660 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



sometimes not unloaded before 6 p. m. of that day, with the result that 

 the inbound business of that day interfered with the outbound loading. 

 Within a week after these instructions were issued, the average of the 

 day's receipts unloaded and in the yards was 85 per cent — that was 

 the lowest by 8 a. m., and we ran up where we averaged usually 90 per 

 cent by 8 a. m., and in one or two days we got up to 99 per cent. 



I don't think the stories I have just related are new to you gentle- 

 men because you are shippers. Our work in Chicago was only limited. 

 We went to St. Louis, Kansas City, Fort Worth and Oklahoma City and 

 put in the same arrangements there, and I am glad to say that all of the 

 markets except Chicago have lived up to the instructions better than 

 Chicago has, although the cold weather and coal situation has been partly 

 responsible for the late deliveries which is now complained of in Chicago. 

 Instructions were also issued to all other markets in the United States, 

 but principally primary markets, carrying out the same instructions- given 

 Chicago, although we didn't hold meetings at any other markets except 

 those I have above mentioned. 



With reference to distributing cars, we found on many occasions 

 that Chicago, Kansas City, and other principal primary markets, were not 

 able to furnish cars to the outbound business. It was almost a daily oc- 

 currence last fall, and only recently in this month, that I was compelled 

 — as well as others at Washington — to give relief. We were advised in 

 one case that a fellow had sixty cars of hogs bought on the Chicago mar- 

 ket and had been waiting two days for cars, and his packing house was 

 closed. Mr. Park of the exchange in Chicago and Mr. Heinemann, Mr. 

 Mosher and Mr. Day are the principals representing the receiving and 

 shipping interests, and I want to say in one case where there were 

 probably five or six cars backed up waiting the cars to' load out, I think 

 it was about 1 o'clock that I got the message, and that night practically 

 all of the live stock that was held over in the yards was moved out, and 

 the next day it was cleaned up. I think you gentlemen realize that if 

 you don't keep the market healthy, if the buyers of the east can not move 

 their stock promptly to the slaughter houses, your stock coming in from 

 the west will soon block up the yards and lower prices will prevail. It 

 is to the shippers' interest, gentlemen, that the railroad administration 

 is largely looking out for — to help you. Last fall a drouth was prevailing 

 in Montana and Wyoming, Dakota and Idaho. I was sent by Mr. Cham- 

 bers to St. Paul to attend a meeting. We found at that place that cattle 

 were dying, sheep were dying, for want of water and feed. I went back 

 to Washington with the traffic assistants of the central west and then 

 of the northwest, and we recommended to Mr. Chambers to reduce the 

 rates to the people affected by this drouth, with the view of moving 

 the live stock to feed. We reduced the rate to one fare and a third to 

 go and return home. We reduced the rate on feed into the drouth- 

 stricken territories, we furnished cars at the. expense of the other lines 

 of the United States to take care of this situation, and I need not tell you 

 gentlemen that cattle that are thin or sheep that have been driven great 

 distances from the terriory in which they have had range to the ship- 

 ping station are weak, no water and no feed, and unless you furnish 



