6 BULLETIN 1124, U. S, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
lake-and-rail lines during the season of navigation, or by all-rail 
trunk lines at other times, at the differential in effect at the time of 
shipment, as shown by published tariff rates, provided shipment is 
made within contract time. 
Depending upon the demand for feeds and prevailing prices, 
shipments are ordered out over either fast or slow routes. When 
slow movement is desired the jobber may choose to order his cars 
over the most circuitous route and preferably over roads on 
which congestions have been reported, while if quick dispatch is 
wanted he can select any of the numerous fast freight lines. When 
ordering shipments to holding points the jobber assumes the risk of 
being obliged to pay diversion and demurrage charges at such 
points should he be unable to dispose of the shipments. To keep cars 
at holding points is an expensive proposition, therefore, transit 
offerings are often quoted at less than shipment prices. On the other 
hand, a spontaneous demand frequently results in such offerings 
commanding a premium of 50 cents or $1 per ton over shipment 
prices. 
It should be understood that the arrival of a car at a holding point 
does not necessarily mean that it then becomes necessary for the 
dealer to dispose of it immediately at prevailing or sacrifice prices. 
There are often other avenues open to him, one of which is the 
ordering of the car to some other holding point along the route, or 
he may deem it advisable, if offerings are heavy and the demand 
poor, to place the shipment in either a private or railroad storage 
warehouse, a large number of which have arrangements allowing the 
reshipping of stored feeds at the through freight rate. 
The principal reason for placing cars in transit unsold is that 
jobbers are often unable to obtain orders for goods previously bought 
from mills in anticipation of higher markets and therefore are unable 
to furnish instructions ordering these shipments direct to destina- 
tion. Moreover, should the jobber fail to furnish specifications as 
required under the rules of the contract, the mill may elect to resell 
the goods in the open market, and in the event the market price is 
lower than the contract price he would be required to pay the 
difference in price. 
In case the market is in the buyer's favor and the seller exercises 
his right to cancel the contract because shipping instructions are not 
supplied, the buyer is not entitled to anything. Before canceling the 
contract or reselling the goods, however, the seller is obliged to give 
the buyer due notice of his intention to do so. 
Rather than allow the resale at whatever price the seller may be 
able to realize, the buyer usually prefers to take chances on the 
course of the market and his ability to dispose of the goods in his 
own territory and at his own price. 
The practice of placing considerable quantities of feeds in transit, 
unsold, so common in the Northeast, is not followed to the same ex- 
tent in other sections. The more constant and heavier demand in 
Northeastern States affords dealers a readier outlet than is found 
in other regions. In several sections the practice of holding cars in 
transit is rarely followed. 
The territory supplied by distributors is confined to certain well- 
defined sections or States. For instance, dealers in Pittsburgh, Phila- 
