464 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



signed statement to the effect that none of the shipment is intended 

 for immediate slaughter, in order to secure the low rate. No farmer 

 should refuse to do this if the stock is for feeding purposes. It would 

 be well for our members to post themselves on all these important 

 questions, and then they will be in a position to demand their rights 

 and secure them. 



SEKVICE AND CABOOSE ACCOMMODATIONS. 



At this juncture, I wish to refer briefly to the work done to secure 

 better service and accommodations for our members in shipping their 

 stock to market. This, like the last question discussed, is one that is 

 very difficult to handle, as none of our railroad commissions are vested 

 with the power to say to the railroads what they must furnish to the 

 live stock men, either in service or accommodations. So it is purely 

 a matter of securing the best we can by taking it up with the different 

 railroad officials, presenting our grievances, and trying to convince them 

 that we are entitled to better treatment. This course has been followed 

 the past year with fairly good success. The facts are that the superin- 

 tendents of our biggest live stock carrying roads have shown a disposi- 

 tion to co-operate with us in improving conditions in a way that is 

 both commendable and encouraging, while others have given but little 

 heed to our recommendations. 



The plan followed was to visit the different division points where 

 these stock trains are assembled, and talk with the stockmen coming 

 in off the different lines; investigate caboose accommodations, and the 

 speed of the trains, and the way the stockmen were looked after in 

 making the transfer from one train to the other; and make a careful 

 note of all matters that would affect either the convenience or welfare 

 of the shippers. In this way, we were in a position to make intelligent 

 suggestions and recommendations to the railroad officials when the 

 matter was taken up with them. Under existing conditions, we believe 

 that this is the most practical way of solving this vexatious question. 

 While we will not get all we ask for, nor all we are entitled to, yet I 

 believe if this plan is persistently followed, and our members will be 

 prompt to report their delays and inconveniences in shipping, in time 

 much permanent improvement can be made along this line on all the 

 roads. 



Another matter of importance taken up by your officers was the 

 question of the valuation clause now printed in railroad contracts for 

 transporting live stock; said valuations not to exceed the following 

 amounts on the different kinds of stock: 



Horses or mules $100.00 



Steers 50.00 



Cows '. 30.00 



Swine 10.00 



Sheep 3.00 



These valuations to apply where stock is killed in transit. 

 It will be remembered that about a year ago the supreme court 

 of the United States handed down a decision in a damage case on an 



