Year: 1873

Transportation OF Live Stock.


The following law on this subject was
passed Just OF the close of the last
session Of Congress, and it takes effect,
>as will be observed, on the LIST of Octo-
Der next:


An Acr to prevent cruelty to animals while in


transit by railroad or other means OF trans-


portation within the United States.


Be it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assem-
bled, That no railroad within the
United States whose road forms any
part of line of road over which cattle,
sheep, swine, or other animals, shall be
conveyed from one state to another, or
the owners or masters of steam, sailing,
or other vessels carrying or transport
ing cattle, sheep, swine, or other an
imals, from one state to another, shall
continue the same in cars, boats, or
vsssels Of any description, for longer
period than twenty-eight consecutive
hours, without unloading the same for
rest, water, and feeding, for period
of at least FIVE consecutive hours,
unless prevented from so unloading by
storm or other accidental causes. In
estimating such confinement, the time
during which the animals have been
confined without such rest on connect
ing roads from which they are received
shall be included, it being the intent
OF this act to prohibit their
continuous confinement beyond
the period of twenty-eig ght
hours, except upon contingencies
herein before stated. Animals so un-
loaded shall be properly fed and wa
tered during such rest by the owner or
persons having the custody thereof, or
in case of his default in doing so then
by the railroad company orsowners or
masters Of boats. or vessels transport.
ing the same ut the expense of said
owner or person in custody thereof;
and said company, owners or masters
shall in such case have lien upon
such animals for food, care and custody
furnished, and shall not be liable for
any detention Of such animals author
lied by this act. Any company, owner
or custodian Of such animals who shall
knowingly and willfully fail to comply
with the provisions of this act shall,
for each and every failure to comply
with the provisions of this act, be lia
BILE for and forfeit and pay a penalty of
not less than one hundred nor more
than five hundred dollars; provided,
however, that when animals shall be
carried in cars, boats or other vessels
in which they can and do have proper
food, space and opportunity for rest,
the foregoing provisions in regard to
their being .unloaded shall not apply.


SEC. 2. That the penalty created by
the first section of this act shall be re-
covered by civil. action in the name of
the United States, in the Circuit
or District Court of the United
States holden within the district where
the Violation Of this act ray have been
committed, or the person or corpora
tion resides or carries on it's business !;
and it shall be the duty of all United
States Marshals, their deputies and
subordinates, to prosecute all violations
Of this act which shall come to their
notice or knowledge.'


SEC. 8. That any person or corpora
ton entitled to lien under the first Sec
tion of this act may enforce the same
by q petition 1ilel in the District
Court of the United States holden
within the district where the food, care
and custody shall have been furnished,
or the owner or custodian of the prop
erty resides; and said court shall have
power to issue all suitable process for
the enforcement of such lien by sale
or otherwise, and to compel the pay.
ment OF all costs, penalties, charges
and expenses of proceedings under this


Ct.


SEC. 4. That this act shall not go in
to effect until the first day of October,
eighteen hundred and seventy three.