136 American Cattle Markets and the Uressed Beef Trade. 
at times tliey are taxed to their fullest limit, yet as a rule tlie 
stock is well and carefully looked after. As the trains come 
rolling in, the Company take charge of the stock ; and its loca- 
tion, name of firm to whom consigned, with description, &c., are 
detailed in the office of the Company. Practically speaking, all 
stock is consigned to commission men, who at once take charge 
of it. Sometimes the cattle are left in the pens where they 
are placed on arrival ; but, as a rule, salesmen have each certain 
localities in the Yards, and endeavour to get all their cattle 
located in the same place. It may be said, before going further, 
that the Yards are divided into pens. The cattle-pens are in 
divisions, thus: division A, pen 1, or division C, pen 20 ; while 
the hog-pens are located at the railroad delivery points. Sheep 
have a separate location for themselves. The cattle-pens are of 
different sizes, holding from one animal up to 300 or 400 head. 
As a rule, local, or what are termed native, cattle, come in small 
lots, generally one or two cars at a time ; while range cattle 
generally come in train-loads of 12 to 15 cars. A car-load 
averages about 20 cattle, weighing 1,200 lbs. each, or about 
24,000 lbs. to the car. The hog- and sheep-pens are covered in. 
Hogs, weighing 250 lbs. each, run about 70 head to the car; 
while sheep are loaded according to weight, as they differ so 
much in quality. One hundred fair-sized sheep generally make 
a load. Each pen has a water-trough, while in those devoted 
to cattle and sheep hay-racks are also provided. The cattle- 
pens especially are exceedingly strong, the whole structure 
being of wood. The floors are of the same material, as it is 
most suitable to the climate. Alleys, well " macadamised," 
intersect the yards, so that every pen is easily reached, while at 
convenient points the weighing scales, the feed store-houses, &c., 
are placed. 
On delivery, the Stock Yards Company become responsible 
to the various railroad companies for the freight and feed that 
are due for each shipment. In turn, the owner, through his com- 
mission men, becomes bound for payment to the Stock Yards 
Company. As it would be impossible to collect the freight 
as every car comes in, a settlement of freight and feed charges 
is made twice a week ; the commission men being obliged to put 
up a bond of ;^10,000, or 2,000Z., to secure the amounts that 
may accumulate. In this way matters run very smoothly. If 
the owner of the cattle has no bond up, he is obliged to pay 
the amount due before the stock is released ; but so perfect 
is the system that no friction of any kind occurs, and the 
business in this respect goes on from day to day without any 
trouble. 
