The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-22
Bridgeport Wholesale
Firms Well Supplied.
Panic Fears Baseless
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able conditions. To combat such a
condition the larger wholesalers and
some retail dealers set maximum
amounts upon purchases.
Agitation has begun for municipal
investigation into the conditions which
nearly precipitated wholesale panic,
with view to ascertain:ng if any
person or firm utilized their knowledge
of conditions to force the rum on
supplies to their speculative and per-
sonal gain.
Lorenzo B. Nickerson, general
freight agent of the New Haven road,
at Bridgeport greatly allayed the fears
Of all today when he said:
GAS far as Bridgeport is concerned
there is actually no stoppage of cars
that I know of that could effect deliv-
cries of food in this city. Not only
that, but there is plenty of room on
the bulk tracks Of this city for i'm
mediate unloading.
1.-THE Interstate Commerce commits
sion, together with the New Haven
officials took the situation in hand
early this week and arranged for
trainloads OF flour and other provis-
ions to come from Minneapolis and
the West every day and for every
locality in New England. These ship
ments from Minneapolis are already
on the way here and any present
shortage if such exists will soon be
dissipated. The only thing that could
prevent such deliveries here daily in
the future would be a serious snow
storm. Today's fall is. light in this
vicinity and If equally SO in the West
will not interrupt traffic.
II have not heard of any food
shortage except what I read in the
newspapers. I certainly has not wor
ried the wholesale dealers as far as
have been able to ascertain. They
have made no complaints to me about
failure of cars to arrive and be un-
loaded. In fact throughout the tense
period of the last year the manufac-
turers came to me far more often
than have the wholesale grocers who
seem to have the food situation and
the handling OF cars under good con-
troll"
Aroostock county, Maine, where
large pototo crops have found to be
stored for top prices. announced that
shipments would begin at once if coal
for engine use was available.
A. e. Vincent, head Of the Vincent
Bros. Co.. and one of the largest dis
tributors of grain and pototoes in the
city and vicinity declared today that
railroad conditions in regard to get
ting supplies were no different from
what they have been for two years
He said there was no shortage OF
grain, sugar or -four apd no occasion
for alarm.
"It has been said that there are
only 500 bags of oats on the road
here between Bridgeport and Boston
and that this is the only supply for
the dealers here" said Mr.. Vincent.
"Why there are more than 5000 bags
right now within 10 minutes delivery
of the center of Bridgeport. If the
railroads should not deliver us any
thing for three weeks we might have
something to worry about but not in
the present situation"
Many of the wholesalers of food
stuffs here are incensed at the action
of President Charles L. Gaylord Of
the Bridgeport Business Mems assoc
citation and they attribute to his ac-
IlVlIy Lie phL4SAy SOAOASAOAi0 AASA = e~S
well as the increase in prices for SUI
gar, flour and potatoes. Mr.. Gaylord
attempted the other day an inventory
OF the wholesale grocery stores but
his request for this was refused by
all merchants whom he approached.
! One prominent merchant who
would not allow his name to be used
said today:
IF Mr.; Gaylord should advise us
that the price Of cotton cloth is to be
increased and because Of scarcity
should advise us to buy, we will be-
lieve him because he is in the avn
ing business and he ought to know,
but when he talks about food sup
plies he is out of his element"
This same merchant declared that
certain men who were calling for an
investigation Of food conditions here
are interested in unloading a big
stock at the present high prices. =.
''You know If the retail dealer
stocks up at the present high prices"
he said, at means that he must keep
up his price even hereafter in order
to get his profit. We are advising
all retailers to go slow and to do ev-
erythtng to allay the fears of their
customers"