The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-05-31
Hoover and Houston Assure Rep
resentatives of Northwest
that Crops will Move
APPLES RATHER THAN SPUDS
Northwestern Congressman Intend TO
Further Press the Demands
for Railway Cars

Fruitgrowers Of the Northwest were
relieved of great anxiety last week
when Herbert c. Hoover, food director
, and Secretary Houston, of the depart
ment of agriculture, announced that
fruits were to be recognized as food
and We're not to be Disseminated
against in the apportionment of rail-
way cars at harvest season. This an
nouncement was made at conference
in Washington attended by Senator
Poindexter and representatives of the
Wenatchee fruit growers.
Apples" declared Mr.. Hoover en-
phatically in the course of the con-
ference "are actually more import
ant food than potatoes"
Fruits are absolutely essential as a
war diet, he said, and he told how
scurvy gained a foothold thru Belgium
for lack Of sufficient fruit in the mea-
ger war time diet. Apples, he said,
We're needed not only for their nutri-
ment, but for their medicinal qualities
and as preventative of those intes-
tinal and stomach disorders which be-
come rife SO frequently among troops
in the field.
Secretary Houston was equally
friendly and showed himself well in
formed. He is solicitious not only that
the country be supplied with the
northwestern fruits, but that nothing
be done to injure the great fruit in
dustry Of the northwest. As an eco
nomist he appreciated fully the train
OF disasters to cities as well as to ru-
raj regions that would follow inability
to move the fruit crop.
Our orchardists and fruit growers
will be quite safe in going ahead with
their crops" said Senator Poindexter,
but it is essential that they present
an organized and an insistent demand
FOR cars as the time for fruit move
nent approaches. Otherwise they may
be overlooked"
Sometime this week at the office of
Senator Jones, in Washington, there is
% be held meeting of the Congress-
onal delegations from Washington.
1rgon and Idaho to take more definite
lction regarding the movement of thu
Northwest's fruit crop. Senator Jones
las laid before the council of national
lefense and has put into the hands of
ne president copy, a vigorous pro-
est against any effot to curtail the
lumber Of cars to handle the apple
nd soft fruit crops.
"Of course it is necessary to have
munitions and food supplies for the
rmy transported" said Senator Jones
but If the business of the country is
estroyed munitions and supplies for
ne soldiers will not be Forthcoming,
nd If they are forthcoming will be
ineffective by the disasters
mong our own people. Surely, the
tmost endeavors should be put forth
keep our industries going at least
normal way, and special efforts
Mould be made to meet special condi-
ons in and special needs of local COM
unities.
Refrigerator cars should be so
andled and distributed as to meet the
tuation we will have in the Yakima
alley in order that the prosperity of
lch localities may be maintained.
hese products are food products, too,
I'd their consumption makes avail
lie an additional amount of other
cd supplies. This perishable fruit
ay not be furnished to the army, but
it made available for the people at
me this will leave more of other food
uffs for our troops.
II can see no excuse whatever for
y government agency doing any,
ing to warrant the Northern Pacific
llway company to send out the in
rmation contained in its notice."