National Standard Squab Book. 
SOUTHERN MARKET.—Our breeding stock 
has gone to every state in the South. If you 
live in any part of the South, you can market 
squabs as readily as poultry is marketed. 
One of our Southern customers, who lives in 
Citronelle, Alabama, has been to Boston to 
see us. Under date of January 30, 1903, he 
writes: ‘I have received Homiers from two 
others, but they do not compare with yours. 
I will build my second house very soon as 
the Grst one is filling up fast.’’ 
LONG DISTANCE SHIPMENTS.—To all 
inquirers we wish to state again emphati- 
cally that we cértainly do guarantee the safe 
arrival of every bird, no matter in what part 
of the world you-live. We are learning all 
the time how to handle the long distance 
shipments best and experience has taught us 
little wrinkles about the baskets and the 
arrangements of the feed and water dishes 
which are valuable. The express messengers 
get their instructions not from guesswork or 
from written notices or tags, but from a 
board a foot square on which is printed in 
bold type the necessary directions. This 
winter (1903) we have shipped every week to 
California. One order of 200 pairs for Santa 
Ana, California, filled seventeen baskets. 
Of the 400 birds, only one turned up dead, 
but as we had sent along four more pairs 
than the order called for, we were seven 
birds ahead on the count. Another large 
shipment to San Rafael, California, in Janu- 
ary, 1903, brought back by return mail the 
following letter, which we print exactly as 
we got it, word for word, and altogether it is 
one of the best recommendations for us to 
people who live at a distance that we ever 
received: 
“Yesterday, A. M. (Jan. 20th) at 8.30 we 
received your_letter advising us of the ship- 
ment of 100 pairs of Extra Mated Homers, on 
Jan. 14th; advising also that the pigeons 
would reach us before the letter. Well, they 
did not arrive until 4.30 today, Jan. 21 (7) 
seven days on the road. We notice that 
seven days is also required to get your ship- 
ments to Los Angeles; and when you assume 
that they will reach here at or before the 
receipt of notice of shipment we think you 
are mistaken. Nevertheless, be this as it 
may, the birds reached us tonight at 5.30, 
every bird in first-class shape—every indi- 
vidual one being in first-class shape; giving 
evidence of being shipped in perfect condition 
and having plenty of feed and water en 
route. Your feed ran short, as evidenced by 
charges of. 40 cents made by express com- 
pany for feed provided by them, which we 
are only too glad to pay, and at same time 
shows care and attention of express company 
messengers—a good fault. Every bird in the 
lot is bright and active, and they come into 
a first-class home, a fine house and flying 
pen, plenty of feed and a galvanized iron 
pan 6 inches deep with water 4 inches deep 
7 
running constantly. Dimensions of pan, 4 
feet 6 inches by 2 feet 10 inches, guarantee- 
ing plenty of bathing facilities. They were 
liberated after dark, but the early morning 
will afford all the bathing facilities they will 
need, and we prophesy they will embrace the 
opportunities afforded at first opportunity. 
We wish to compliment you on your prompt 
methods of doing business, and on the su- 
periority of the birds shipped us. They were 
indeed high class birds, in fact, Mr. Rice, 
they are better stock than we expected to 
receive. Your sending us 4 extra pairs above 
order was a graceful act on your part, one 
which we fully appreciate, and thank you 
right here for it. Your shipment was nearly 
a weék before we expected it, but by extra 
exertion we got all ready in time and they 
have a fine home. Express charges at $14 per 
hundred Boston to San Rafael, 270 lbs. weight 
of shipment, amounted to $37.80 plus 40 cents 
for feed, $88.20 total, at merchandise rate. 
Still at rate given in your circular $4 for 24 
pirds (12 pairs), this is too much by a 
margin. $4 rate to San Francisco per 12 
pairs is not just correct, still we are not 
kicking, for the difference is not very much. 
Note this, 201 birds came out of those bas- 
kets, mow we are sure, absolutely sure of 
the count; two people kept count as each 
bird was liberated and 201 birds came out 
of the crates. If 100 pairs are mated, what 
will we do for that poor lone bird? We 
await for suggestions; pretty tough on that 
lone bird, 3,500 miles from home, but he or 
she is here sure. In conclusion we thank 
you for your promptness, your honesty and 
your fair, square dealing and will keep you 
posted as to our progress as per your sug- 
gestion. We thank you for the crates; they 
are fine. We wrote you yesterday and look 
for reply in accordance with your usual 
promptness.’’ , 
We sent the above letter to Mr. R. H. 
Dwight, agent for the Wells-Fargo Express 
Company in Boston, and he was quite as 
pleased as we were. Through Mr. Dwight’s 
co-operation our through western shipments 
by the Wells-Fargo have been a remarkable 
success. The only difficulty we have ever 
had on account of long distance trade came 
when we were shipping in crates, not bas- 
kets. We sent a large order into San Fran- 
cisco and on the way four of the crates were 
proken into by rough handling and forty- 
two birds got away. The Wells-Fargo Ex- 
press Company settled with us for the loss 
of those birds and we made good to the 
customer, sending the missing birds on, and 
the customer was out not a cent for further 
express charges, for the Wells-Fargo people 
carried the birds deadhead. 
The baskets in which we now ship cannot 
be broken open except with the aid of an axe 
and they can be thrown ten feet across a 
depot platform without being injured. 
