New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-22
Potato Shipment
This Week Will
Drive Price Down
Hoover and Cuban Govern
ment Promise Solution to
City's Sugar Problem

Cheaper potatoes and an abundance
Of them, with solution of the sugar
problem in sight, are promises held out
this week to psnicky New York house
wives, who have begun to fear that they
are facing famine.
The potatoes really are more than
promise very tangible supply OF
quarter Of a million bushels that will
be shipped into the city this week from
the neighborhood of Binghamton, at
prices promised by George ". Perkins,
chairman Of the Mayors Food Com
mittee. to be somewhat under market
quotations.
Sugar Relief Promised
Relief from the sugar famine is
promised in an optimistic letter from
Federal Food Administrator Herbert
Hoover 70 Borough President Marcus
NJ. Marks.
Also A message received by the Re
public of Cuba News Bureau last night
stated that President Menocal would
appeal personally to Cuban planters to
assure immediate shipments of sugar to
tho United States. II he was unsuc-
ccssful. II was said. government acton
would be taken. The message was from
President Menocal's secretary.
The potatoes were raised by upstate
farmers as the result Of contracts they
made with Mr. Perkins for this city,
who persuaded them to use all their
surplus land and energies IN raising
this staple. Mr.. Perkins agreed 10 pay
them 81 a bushel for their crop, stipu-
lsting that if they were Above that price
At The time they we're marketed he
would pay half of the difference.
Under these contracts the farmers
raised more than double their ordinary
crops of potatoes. with the result that
the city's supply will be far above nor
NAL this week. Just now potatoes are
retailing in the neighborhood OF Bing-
hamton at 31.75 to 81 per bushel.
Under the arrangements made by Mr..
Perkins it is thought that the retail
price Of potatoes will be reduced con-
sideraby as soon as this supply reaches
the New York market.
The Hoover letter received by Mr..
Marks is in answer 10 one sent him by
Manhattan's Borough President with
the first threat of suf-r famine. Mr..
Marks said that he did not care TO make
/ the answer public in its original form,
but made this statement instead:
"Notwith standing temporary short
age in certain supplies which the peo-
pie generally have been accustomed to
use lavishly, and with little heed for
economy. there is no occasion for any
thing even remotely approaching a
panicky feeling among householders.
Calls for Economy
I'VE are at war. We are supplying
in large quantities certain necessaries
of life to other peoples who are fight
ing with us against a common enemy.
Temporary shortage of some products
was TO be expected. Many are now
realizing for the first time what war
time discomfort means
"For reasons stated above. and for
other reasons that will occur to every
intelligent mind. urgently hope that
all citizens residing in or sojourning
in the Borough OF Manhattan will use
utmost care TO economic in the con-
sumption of food, wherever such econ
omies may be effected without detri-
ment to health; that they carefully
instruct their children to avoid waste,
particularly Of sugar. and that all ex-
ercise due restraint"