El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-09-01

~ROCERY stores have not been so
busy since the Christmas holidays
~ last December as they are at pres
ent. filling the orders OF those who wish
70 guard against the possibility Of
fcod shortage in the event of a general
railroad strike Practically every
Grocer in the city reports that it is i'm
possible TO keep up with deliveries of
staple articles which the people are
LAYING in as an insurance against a
shortage. Sugar. coffee, tea flour.
beans are in greatest demand. although
csnned goods are also being purchased
in large quantities also
The restaurants are also taking steps
to prevent beiTg caught without food
AMI enc local concern. not large one,
either. is said to have laid in a supply
OF groceries JotalinS $4,000 The con-
cern is backed by considerable capital
and the managers expressed the oelle1
that q good investment had been made,
even If the strike does not take place
as he thinks prices viii be higher in a
short time. strike or no strike
HousehOlders in the main feel that II
they can put aside enough Of the staples
Of life. II Will not be great hardship
If the strike ties no delicacies for
time. consequently there are many peo-
pie accustomed 10 much better. who are
willing to content themselves with
storing bacon, beans. sugar, coffee and
bread. with what few vegetable and
fruits they can secure locally added to
the possibility OF securing a few canned
goods while the strike is on One man
yesterday bought S25 worth of chicken
feed for the feathered VARIETY and
asserted that he expected to make his
chickens furnish him eggs and meat
during the strike
Butchers say there viii not be any
great shortage Of meat. as there are
plenty OF cattle that can be driven in
ard killed The reason more local killed
meat has not been sold il is stated is
because people have demanded the cold
storage product in preference to the To-
al meats. even at an increased cost
The cold storage concerns viii. Of
course. be affected by the strike but
local butchers feel confident of being
able TO kill III the meat e. Pasoans can
consume.
One of the conditions that promises
to become serious in the event Of a
strike. is transportation. There is likeIi-
hood Of a shortage Of gasoline for an
tOmObiles. and II the strike should be
for any great length Of time gas and
electricity for lighting heating and
transportation. might be also cut off.
This is a possibility that few have
given any serious consideration. but it
is one that might very likely face the
city in very short time if all trans
portation should be tied up.
Should the strike last even for a short
time. il would demoralize traffic for
many weeks. for even a brief disar-
rangement would make il a long time
before things could be running smooth
~ again and provisions and supplies ar
irving as in normal times.
Alfred Kerr vice president OF the FL
Paso Bank and Trust company. is driv-
ing a big new roadster. I notice 1 can
recall the time when Alfred could not
have bought one tire for a Ford. and
ne was the same, happy. smiling Alfred
that he is today / fully believe that
Alfred kerr's good nature has had much
10 do with his success in life. although
7 know. as all his friends know, that
he has never flinched at hard work
Alfred and I belong 10 the I Knew Him
When" society. for we started in as
boys in san Antonio quite some years
ago and we both used to walk back and
forth from our work 10 save the Il
cents il cost to ride on the street car
He had the smallest salaried job in the
First National bank and ] had one tha1
eQualed il for smallness. on the old SaT
Antonio Light Alfred began to learr
the business from the bottom up and
he advanced fast. and every time he go
an increase in salary. he salted away
the increase and kept right on living
enough. he went out and bought an in
rerest in a small bank. then he sold on
A. a profit and bought bigger interes
i'm another bank He kept this up. or
-anizins new ones when he could no