The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-05-22
CARS OF GRAIN BRING RELIEF.
After Much Loss Has Been Caused by
"Home-Bound- Ruling OF Ameri-
can Railway Association.
Charleston American.


| bought months ago, which have Tor
some time been tied up in the eleva-
tors of the West, began rolling into
! Columbia and other South Carolina
cities this morning as a result OF ef-
forts on the part Of Commissioner OF
| agriculture E. J. Watson, who took
the matter up with the council Of ma
tional defense through Congressman
A. Frank Lever, chairman of the ag-
; ricultural committee of the national
house of representatives.
Following 4 ruling by the American
Railway association requiring all cars
to be loaded "home bound,' merchants
in Columbia and elsewhere through
cut the State, because of lack of rail-
road facilities, were unable to secure
corn and other grain bought in the
West several months ago at the then
market price, and were forced to pur-
chase at the present price n order TO
supply the trade. In the case Of one
big milling company, corn had been
bought at SO cents per bushel con-
siderable while since, but the COM
pdug hdS USIIS AoA SSo " Pdy pASS
ent high prices on account of inabil
ity to secure shipments from Western
elevators. The ruling of the Ameri
can Railway association meant in ef.
feet that all freight cars were held
on the lines of the roads owning them
and Southern merchants were cut of
from shipments beyond the lines Of
road on which they were located, ex-
cept such supplies as they might De
able to purchase as were in transit
from the producers to the elevators.
A condition resulted which accentuat-
ed an already very serious sit Iation.
The president of one Of the large
milling companies Of the state gave
Commissioner Watson in letter the
result Of his observations on a recent
tour of the West.
II have just returned from trip
out West" he said, visiting several
Of the grain centres and thought it
might be of some interest to you to
know what information l gathered in
regard to preesnt high prices for food
products.
Dem0rallZed tondltl0n.
Together with tho natural causes,
some advance in this product, from
the information l received, as we'll aa
the experience We are having in try
ing to operate our business, am in
clined to think that he present high
prices are due to some extent to the
completely demoralized condition of
our railroads. They seem to be ur.-
able to handle the business given
them. and, coupled with this condition
the American Railway association has
seen fit to put into effect ruling
which requires that all cars must be
loaded home bound. Such ruling be-
ing so unusual in the course Of past
transportation experience that it has
in way completely changed busi-
ness conditions.
Elevators of the West are loaded,
and have been for months, and it is
common experience with the shortage
CT cars so serious that they have not
been able to move aly of their stored
products for weeks, and in some in
stances for months. was told that
there was very large elevator that
had not been able to load car at this
place for two months.
"This rule, after careful considera
ton, you will realize affects the cotton
belt territory very seriously. and even
more so than any other part of this
country. If we are to expect to get
any cars from the West our railroads
must supply their empties, and as the
percentage Of products moving West
ward is so small in proportion to the
enormous quantities that are expected
to be moved this way, If this railroad
rule is enforced, then our facilities for
securing this food product are ex-
tremely limited. This statement ap
of cars The result Of same has forced
the traders to abondon their STOCKS
they have contracted for" IN elevators
and bonded warehouses and buy from
any source possible to keep their bus
mess l. existence, unintentionally
holding back products that they have
no earthly use for except in the reg
Ulol Suau0ClS VI IAOAl OoOAAOoSs
Getting Worse.
1--WE have been hoping for some i'm
proyement in the railroads, but it
seems now that it is getting worse.
While the officials Of the railroads
might have found this ruling neces-
sary to keep going. nevertheless there
is not a shadow Of a doubt but what
such ruling is causing to some extent
the present nigh prices for grain.
"The situation is such that traders
are now not interested in buying
stocks in warehouses in these grain
centres. They are resorting to buying
only loaded cars, and such cars that
are permitted to be routed their way.
In the trading circles this is such an
unusual circumstance that it in itself
is enough to cause wild market con-
ditions.
"The government is expected to take
some STEPS toward conserving the
food supplies of this country for the
public welfare, and it seems to me
that the fixing of prices, either mini