Evening star., 1917-03-16
Railroad Men Here Assert
First Efforts Are to Keep
Food and Fuel Trains Moving

uSl cJUItS HI6 " NCCp
Food and Fuel Trains Moving
The biggest problem affecting Wash
ington in the threatened brotherhood
railway strike Is the food supply. and
railroad men interviewed today said
that the general policy Of all roads
probably would be to arrange matters
| so that foodstuffs will not be delayed.
In answer to the broad question:
"Will a railroad strike create starva-
tion?' the railroad officials indicated the
roads would take the most extreme
measures to prevent blockade of
trains carrying provisions. Next to
foodstuffs in freight-moving import
ance comes fuel, and at present the
main effort of the roads entering this
venting any tie-up which will block
those two prime commodities.
strikebreakers Are Ready.
Railroad executives frankly admitted
today they are as much In the dark
as to the developments Of next week as
any one. although they appear to have
taken every precaution to prevent COM
plete paralysis of freight movements
Just what these precautions are have
not been disclosed. 1t is no secret.
however. that TIE roads have men
quartered in Washington waiting for
the first minute of the strike. and that
by means of these strikebreakers they
hope to prevent a complete stoppage.
Also the general railroad policy OF
lines reaching Washington is to lay
an embargo on far west shipments Of
certain classes coming on from for
eign'' or connecting lines. Dangerous
freight, explosives. etc, of course. are
banned in the present emergency. This
policy leaves the tracks. cars and
availa BILE men in position to handle the
necessities of life, mainly food and
fuel.
An authorized statement to this ef-
feet came from A. w. Thompson, vice
president Of the Baltimore and Ohio,
who has instructed local commercial
freight agents along the entire system
that the Baltimore and Ohio proposes
to concentrate all movement OF trains
on handling food supplies for human
consumption.
Outgoing Freight Reported Stopped.
Although it could not be verified
through the local commercial freight
agent Washington patrons of the
Baltimore and Ohio freight system were
notified today that owing to prospect
of serious delays the Baltimore and
Ohio would be unable to handle all
outgoing freight and all incoming
freight. except food suphliss. for an
indefinite period. This embargo Is
conditional entirely upon tnA strike.
Railroad officials here believe that
more than a skeleton service will be
maintained They declare their belief
hat a large percentage Of the employees
will refuse to obey the call for strike
and will rcmain loyal to the roads.
Supplies Brought by River.
With the exception OF eggs and poul-
try, Washington cannot depend upon the
country along the Potomac river to supply
much Of the foodstuffs sold in its markets
1t is estimated by the commission men.
who handle the bulk of the eggs sold
on this market. that about a quarter of
the total supply Of eggs used here in a
years comes from along the river. The
proportion of poultry is less. but still is
large enough to be factor in the food
supply of the city should a railroad strike
cut Off the supplies from other sources.
Some calves and larger live stock also
are brought to the market here from the
lower river. but the quantity is small
compared with the demand. AS for vege-
tables from the river counties of Mary
land and Virginia, it is stated. the total
amount shipped here in a month in sum-
mer would not supply the demand for a
day.
At this season of the year no vegetables
are being received, but IN season some
fruit and, for few weeks in midseason,
good supplies Of tomatoes are brought
here by the river boats. With the spring
fishing season about opening. good sup
plies Of fresh fish will be on the market
and should be a considerable factor in
helping to melt any shortage in the food
supply of the city. Oysters. also, can be
depended upon as a food supply.