TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VII 509 



for, we believe much good has been accomplished, and that plans and 

 movements have been formulated and set in motion that will eventually 

 work out for your good. 



We have also been able to secure local benefits, such as improved 

 stock yards conditions, securing cars, and many such like benefits for 

 our members. One of the most recent benefits secured for the live stock 

 producers and shippers who patronize the Chicago market was to secure 

 a reduction of 25 cents per bushel in the price of corn fed at the Union 

 Stock Yards. This was brought about by your president, Mr. Hunt, of the 

 Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, and Mr. Harlan, your Chicago representa- 

 tive, appearing before the stock yards officials and protesting against the 

 prices charged, and urging a reduction, which they secured. This means 

 a saving of perhaps from $500 to $700 per day to those who ship to the 

 Chicago market. 



The question of the collection of damage claims against the railroads 

 is one which gives our membership much worry and concern, and many 

 of them have not yet learned that Mr. Owen Coon, located in the Trans- 

 portation Building, in Chicago, is associated with your organization as 

 claim collector, and that he will give your claims prompt and careful 

 attention if you will file them with him. 



In connection with the question of claims, I wish to incorporate into 

 my annual address a list of pointers on railroad claims, as submitted to 

 me by Mr. Coon, our claim attorney at Chicago: 



"Pointers" on Railroad Claims. 



"1. Claims must be filed within a certain time limit or they are out- 

 lawed. This time limit is usually six months, but it can be less. File 

 your claim as soon as it arises and play safe. 



"2. Claims are outlawed unless they are sued within two years from 

 date of delivery of the shipment. The exceptions to this rule it is best 

 for the shipper to forget. Sue as soon as your claim is declined, if it is 

 good. 



"3. You have a good claim for (a) extra feed, (b) shrink, (c) any 

 decline in selling price during delay. A delay of one day on a live stock 

 shipment makes a good claim. As far as possible, keep a record of the 

 home weights to know your approximate shrink. 



"4. You have a good claim for all animals lost in transit. Count 

 your animals after they are loaded. Have an assistant also count them, 

 so that he can serve as a witness, if necessary, that the number of animals 

 claimed to have been loaded were actually loaded. 



"5. You have a good claim for all animals killed in transit, if the 

 shipment was delayed, or the railroad can be shown negligent. 



"6. Don't be afraid to sue upon your claims. Many a good claim is 

 never settled until after it is sued. Suing a railroad is nothing, and costs 

 little compared to the money usually obtained from doing it on good 

 claims. 



