Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-23
HIGH FOOD PRICES
DECLARED NOT DUE
TO CAR SHORTAGE.
Every City in East Said to
Have Ample Supplies
for Requirements.
ACUTE STAGE OF TIE-UP
BELIEVED TO HAVE PASSED
Housewives in New York Con-
tinue Demonstrations Against
Rising Cost of Living.
OUTBREAKS IN MANY SECTIONS
Thousands of Philadelphia Women
Parade in Unorganizcd Fash
ion as Protest.
ACUTE STAGE OF TIE-UP
BELIEVED TO HAVE PASSED
OUTBREAKS IN MANY SECTIONS
Thousands of Philadelphia Women
Parade in Unorganizcd Fash
ion as Protest.

WASHlNGTON, February 22.-Afany
cmpties rolled West at passenger. train.
speed to-day from congested railroad
yards OF the East, according TO Inter
state Commerce Commission advice.
from its field force OF investigators.
Fair weather and a holiday combined
gave the roads the first real oppor-
tunIty in more than g. week to exert
their maximum energies to relieve the
car shortage that has threatened near
famine in some sections of the country.
Officials of both the railroads and
the commission expressed the conyic-
ton tonight that the acute stage OF
the shortage had passed. and that
steady improvement in the situation
would continue. At no time. 1t was
said, had conditions reached the acute
ness of the tie-up a year ago.
At the same time. the number of
cars involved in the tie-up according
to reports TO the commission from
virtually every road in the country. In
creased by more than one-third in the
two weeks between January and
February 10, and on the latter dato
reached the grand total OF 165,o14
The car-servicc commission of tho
American Railway Association was to-
day unable to say what steps had been
taken to relieve tho shortage OF ga,
coal which threatens "a possible inter-
ruption" OF service of light, heat and
power companies in eighteen towns
and cities in six Middle Western States.
1t was assumed, however. tina. coal
would -bo rushed to tho points most
needed.
CHICAGO SITUATION NOT
REGARDED As DESPERATE
The situation ut Chicago. while caus-
ing some concern to government and
railroad officials, was not regarded
here as desperate. IT was said that
while relief was being afforded to Chi
caSo as rapidly as possible. the needs
OF other communities could not be
overlooked.
Statements that Chicago had been
getting only four o. five cars a day
for the shipment east OF wheat for
domestic use were met at the COM
mission with the assertion that the
records show that Chicago has been
receiving approximately 200 cars n day,
and that about one-half of them were
used to export wheat. The movement
oi export wheat cast could bring no
relief TO sufferers from soaring prices
in Eastern cities. IL was said
1t Was said both at tho Interstate
Commerce Commission and the car-ser-
vice commission that there was no.
where In the country at the present
time an actual shortage OF food or
fuel needed for domestic consumption.
Every city in tho East, so far a known,
has plenty Of food for immediate re-
uuiremcnts. and rising prices could
not hc Justly attrihui ed to shortage.
The lG5,27t cars involved in the gen
cral tic-up are distributed in every sec
tion OF tho country, and include all
classes, loaded and empty, which, for
reasons due &" congestion, arc tenn
porarily withdrawn from transporta-
tion service.
In New England there were 4.To4, An
increase OF 1000 per cent in three
weeks: Virginia. West Virginia and tho
Carolnas reported 3.I9l, a 10 per cent
increase in the Same period.
SEN NERAL HEASONS
ASSIGNED FOR TIE-UP
severe weather in the North and New
I'm u.land, tho inability OF connecting
lines 60 handle the cas-, congestion on
homo lines, freight cmbarEoes and oc-
casional shortage OF power we're the
chief reasons assigned for the tie-up
hy reporting roads. The total OF
lG5.2.i compares with 125,973 January
20. l.2.22l January - and li5.667 Feb
ruary 3, the greatest ratio Of increase
beg ginning January Is.