Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-05-22
LIVE STOCK RATES
From the Arkansas Valley to Kansas
City Market shows Gradual
Increase Not Justified

The Arkansas Valley Sheep Feeders
association has been investigating the
matter of freight rates on carload ship
NETS of stock to Kansas City market,
as they have the impression that the
| rates are entirely too high to be justi-
| fled. The more the matter is investiga-
ted and analysed the more the impress
sion becomes fixed certainty.
The rates have steadily increased,
year by year aimee 1897, until at this
time the rate in force shows an increase
of 20 per cent in face of the fact that
the actual cost per ton mile has been
gradually decreasing. Tonnage that is
hauled by single engine and handled
by single train crew, today is consid-
erably greater than in 1897, and the
traffic is much larger, yet the railroads
have been gradually increasing this rate,
until on April list this year the maxi
mum was reached of $4,000 per car of
sheep or cattle, from La Junta, to Kan
sas City, Mo-, on a minimum of 1900
pounds; which rate was suspended by
the Interstate Commission for investi
cation.
When it is considered that the usual
loading on cattle shipments from Colo
RADIO feed lots to Kansas City market
averages 27, 900 pounds, the increase
over the 1897 rate on cattle would be
80 per cent. Upon investigation by the
association there is no clear reason
shown why any such increase is justi-
fed.
However, this matter will come be-
fore the Interstate Commerce Com
mission before long. and it be-
hooves the Arkansas Valley associa-
ton to get together their data to Off
set the claims of the railroads in sup
port of this new rate. Toward this end
the officers of the association are max
ing every effort to be prepared for this
hearing.
The following information regarding
live stock rates has been furnished to
the valley association by the American
National Live Stock association, and
will be of interest to those engaged in
this business directly, and indirectly to
everyone:
Statement of rates on sheep double
deck, 36-foot cars, from La Junta, Colo,
(Santa Fe) to Kansas City, Mo.
Jan. %, 1897. SIS per Soft. car S55 90
Nov. 10. l69Z. &c cents per 100
= minimum $4,000 ----------. 5z.2o
Dec. |. se9, 2z1s cents ------- go so
Sept /, 9o5. 29 cents ------- $3.50
Apr. /, 1914. so cents (suspendedl $500
The feeding in transit charges on
sheep in doubledeck cars was, for many
years, $40 per car. 1t was-changed in
1900 to cents per hundred pounds, an
advance of approximately S5.4Oper car.
Statement of rates of cattle for So
foot car from La Junta, to Kansas City
since Jan. Is. 1897:
Jan. %. 1897, S55 per Soft. car SIS 90
Aug.l 10. 1897. 225- cents per 100
minimum $4,000 ---- --- So 90
Dec |. 899, "a cents -----s---- So 90
Mar. 26, 1901. Z675 75cunts- ------ 65 go
July IS, 1902. 26I, cents. mini
mum $4,000 o--.---- So so
Sept. !. 1908, % cents ------ 65 80
Nov. IL. 1908, 26It CENTS So 90
Apr. }, 1914. so cents( s(suspended) Sc 90
The average loading of cattle in Colo
RADIO feed lots is approximately 1000
pounds per 36-foot car. On Jhis basis
of loading the present rate of 26 ! cents
yields, per 36-foot car, Sill 55. The sus-
pended rate would yield SSl.OO for a
36-foot car.