The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-03-17

can be received here in the event OF
the strike only By boat in limited
quantities and the supply would be
most inadequate" was the answer.
, As an illustration OF how limited
the food supply is in this district, ac-
cording to one who is in close touch
with the situation. il is no unusual
thing for jobberS 10 borrow 10 or 4
dozen cases Of canned goods TO supply
their trade until their limited snip
ment is received. which is rare oc-
currence when they buy in norma!
quantities.
No Commodities in Stock.
John Z. Schellhasc. who was in the
grocery business here for years. now
head of the credit bureau Of III"
Wheeling Commercial association. and
who is among the best verSrd men IN
This section on the general food con-
di,innS, said yesterday: Il am hoping
against hope that tho strike may not
occur, but If it does. and ak the rail
roads throughout the country ar" tied
up for any length o. time. 1t will be
the worst calamity that ever struck
this community. With the job5erS
and retailers carrying the smallest
stocks in years. with the most limited
supply of vegetables from down the
ANYTHING from other points through
out the country where there may he
a larger supply. the people are up
against il good and proper. Tho farm
ers have practically sold all their
product for the season. excepting
limited supply OF potatoes. and the
people are now eating canned goods,
but there * only a small supply of
that commodity here"
! Suffering in Thirty Days.
! How long do you suppose the pres
ent supply from local jobbers. retail
prs and from the farms would feed
| Wheeling in the event Of a general
railroad strike" was asked Mr..
Schellhase. Less, than a month;
three weeks would be the limit.
There would be suffering in this com
munity. Man cannot go without food
fover three days and when the supply
! is about exhausted and only the ones
in the best circumstances are getting
! theirs. there will be hundreds Of tho
! less fortunate crying for food" he
replied
housewives Buy Supplies.
! Despite the high cost Of can goods
and Other commodities that may be kept
! indefinitely. housewives got busy yes
terdav and applied the safety FIRST or
| lin time Of peace prepare for war"
axiom by buying as heavily as possible.
Many lard"rs were filled with commndi-
tics yesterday and the grocery stores
w"r" busy delivering canned goods.
sugar. dried fruit AID other commodi-
: H"G household articles To homes
who are prepared in case of the railroad
tl"-up.
Meat for a week.
You have asked something that is
entirely tircck I" n" when you inquire
as 20 the possible effects of nation-
wild" railroad strik" would have on the
meat SITUATION in Wheeling" was the
answer given IN Intellfgcncor represent
tatIv" Yesterday. by John q. Schenk
president of +. Schenk Sons company,
meat packers.
Il have never experienced such n
thing as is anticipated. he said. and
could mt toll you. off hand. just how
long the meat supply we have on hand
would last. OF course. you understand
that We could do no shipping providing
the strike occurs. and We would have
nil the meat on hand for the consumpa-
sion Of local people. The strike cannot
last long. and believe that tine citizens
az Wheeling will not suffer from a
shortage IF meat. for a week at the
least. he added.
Retailer Talks.
\ prominent retail grocer said the
food situation would b. acute If the
threatened railroad strike materalizes
There Is 4 shortage Of flour sugar and
in fact We ar. having considerable
t,-.,,