106 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Besides, the new rates make a much more fair and equitable distribu- 

 tion of the rates over the state, which is a strong point in our favor. The 

 sheep men got the long end of the reduction in this case, as the commis- 

 sion order that the new sheep rates in double-deck cars shall be the same 

 as the cattle rates, and further provided that where a shipper ordered a 

 double-deck car and two singles are furnished instead that they must take 

 the double-deck rate, and that the double-deck minimum, which is 22,- 

 000 must apply. It is well for the sheepmen to make a note of this, as 

 the single deck rate is much higher, so if you wish to take advantage of 

 the lower rate, order the double-deck cars. 



A similar order regarding the furnishing of single-deck cars where 

 doubles are ordered was made a few years back at the request of this 

 association, by the Iowa Railroad Commission, and applies on shipping 

 your feeding sheep in. The reductions on fat sheep run about ten dollars 

 a car. 



Another question of great importance to the stockmen, which was suc- 

 cessfully and satisfactorily disposed of through a united effort on the part 

 of the Corn Belt Meat Producers' Association, the Military Tract Live 

 Stock Shippers' Association of Monmouth, Illinois, and a few local commis- 

 sion men at the Union Stock Yards, was the changing of the water at the 

 Union Stock Yards at Chicago from the Bubbly Creek, or sewage water, 

 to the lake water. You will recall that at the last meeting held the ques- 

 tion was raised in regard to the kind of water the Stock Yards Company 

 was furnishing, and a number of stockmen testified to the heavy shrinks 

 they were having on their cattle, and stated that the cattle would not 

 drink a sufficient amount of water at the yards to take on anything of a 

 fill — hence their heavy shrinks. Your officers at once began an investiga- 

 tion of the matter and found that there was universal complaint about the 

 heavy shrink from the stockmen. But they were unable to locate the 

 cause, as the use of the sewage water had been kept under cover. 



The officers of the Illinois association had already taken the matter up, 

 and at once invited us to join with them to bring about, if possible, a 

 change in the water. This we were glad to do, and when the matter was 

 presented to President Spoor, of the Union Stock Yards, we found him 

 very fair, and he frankly stated that if we could prove to him by actual 

 facts that the Bubbly Creek water was causing us a financial loss, he would 

 give us the use of the lake water — also agreeing to turn off the Bubbly 

 Creek water and turn on the lake water for thirty days, in order to make 

 a test of the matter. So with this understanding, we at once got a letter 

 out to our members, explaining the matter, and asking them to weigh their 

 cattle at home and keep an accurate account of the shrinkage for the 

 next thirty days, while the lake water was being used, and make compari- 

 sons with their shrinks under the use of the sewage water, and report. 

 When the reports began to come in, the difference in the shrink in favor 

 of the lake water was greater than we had expected, as the average re- 

 duction in shrink was about twenty-five per cent, and in the eastern part 

 of the state the ireduction was forty per cent. This is a very convincing 

 argument. At the end of thirty days another conference was held with 



