
thus receive great and unnecessary
shrink before starting on their journey
That when stock is finally loaded for
shipment there is no certainty whatever
when it may arrive at its destination,
being sidetracked repeatedly and for
many hours at way stations. or attached
to heavy trains Of dead freight which
move at the slowest rate OF speed known
in railroading practice.
To illustrate: Stock loaded at Monte
Vista is frequently 10 to SIS hours in
reaching Pueblo, a distance Of only ljO
miles, and from three to four days 10
reaching Denver, distance Of $50 miles,
and, when finally it does reach its desti-
nation it is frequently held in the cars
from five tc ten hours before being un.
loaded with the result Of all that, besides
the great shrinkage and death loss. when
the stock does finally reach the sales
pens ii is in such condition that il must
he sold for much less than it would
otherwise have sold for. Protests against
such treatment are disregsrded or prom
ises of improvement in service are uni.
formly broken. Like complaints OF live
stock shippers in various parts Of the
State show that a similar condition in
the shipment OF live stock on the rail.
roads prevails throughout the State.
Many years OF experience in the suffer
ing OF such grievances m those above
mentioned have proved conclusively to
the undersigned the utter futility Of
appealing to the railroad companies
themselves for redress or improvements
in service and that relief can he obtained
only through Legislative action.
Therefore, the undersigned respect
fully petition your Honorable Body and
move the enactment Of n service and
speed law TO govern the shipment and
movement OF live stock on the railroads
within the State, with suitable penalties
for violation thereof. which law should
contain or cover Substantially the follow
ing requirements;
First That the railroads shall he re-.
quired To furnish cars at the time or.
dercd for the shipment Of live stock,
provided the shipper shall have given n
written order for the cars needed a
reasonable time in advance Of the time
Of need
Second That the railroads shall move
all live stock from the time of loading
the same At any station to their dsstina.
ton at an average rate Of speed Of not
less than fifteen milcs IN hour from load
ing point Ia destination including all
stops. excepting such stops ~ may In
ordered by the shipper for unloading for
any purpose, or which may liz required
by y United States Statute, or except
when stops are neccssitatrd 10y wnsh.
outs. snow blockAdcs. or train wrecks.
Third That live stock shall IN un.
loaded from the cars within one hour II
the time Of arrival at their destination.
Signed.
Rio Grande Cattle and Horse Growers
Association