The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-01-26

A farmer living out along the Mac
kay tracks lost dog and they found
the dead body lying by the side of
the tracks, q trespasser on the COM
pany's grounds. An examination of
the carcass indicated that he had
come to his death by a bullet wound
inflicted at the hands of some party
Ito this farmer unknown.
1t was true the dog had been in
the habit of racing with the locomo-
tives, but they had never seen him
try to yank one off the track, and
there was nothing to indicate that
he had matched strength with the
iron horse. He had raced with the
little gasoline tricycles on which the
men travel up and down the line, and
and scared the. rider stiff in the fear
of being ditched, the family did not
know it. II the fireman had ever in
dulged in throwing coal at Fido as
he raced with the engine, he had
generally missed his mark and Fido
had defied him and his coal. How
ever, Fido was dead, the family felt
grieved and the man of the house
made application to the railroad COM
pany for pay for the dog.
In the consideration of the subject
| it was admitted that Fido was a
trespasser on the right of way; 1t
was admitted that they had made no
effort to keep him away from the
tracks; it was admitted that Fido
had mo value, for he did no work
about the farm and was in every
sense loafer and bum, tho they
had gotten used to him and wanted
pay for him, because they thought
so much of him."
The Oregon Short Line being a
corporation and more or less dispos-
ed to make money and to put 1t to
beneficial use where they were get
ting something for it, decided not
to pay anything on account of the
| family's blasted feline affections.
Another Case
A lady came down the line one
day from Moore, and on arriving at
Blackfoot, reported that her purse
was missing. She thought perhaps
the company could find it, and to find
it they tried. She did not know
when she had it last; she supposed
she had it when she got ON the train
but she was not certain. She ought
to have had it when she got to Black
foot.
The company spent some time tele-
graphing and comforting with various
persons; they sent Pocatello man
out to Moore to study the. problem,
and they kept up correspondence
about it for some time. They were
not responsible for the purse, and
there was not very much in it, but
they did not quit working on the
problem until they lad done about
$50 worth of work on the one clue
namely: the purse had disappear
ed.
This was Different
At some of the little stopping
places where there is merely a sid
ing and a whistle post, freight and
express are put off only on condition
that the owner shall be there to re-
ceive it or take the risk of loss If
lit disappears. Considerable mer-
chandise is put off in this way, and
in many instances the trainmen see
somebody nurrying to the place as
the raitn pulls away. IT he drives
right up and loads up the packages
or boxes and drives away again, they
rejoice that he was alert but only a
few moments late. If no complaint
ever recahes them about it, 1t isl
assumed that no loss occurred. But
1t often happens that there is al
tramp in sight or hidden close by,
and tramps sometimes make use OF
merchandise. Anyway, complaints
are made, or perhaps the consignee
merely reports the non-arr1val or MS
goods, and admits his failure to be
there to receive them. He suspects
where they went and asks the rail-
road company to give him any aid
they can in finding out about 1t.
The company may send out a detec-
tive to study the problem and may
or may not find the goods, but in
either case the company pays the ex-
pense of the still hunt.
People travelling on passenger
trains are constantly leaving wraps,
umbrellas, overshoes, ETC., on the
trains and thinking Of 1t after the
train has gone. The agent wires
ahead, the conductor RECEIVERS them,
they are delivered to the next train
crew to bring back or If unclaimed,
are taken into the division town and
held for identity. Rubbers and over
shoes that are lost are generally
described by the losers as nearly new
and pretty good. Many of them when
returned and identified are hardly
worth carrying away, and the owners
seem disappointed at seeing them at
Ill.
Under the Snow
About year ago shipment of
iron roofing was shipped
from Boyle's hardware at Blackfoot
to Ashton, and by mistake 1t was
not divortod IN the branch road hut