Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-10-17
ADDS IOCORN FIGURES
Secretary Wells Puts 1owa's
Crop for 1908, 100000
Bushels Higher
ONLY 10 PER CENT is SOFT
Frost Shown to Have Caused Some
Damage = Present Estimate is Much
Greater Than Given by September
Reports = Grain Dealers to Attack
New Bill of ladins.
Special to Times Republican.

! Des Moines, Oct. 17.-Iowa's corn
| crop gained an additional 100000
| bushels between Sept. / and the
| final week of the month when Jack
| Frost put u "kink" in further develop
| ment. This is the estimate of Secre-
| tary George A. Wells of the Western
| Grain Dealers association who issued
his report for October yesterday.
Secretary Wells estimates that the
total yield in Iowa will be 2S7 zoo, 900
bushels. This is 100000 bushels more
than he estimated the probable yield
on Sept /. II is within 100000
bushels of the estimate of the govern
ment, which places the total yield at
290,000,000 bushels. while DIR. Chappers
dope has been about 100000 BUSH
els.
From the reports from all sections
of the state, furnished by Mr.. Wells,
the corn crop this year is 10 per cent
ahead of last years crop. II is also
given out that about 10 per cent OF
the corn will be soft which indicates,
in the opinion of Iowa grain men. that
the frost would have done well to
hold off fortnight or so longer.
Secretary Wells in speaking of the
condition of the state at large in re-
spect to corn yield says as follows:
% The high, we'll tiled or drained
lands show remarkably heavy yields
per acre.
co The level fiat lands that are not
low or overfoWed, but simply fiat
with no drainage. are giving disap
pointing results as to yields per acre.
CD The low, overlooked and washed
lands have to a large extent produced
no crops whatever.
Oppose Uniform Lading Bill.
In addition to the estimate on corn.
Secretary Wells indicates in the re-
port that the grain men will oppose
the proposed uniform bill of lading
act. recommended by the interstate
commerce commission. Mr.. Wells asks
thaA all grain men watch developments
when the new act takes effect on all
railroads Nov. I, and suggests that it
will be proper to present formal
complaint to the interstate commerce
commission after that time. Secretary
Wells is in line with Freight Commits
sionar Wylie in opposing the new
measure.
> There are two poiets upon which
grain men are feminist the uniform
bills of lading. One is a provision that
the railroads shall be allowed an extra
10 per cent for guaranteeing the safe
delivery of goods. The other is that
the act does not hold the carrier re-
sponsible for any loss by natural
shrinkagc.
AS to the first complaint. the grain
men assert. that the railroads have al
wa " beer Held to guarantee the safe
dalixerN- of. goods entrusted to them and
that the payment of an additional 10
per cent is simply velvet for the
railroads.
Feminist Shrinkage Too.
Upon the question of natural shrink
age Secretary Wells says:
This association, representing the
grain shippers, is absolutely opposed to
the idea of allowing the carrier any
for natural shrinkage
"In the beginning, some of the rail-
-oads were insisting on shrinkage al |
owance of one-half of ] per cent, and
we were inclined to allow maximum
Of onefourth of ! per cent. We have
ogal opinions to the effect that the
carrier is not entitled to any allow
ance whatever, and that freight rates
nave from the very earliest existence
If the common carrier been based up
IN the idea of assuming the loss on ac-
cunt of natural shrinkage.
1T is my understanding that the
Uniform bill of lading as formulated by
lie Interstate commerce commission is
simply recommended to the carriers,
,ut that they are not ordered to adopt
t in fact. and that the interstate com.
nerce commission does not have the
authority to make the ORDER