Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1917-07-13
State Food Committees Markets Di-
vision Devises Plan to Prevent
Possible Losses This Year
RAILROADS TO SPEED UP
Census of Crops to be Taken to Dis
close Where Extra Shipping Fa-
cilities Will be Needed

Speed ana GI1ClGnCy are the "dICu-
words of the markets division of the
State Committee Of Food Production
and Conservation in a campaign just
begun to set the products and sup
plies of NIinnesota's farms handled
through the regular channels this
summer and fall. Speed and eff
cheney are imperative in order that
there may be no loss to either pro-
ducer or consumer. To get speed
and efficiency, the markets division
is making a statewide appeal. 1t
says everybody must help.
To make the traffic flow smoothly
and rapidly through the regular
channels, however, is going to be in
creasingly difficult as the season ad
vances. The production of such crops
as potatoes and rutabagas in much
larger quantities than usual will
lead many farmers with limited or
no storage facilities to attempt to
market their crops as soon as har-
vested The movement of military
supplies will begin in November, if
not in October. Large shipments of
farm machinery will demand their
share of a short supply of cars. The
transportation of the winters fuel
supplies will present added difficult
ties. 1t is to meet this complicated
situation that the markets division
of the state food committee is strenu-
Ously at work
TO REMEDY FREIGHT CONGES-
TION
The first move of the division has
been the sending of a letter to all
of the county directors of the Com
mission of Public Safety. This letter
says that much of the freight con-
gestion is caused by the undertaking
of cars, by the shipment out and
back again Of agricultural products
that should remain within the sew
eral counties, and by delays in load
ing and unloading. The county direc-
tors, therefore, are urged to see to
it that each county provides for it's
own needs before shipping out any
food supplies, that cars are always
fully loaded, and that delays in load
ing and unloading are reduced to a
minimum.
The county directors are further
urged to encourage the purchase of
individual supplies of fuel in order
that dealers fuel sheds may be emp
tied and restocked, to emphasize the
need Of providing storage pits or
cellars on the farms, and warehouses
in towns, for perishabIe products,
and to call the attention of farmers
to the desirabiIity of letting their
implement dealers know what farm
machinery they will need within the
next year, in order that preferred
orders for such machinery may be
entered with manufacturers.
RAILROADS PROMISE HELP
The railroads have shown complete
readiness to cooperate in the hand
ling of farm supplies. A letter from
Thomas Yapp, assistant secretary of
the Minnesota Railroad and Ware
house commission, showing the at
titude Of the railroads, follows:
"Replying to your letter of June
with reference to the prompt move
ment of agricultural implements.
eve have now received assurance
from the presidents of every railroad
operating in this state that all the
agricultural implements and articles
in common use on the farm have been
declared to be preference freight,
and will be handled with the great
est prOmptness when offered for ship
ment. If at any time you hear of
any delay in shipments of these COM
modities, we would be glad if you
advise us, as we would like to follow
out any such cases.
This preference freight agreement
will be brought to the attention of
the leading shippers in every county,
Of county agents, of farmers club
secretaries, and other persons who
may be directly interested.
CROP YIELDS TO BE REPORTED
The county directors, again, are
being asked to fill out and return to
w. w. Cumberland, manager of the
food committees markets informa-
tion service, University Farm, St.
Paul, blanks showing the probable
yields of potatoes, beans, rutabagas,
turnips, onions, cabbage, sugar beets,
and other vegetables, and apples, in
territories tributary to the various
market centers; also the amounts of
these different crops shipped in or