LIVE-STOCK SHIPPERS' ASSOCIATIONS 457 



placed the savings in shipping from 20 cents to $2.50 per 

 hundred weight, and from $15 to $250 a car. The great 

 majority of estimates He between $50 and $150 a car, and, 

 on the basis of the lower figure, this estimate would indicate 

 a saving of $1,500,000 a year to the members of the 150 

 associations.* Mr. G. W. Hurlbert, of Iowa, in reporting 

 on shipping associations in that state, f says it is estimated 

 that in 1918 300 associations in Iowa shipped $75,000,000 

 worth of live stock. "If," says Mr. Hurlbert, "the farmers 

 saved only $0.25 to $0.85 per 100 pounds, the total saving 

 would be around $2,500,000. The total business of all the 

 live-stock shipping associations for 1918 is estimated at 

 $500,000,000. That sum means that a total saving of about 

 $10,000,000 was made by the farmers of the country in 

 that year by the co-operative shipping of live stock." 



Another great advantage in co-operative shipping is the 

 protective side of the sinking fund and reimbursement for 

 animals that die or are injured enroute. Where under old 

 conditions an animal might be nearly an entire loss to the 

 shipper, 'by the co-operative method he is saved a large 

 amount through the sinking fund. 



Members of co-operative associations are usually in 

 closer touch with the market, and thus more familiar with 

 comparative values than non-members. They check up on 

 the manager and show an interest in results from the sales 

 of others as well as themselves. 



A difficulty associated with co-operative marketing is 

 holding the members together and supporting the organiza- 

 tion. Prof. H. E. Erdman writes :§ 



"Not only do co-operators gain by collective sale, but non- 

 co-operators as well usually obtain higher prices, since competi- 

 tors are spurred on even to the extent, at times, of over- 

 bidding. Here, in fact, is one of the biggest weaknessess of collective 

 selling as well as of collective buying. It is very difficult to hold an 

 association together for collective dealing when members see that non- 

 members get as good rates as they, with no dues to pay. The real ques- 



*Bulletin 314 Wisconsin Agr. Exp. Station. 



tHoarda' Dairyman, December 5, 1919. 



§ Bulletin 342 Ohio Agr. Exp. Station. Organizations among Ohiio Farmers. 



