8 BULLETIN 267, U. S. DEPABTMEKT OF AGRICULTURE. 
will accept a car and sell it for what it will bring, and then enter 
a claim against the railroad through their traffic department in 
favor of the shipper. When this is done the shipment is accepted 
from the railroad "under protest," which means that the consignee 
reserves the right to enter a claim later. Thus, if a car of boxed 
apples, for instance, should arrive at destination in bad condition, 
the consignee might give written notice to the railroad of condi- 
tional acceptance in some such form as follows: 
Mr. J. J. Doe, 
Local Freight Agent, X. Y. & Z. R. R. Co., Chicago, III. 
Dear Sir : Ou September 20, 1914, you notified us of the arrival of car FGE 
29853, containing apples. This is to inform you that the contents of this car 
did not arrive in good order, and we hereby notify you that the receipt of same 
and payment of freight is made under protest, and claim will be entered for 
the following reason: 
Entire car is badly shifted, causing a number of boxes to be broken and 
contents spilled on floor. Exact amount of damage can not be determined 
until car is unloaded. 
(Signed) , 
Consignee. 
There are several essentials to be observed in filing claims. A writ- 
ten notice of the intended claim should be filed with the railroad at 
once, so as to permit the company to make immediate inspection in 
order to protect itself. As soon as the exact loss is ascertained by the 
consignee, claims should be filed in accordance with printed railroad 
instructions and should offer complete details, backed in every case 
by affidavits. It is very important that the original bill of lading 
be in the possession of the party who files the claim, otherwise there 
may be great difficulty in collecting. 
One advantage of handling business through a cooperative organi- 
zation or other large company is the ease and rapidity with which 
these concerns can collect just railroad claims. The large associations 
are in a position to employ trained traffic managers, who, by care- 
fully submitting only those claims which are clearly justified and by 
backing up those claims with affidavits and evidence, are able to 
make prompt and full collections. 
TERMINAL DISTRIBUTION AND SALES METHODS. 
A panoramic view of the activities at one of the large distribution 
centers of the country would probably reveal some astonishing facts 
to the layman. When sales are being made on one of our large 
markets, the mingling of various types of middlemen and the activi- 
