Page:Final Report of the Northwest Territory Celebration Commission.pdf/25

 of work, roads, etc.; how they should be shod; and what was their hazard in crowds; all these had to be investigated.

A news release was put out on the subject of shoeing oxen. Some twelve hundred replies were received, from all over the United States. These were mostly from elderly people—65 years to 97 years of age—who in earlier years had such actual experience. Their advices were as wide apart as the poles, ranging from steel shoes to straw mats around oxen's feet.

The concensus of opinion was in favor of the usual steel shoes and this checked with investigations and modern day tests made by the commission.

Few of the inquirers actually wanted a job; most of them sincerely wished to help solve a problem.

This move had another worthwhile value in that it reached, with a point of specific personal interest, a group of people who would probably have otherwise known but little of the celebration 'or its purposes.

Decision was finally made to use the usual shoes, and they proved entirely practical except on icy paved roads.

The oxen were secured in West Virginia after an extensive survey of possible cattle. Mr. Marvin Shock, who had worked oxen for many years, had been employed as driver and in charge of livestock, made this investigation.

Some of the incidents in this purchase will add human interest at least to this report. For instance: the finest yoke seen by Mr. Shock were held at a price beyond budget. After wrangling with the prospective seller. Mr. Shock got a compromise quotation— based upon the fact that these oxen had horns (while modern work oxen, as which these animals were presumably to be used, today are dehorned), and left with the statement that he might be back a week or so later.

On getting permission from this office to pay the extra price, he returned, only to find that the price had gone back up, but the oxen had been dehorned in his absence in order to make the sale. Actually, to be in period, the cattle should have horns, so no sale resulted.

Two yokes of cattle were purchased and broken, one for current use and the other for reserves in case of accident. Both yokes had to be rebroken to Mr. Shock's style of driving, and to be made accustomed to modern road and city traffic, parades, etc.

"Tom" and "Jerry" however completed the entire trek and came home in fat sleek condition. The reserve yoke never was needed.

A word of testimonial to these dumb animals is not amiss, for they did their part as well as any man connected with the celebration.

They not only came to know their cues, but had a better sense of timing than did the human element. The greatest trouble at any time with the oxen was in getting them to wait when the proper time arrived for parades, etc., but when humans were delaying the start.

Seemingly every child of the millions who saw these "critters" wanted to touch them and even to handle their horns. The animals