Early in 1931 it was decided to run a "Beef Cattle Festival Special" in late August and early September for about two weeks. The agreement for the 1931 train was similar to that of previous years: Santa Fe would furnish the train, transportation and meals for the college and train crew, as well as be responsible for placing advertisements in newspapers of towns on the itinerary ($400), display some fifteen thousand posters at the stations($35), and printing thirty-five thousand lecture pamphlets ($330) for distribution. For its part, the college would be responsible for exhibits, faculty, advanced publicity by county farm agents, and a series of illustrated newspaper articles about the train for distribution to all Kansas newspapers. The total outlay for Santa Fe was thus nearly twenty-three hundred dollars while the bill for the college amounted to about two thousand dollars. This train consisted of nine cars (somewhat longer than previous trains): a baggage car, two horse express cars, three coaches, one flat car, and two business cars.
There was some unhappiness, however. Joseph H. Mercer, secretary of the Kansas Livestock Association, declared to Umberger in August of 1931 that the Santa Fe could be of more help to farmers by reducing freight rates.(63) Mercer felt that the college made a mistake in cooperating with the Santa Fe. His distress reflected a national concern by livestock associations that freight rates were too high. Umberger responded by inviting Mercer on board the train for the last two days of its run. Learning of this, Jarrell was frantic - could Mercer behave himself and not discuss freight rates? Houghton's reply was diplomatic: "Mr. Mercer appears to have a single track mind. He cannot avoid the subject of reduced rates for more than a minute of two. Possibly you can win him over during the trip. If successful you can make a BLUE RIBBON worker of Scarface Al.(64) Jarrell wrote Houghton:
Well, I have qualified. Colonel Joe not only kept clear of freight rates, but said in his speeches that the Beef Cattle Train was a necessity and congratulated the Agricultural College for its judgment in tying in with a great railroad like the Santa Fe which could do the job in first class shape. Then Colonel accepted our hospitality. Although on a strict diet, he put away three square meals a day for two days, and upon leaving the train told me he had not enjoyed himself so well for months. Of course, there is no cure for Colonel Mercer's obsession regarding freight rates, but we surely lined him up in support of out Beef Cattle Demonstration Train. Why, the Ag College even got $300 in regular money from the State Livestock Association of which Co. Mercer is sec[retary] to help with expenses necessary to prepare exhibits for the train.(65)
By any standard, the 1931 train was successful. Total attendance for the thirty-four stops in as many counties was 106,034, averaging 3,118 per stop. The crowds ranged from 700 at Wakarusa to 5,010 at Wellington. The college figured the total at 109,135 or 3,209 per stop for the three weeks, but the college people typically figured attendance at a higher level that did the railroad. This train featured "creep-fed" calves-calves that were permitted to fatten on milk and grain at the same time, creeping to the grain from the lots where the cows were kept. J. J. Moxley was in charge of the train "surpassed any other extension work which we have done.(66)
At the same time, Samuel T. Bledsoe, then chairman of the railroad's executive committee, wrote Jarrell:
I am convinced that it is desirable to keep the farmer impressed so far as possible with our community of interest with him and our desire to make his business whatever it may be more profitable. Constant efforts along this line tend to create a favorable public sentiment in ordinary times and to retard criticism in rates, and help to cause the farmer [to] judge our service and our efforts upon its merits rather than upon what radical critics may say about us.(67)
This statement summed up the Santa Fe's philosophy when defending the running of such trains even as hard times fell upon the country.
A portion of Page 62-page 64` Volume 10 spring 1987 Number 1 Kansas History transcribed in altered form for the web by Russell Crump
This article was originally published in Volume 10 Spring 1987 Number 1 Kansas History. It is republished here with the permission of Constance Libbey Menninger and the Kansas State Historical Society. You may visit the Kansas State Historical Society for more information about Kansas History Transcribed in altered form for the web by Russell Crump.
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