176 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



furnished double-deck cars. According to the ruling of the Inter- 

 state Commerce Commission, when they do not have those double- 

 deckers, they are to furnish two single-deck cars at the same rate. 

 A few days ago I went to our agent and ordered some double-deck 

 cars. He told me he didn't know whether he could get them for 

 me or not; and when I said I understood that if he couldn't get 

 them he was to furnish me two single-decks at the same rate, he 

 replied that he didn't know anything about it. I then went to the 

 Illinois Central agent and asked him if I could get double-deck 

 cars from his road. He said that I could if I would order them 

 long enough ahead, but that the company only had three. I laughed 

 and said that was a very few cars for a system of that size. Well, 

 he said they might have a few more than that, but I wasn't sure 

 of getting them. Then I asked him if I could get two single-decks 

 at the same minimum weight if I should want to ship over his line, 

 and he said yes, that they had already done that at that station. 



Well, of course we must all understand that it costs $2 a car 

 more when we have single-deck cars, for the reason that the ter- 

 minal charge at Chicago is $2 per car. I think the shippers of 

 sheep over the Northwestern line should begin to stir up the 

 Northwestern people. I mentioned to our agent that I wanted him 

 to be sure to get me those cars, as I was going to make a fight 

 to have the interstate ruling held up, and I would like others to 

 do that, so that the sheep men could get the benefit of the rule. 

 I think the Northwestern has double-deck cars if they want to 

 forward them. 



Quite a good many complaints have come to me in the last three 

 weeks about the run being very slow over the Northwestern road, 

 and some of us have been talking about sending back the reports 

 of these trains. We did that for a while, and the secretary tried 

 to get more reports, but it seems that we didn 't take interest enough. 

 I believe if the railroad companies knew that we were making those 

 reports, they would make a greater effort to get the shipments for- 

 ward. I don't think it necessary that every little stop should be 

 made a record of, but if there is any unnecessary delay between 

 division points, it is well enough to mention the fact. 



Mr. Brockway: I would like to add a word as to this matter 

 of reports. It seems to me it makes all the difference in the world 

 whether testimony is given as a matter of opinion or memory, 

 or as a matter of absolute record. In all our hearings it has been 

 a matter of considerable expense to bring witnesses here; but if 



