Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-15
Editors; Letter Box
Embree Wants Govt Supervision.


Waterville. May IA, 1917.
Editor kennebec Journal:
The food situation as printed IN the
newspapers is so conflicting that the
people are becoming confused. Flrst
we are warned that we are racing
starvation and in the next issue we are
informed that there will be plenty to
feed our own people and have liberal
quantity to send to our Allies who are
engaged in fighting our battles In
Europe.
With these conflicting statements
before us the people find 1t difncuit TO
determine the exact situation. Whlle
we are inclined to place faith In the
statements sent out by the National
Department of Agriculture we do not
always understand the lines upon
which they work. The Department
makes a survey of the crop situation
several times during the growing sea-
son and they report the situation as
they find it as compared with the same
date in normal seasons.
Some time ago the Department re-
ported the winter wheat situation as
it appeared at that time. This sur
compared with the average or normal
on that date in other years. me
SPECTATORS Immediately took adj
vantage of this gloomy report and
boosted prices to unheard OF levels.
Since that report there has been an
abundance of rain in the wheat belts
and it is now reported that the crop
is nearly normal.
The same thing happens in all
produce lines when the Government
reports a shortage. Prices for all
kinds of food stuffs are climbing and
the more there Is said about govern
mcnt supervision the faster prices
climb.
Every winter the grain of the
Northwest is gathered at the head of
the Great Lakes and there waits the
opening of navigation. This was the
case this year, but when navigation
opened an embargo was placed on all
the transportation lines and the grain
is still there.
Our transportation facilities or lack
of facilities has been a large factor in
boosting prices. In order for the
dealer to keep supplied he was obliged
months. Many cars that were sup
posed to reach destination last De-
cember were delayed in many cases up
to February. SO far as prices were
concerned the dealer did not suffer, for
the Spectator boosted prices so rapid
ly that the value of the car on arrival
over the buying price was usually in
creased one-third.
| think it is safe to say that there is
no such shortage in grain as we nave
been lead to believe and the dealers
and all those who have bought and
stored large quantities may suffer a
severe loss.
If the quantity of grain stored at the
head of the Great Lakes is as large as
reported, when it is let loose 1t will be
a disturbing factor so far as prices are
concerned. Another indication as to
what is thought of the situation by
those who are in a position to know Is
the fact that the millers in some cases
are demanding deposit of SIS per bar
rel on flour ordered for future delivery.
This certainly is proof positive that
the millers have no faith in the situa-
ton. Whether this lack of faith is
caused by the knowledge that there is
plenty of grain, or whether they fear
action by the governemnt, it is hard
to determine, but from information at
hand it would appear that both are
taken into consideration.
1t is my business to sell grain, but
I have not faith sufficient to offer
goods for sale, as | fear that before
the car reached destination SIS -four
might be selling for SO. I can make
as much money in selling high priced
goods as low, but considering the in
formation l have, showing a possible
slump in the market by reason of bet
ter transportation facilities and gov
eminent supervision, it is better that
| as an individual should suffer rather
than the local farmers unions who are
my customers. Until such time as the
situation is cleared l shall not offer the
opportunity to buy, feeling that If did,
| would be no better than the specu-
lator who rather than be loyal to his
country, will by his acts cause wide
spread suffering to the whole people,
for the sake of increasing his wealth.
Let us have government supervision
by all means. c. E. EMBREE.