South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-02

for coal that the coal dealers sup
plies will be exhausted as rapidly
as they can haul the product from
their yards to the cellars OF con-
sumers
With shipping facilities in Indi-
ana railroads already congested al
most to the breaking point by the
unusual demands OF war traffic and
with the moving Of thousands Of
troops to the new army camps,
scheduled to begin within the next
few days and continue uninterrupt-
edly probably throughout the fall
and winter, the problem of distribu-
ton of the coal supply in this state
AS in all Others-has become par
amount.
But One Solution.
There seems TO be but one plausi-
bic solution to the situation. so far
as Indiana is concerned. That is that
the householder this winter will be
forced to purchase coal by the
wagon load much of the fall and
winter. and because Of his failure to
lay in an adequate supply. of course
there will be suffering.
With the people of the country
already pressed hard by war bur
dens the spirit of unrest which this
Will engender should be allayed, al
most by the use of any and all
means. state officials here believe
other particularly those
that have not mines within their
bOrders-are due 10 experience more
suffering than is Indiana, which
has mines in striking distance OF
every market in the state.
Food Prices Present Question.
There is another question in the
public mind in Indiana just .cw
that may overshadow even the coal
situation before 1ong-and il may
be responsible for the calling Of a
special session of the legislature yet
this fall That is the food price sit
uatiOn
Even though the production Of
food stuffs in Indiana during the
present season has been greater than
ever before. prices Of staple COM
modities continue 10 mount higher
and higher If the people 81 the
state could feel assured hat these
prices did not hold within them
enormous profits to the food men.
who control the big lines Of output.
transportation and distribution,
they would shoulder their burdens
as a patriotic duty and struggle
along as best they might.
But there gradually is growing a
feeling. extending even TO the ranks
of the Legislators. that the present
prices are inflated artifcially and
not because of the old law OF sup
ply and demand. For II gradually
is being brought home 10 the minds
of Irdianians that the supply in this
state is not only greater than ever
before I'm normal times, but is
super-abundant TO take care of war
time exports ESQ far as this states
percentage of The total exporting is
cOncerned)
Distribution Paramount.
The question of distri button Of
food stuffs. of course is paramount
i'm This situation. and it is certain
that if au the rotting vegetables and
frult. now lyinc in Indiana farms.
could be conserved for the family
table i'm the towns and cities, there
would be no dearth of food during
the coming winter.
Whatever sporadic efforts are be
ing made. either 10y the state or fed
eral governments. TO remedy this
situation. have been productive Of
few results so far.
The urging Of farmers in the state
20 establish waySide markets. where
automobilists could purchase fruit
and vegetables and even smoked
meats. so far has resulted only in
the education OF the farmers 70 a
point where they are charging prices
for such sales that even outstrip the
prices on such municipal markets
as that i'm indianapolis. such a solu-
ton OF the problem, Of course. is not
"a real solution.
special Session Possible.
IL is this sort OF a situation which
may mean the converting OF a spec
iaI session OF the legislature within
the next few months 70 take sum-
mary action in the control OF food
supplies. prices and distribution