New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-01
DEALERS BOOST
PRICES OF FOOD
MiIkmen Plan to Run
Trains to Prevent Supply
Shortage in City.

Marketmen yesterday were quick to
take advantage of the threatened food
embargo, although the danger of a
railroad strike was apparently less.
In the Wa'labout, Gansevoort and
Harlem markets dealers asked from
II to % per cent more for their
produce than on the day before.
Poultry went from Is to % cents a
pound. Commissioner of Weights and
Measures Joseph Hartigan received
information that 100 cars of poultry,
containing 1000 chickens each, were
being held in the New Jersey termi-
mails at the direction of Western ship
pers, who expected further advances.
Despite the rapid advance in prices,
those first TO hear of the probability
of peace in the railway situation pre-
dicted a speedy return to normal quo
tations. probably by to-day.
This city would not suffer a food
shortage il the combined efforts OF the
railroads, the city and state authorities
and the big handlers Of food succeeded
in the event OF a railroad strike.
Yesterday eighteen OF the leading
milk dealers in the city, through George
W. Alger, counsel for one of the milk
companies, announced that some of
their employees would be detailed to run
trains. Many of them have mad railroad
experience. Other dealers in farm
products her' prepared to take the
same action, was said, If o strike
came on Mono y.
Commission, Diiion Of the State De-
partment Of FOODS and Markets said
last night that his department had
practically completed plans to bring
farm products into the city. He said
that he intended using the recreation
piers as fool distributing centres and
that he believed farm products would
be sold by his department much cheaper
/ than the prices obi ming to-day. He
plans TO bring the p. luce to the city
by boat.
Joseph Hartigan, of the Mayors Blu
reau of Weights and Measures, sag-
gested that Acting Mayor Bowling APP
peal to President Wilson to obtain a
truce of thirty days between the rail-
road owners and the men TO permit the
passage Of measures preventing the
threatened tie-up. A second suggestion
is that the brotherhoods permit the
running OF food trains.
/ Mr.. Hartigan proposed that if these
+ suggestions could not be carried out
the Board, of Aldermen and the State
Legislature meet in extraordinary ses-
sions and appoint commissions TO con-
troll the prices of foodstuffs.
The city departments yesterday pc
gan TO lay in stores to supply the IN
mates of the municipal institutions
The Department of Charities and Cor
rection received 100000 pounds OF
fresh meats Groceries and vegetables
also have been purchased In large
quantities by these departments, which
have the feeding Of 10000 men, women
and children. In all they have invested
$4,000 in food.
Both departments have enough beef
to last them thirty days. The coffee,
sugar, peas, beans, dried fruits and
other dry groceries would last thirty
two months. On vegetables they are
short, with only a ten days supply,
but these and the necessary milk they
planned TO obtain directly from the
farmers with their own motor trucks.
OF the hotels, the st. Regis and
Hahn's downtown restaurant are eN-
amples in preparedness, having en-
gagged storage space for their supplies.
OtnerS ftel COMMENT tney COL away .
get fresh meat and vegetables.
Wholesale meat dealers were not so
sanguine as some of the hotels, how
ever. The local agents of the big
packers declared that il the strike
reached the proportion the brother
hoods chiefs proposed, New York City
would not have an ounce of fresh meat
within a week Then it would have TO
depend on cold storage meats and
Argentine beef