A HUMANE CATTLE TRUCK.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 63, 11 February 1884, Page 2

A HUMANE CATTLE TRUCK.

In obedience to an order of the Legislative : Council of South Australia, Mr. H. 0. Mais, j the Engineer-in-Ohie! of that Colony, has , furnished a description of the best cattletruck which he saw during his recent irgvejs through Europe and America, He has selected, as an example. Burton's patent stock-car, which is made and used in America, i The following are the points which are to be specially noted in the Burton oar I—The cuttie are fed and watered. 2. The facilities for keeping the cattle clean. 8, The cost Of construction, with improved running-trucks, does not exceed £so—the cost of the ordinary stock-car of the same size. 4. There are 36ft, of space without obstruction, and the car can be used as an ordinary box-car. 5. Each animal can lie down and get up when it pleases, being independent of one anothbri and having 2ft. Idin, in width by Bft; ?iri; in length space for this purpose, fl. The “suHpension car-truck” springs and aif brake enable the car to be run at passenger speed, and reduce the time of transit. 7. The cattle standing lengthwise, instead of fore-and-aft, can be carried with greater comfort to themselves and are better able to resist the sudden jerks and motions of the train. 8. It is unnecessary to enter the car to unload, feed, or water the cattle, and one man can attend to twenty cars easily, The water is obtained from the ordinary watertanks at the stations, and the feed is carried under each car. At a trip made in May, 1883, the car was loaded at the Union Yards, at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, with 18 head of cattle, having a net weight of 24,2001b5, (Of an average of 1,844jib5,) in 12 minutes. The car was run over the Grand Trunk line, and not unloaded until arrival at Watertown, near Boston, on the Monday afternoon following, a distance of about 1,500 miles. The animals frequently laid down during the trip, and the unloading occupied less than five minutes. The cattle were then weighed, and the eighteen head were found to weigh 23,850ib5. (or an average of 1,3251b5), giving an average shrinkage, after a six days’ trip of only 1-3 per cent.; the estimated shrinkage between Chscago and Boston being from 10 to 15 per cent., the average being about 8 per cent.; and, in the United States, where the number of cattle carried to the principal stock markets amounted to about 3,016,968, the loss by shrinkage alone for one year amounted to £1,600,000 sterling. It may be briefly stated that the car is divided into three compartments, and in each there is room for six head of cattle without crowding, the animals standing lengthwise in the car. Each compartment is divided into two stalls, each stall having ample room for three head of cattle, and in front of each beast are the feed and water troughs. In the top of the car there is a pipe running along the car, and to this pipe there are downpipes attached leading into each tank in every stall. The main pipe has connection for coupling one car to another, so that all the cars can be supplied from one source if necessary. The cars are run on what are known in America as “suspension-car trucks,” with double elliptic springs fitted to run at passenger speed; the cars are all fitted with Westinghouse automatic air brakes. The length of the car is 52 feet, its width 9 feet, its height about 9 feet, outside measurements respectively. Such cars as the one described would be a great boon to owners of pedigree stock and valuable horses if placed on Australian lines. The Engineer-in-Cbief of South Australia, however, does not express -- —— an opinion regarding the adaptability tyf the trucks for the conveyance of ordinary bush cattle. Before Burton’s patent car can be ’* brought into general use in Australia stock will have to be trained to feed in stalls, and this training should not be difficult to accomplish .