Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-09-16
BURTON l.. FRENCH.
MARKETING POTATO CROP.


BURTON l.. FRENCH.
MARKETING POTATO CROP.
| Some time ago our club received a
communication from Senator Borah
stating that he had taken up with Lord
Northcliffe the proposition of the al
lied governments maintaining a pur-
cashing department in Portland for the
purpose of establishing a nearer mar
ket for the farm products of the north
western states. At the suggestion of
Senator Borah, our club compiled sta
tistics giving estimates of the various
kinds of crops it would be necessary
to move. So far we have not heard
that the allied governments have de-
cided on favorable action, but it ap-
pears that Senator Borah also took
this matter up with the United States
food administration in an endeavor to
find market for our potato crop. In
this connection we have Just received
the following letter written to Sena-
tor Borah by the United States food
administration:
Hon. w, u. Borah, United States
Senator, Washington, d. c. Dear Sir:
Replying to your letter of the 10th in
regard to the movement and market
Ing OF this seasons Idaho potato crop
will say 1t now looks as if the short
age in the California potato crop will
offer market for some of the Idaho
crop this fall and winter. The normal
market for Idaho and California pota-
toes is Kansas. Oklahoma, Texas and
New Mexico, and as indications are
that ha al !,
it will give broader market for Idaho
and Colorado than in their normal
market territory, and if arrangements
can be made with the growers, bust
ness men and railroad men to CO.
operate in Idaho a large percentage of
this years crop may be s.ored ON the
farms and at the shipping points so
that more equitable distribution of
the crop would be obtained throughout
the nine and a half or ten months that
1t is used for food. We are in hopes
that through campaign for increas-
ing the consumption of potatoes, there
by saving wheat to send to the allies
that we will be able to get for the
growers the cost plus a fair profit for
their crops this year but II will neces-
state the honest CO. operation of the
growers They must not throw their
crop on the market at harvest time, if
they do the price will certainly go
low. am confident that the rail-
roads can handle close to a third of
the crop from the beginning OF the
harvest to the last of November il the
growers will load from 10000 to $4,000
pounds to the car in place of 30 900,
and If these cars will be unloaded
promptly after arrival at destination.
The fact that last year the Idaho
and Colorado crop came into Illinois.
Indiana Ohio. and Pennsylvania and
New York where the people of those
states had an opportunity once more
to get a good baked potato win no
doubt give US considerable OF a market
In these states this fall, and am very
DESTROYS that the growers of Idaho
take more pains than ever before in
sorting and grading their potatoes
thereby holding up the reputation that
they have established for which con-
sumption is willing to pay an increas-
ed price. Very truly yours,
U. 8. FOOD ADMINISTRATION.
TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY.
While there has been but per cent
increase In freight car equipment, the
railroads rendered nearly rs per cent
more freight service in June this year
than in the same month last year.
This was brought about mainly by
the patriotic response Of shippers and
receivers of freight. to load and I'M
load freight equipment with greater
dispatch and by loading equipment to
It's fullest capacity. This increase