The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1923-11-02
Stockmen Frequently Make Mis-
take in Improper Mixtures
In Loading Animals.
FREIGHT COST MUCH HIGHER
Cattle Take Highest Minimum Rates
With Hogs Next-Local Agent
Should Be Consulted Regarding
Pertinent Mattcra

prepared BY the United States Department,
OF Agricultural
Live stock shippers frequently lose
money by shipping improper mixtures
Of animals to market, an investigation
by the United States Department Of
Agriculture shows.
Many instances Of losses due to this
cause have come to the departments
attention. For example, a co-opera-
tive association In Indiana recently
shipped q car containing 66 sheep and
6 cattle. The sheep weighed 5,195
pounds and the cattle $500 pounds.
The total freight charge on the ship
ment was $105.6O. or at the rate Of
% cents per 100 pounds.
The actual rates Quotable from the
point Of shipment to point of desti-
nation were Sheep IS cents and
cattle 3S cents per 100 pounds. The
high rate actually charged was due
largely to the fact that the six cattle
included in the shipment made 1t nee
essary to apply the cattle minimum
weight Of 1900 pounds, which may
be compared with the sheep minimum !
OF $4,000 pounds and with 1O,g95
pounds, which was the actual weight
Of the shipment. Had the cattle been
excluded, this a could have been
at a total charge Of only
$3.50 instead Of $105.6O. which was
actually paid The charge for ship
ping the six cattle, therefore, was
$4S, which WAS an increase Of SO per
cent over the charge which would
have been levied on a straight carload
Of sheep. Stating 1t differently, the
freight charge on the cattle amounted
% SO cents per 100 pounds.
Highest Weight and Rate.
The important fact to be borne In
mind. the department says is that as
rule where two or more kinds of
took are shipped In the same car ,
ne freight for the entire load is based 4
n the highest minimum weight COM ! :
with the highest rate. A mix =
1re OF cattle and sheep therefore =
sually takes the cattle minimum =
eight and the sheep rate. q
AS a rule cattle take the highest >,
minimum weights, with hogs next, =
next and sheep the lowest. In, -
le case OF rates the order is GEN r,
ally reversed. Sheep take the high :.
{ rate, hogs and calves the next =,
CHEST. with cattle generally taking "
9 lowest rate. w
In all cases, 1t Is pointed out, the 90
al agent should be consulted re- M
riding minimum weights, freight T.,
~shrinkage allowances and any Tn
Ter pertinent matters If the shipper re
to forward his stock in the lie
st economical manner. he
although there are manv ~comn,1ca- ho
MS, variations and exceptions In An
lnection with freight tariffs, gener- lna
7 speaking. cattle have a lower rate goi
n any other kind of live stock. co,
} hog and calf rates are roughly &c
per cent of the cattle rate. and ]
sheep rate 125 per cent OF II. Tir
IS, sheep and calves. when In
BILE deck cars, ordinarily 90 at the I
lie rate. although in some sections last
are accorded the same rate wo,
ther In double or single deck cars
Plan Economical Mixtures. -
b~viously, in planning economical
lures OF live stock for shipment. C.s
expensive combination of high Wv
mum weight and high rate ia to ry
voided, especially If the car is not Gaia
, loaded to at least the full mini son,
weight. In some cases where q Cats
per ma n or two animals of nam,
class with a high freight rate In infal
OF another class, 1t may he impe
per to exclude them from the Ike "a
and order them forwarded. IN heari
same car, rs less thar carload tb "A
at less than carload rates faces
carrier, however, is required 70 namn
-. .o"c1 rate unless the ship Giro
definitely i%nstructs the use of F. !
making the less than carload
applicable.
rates are made on a cer. -
l basis. When such Is tbe coso r
railroad. for its WI conven.
furnishes a forty-foot car after
noard car was specified In
n order, charges must be as.
on a standard car. provided the
could have been made IN
Mailer car and the sbipner tooL
'oper ~precaution Of having the {
make the proper entry on ~. .