South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-20
ASKS PREFERRED
WHEAT SHIPMENT
National Food Administrator
is Told That Otherwise
Loss VIII Result.

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. July 20
John vs. McCardIe Of the public
service commission has sent a letter
10 Herbert Hoover. fedora food ad-
ninistrator. in which he sets out
that The wheat congestion in Indiana
IS imperilIlnz much Of the crop. and
SKIS ne food administrator 10 make
wheat q preferential shipment for
10 least three weeks iu order 20 re-
uere the present congestion Lack
81 cars 20 move the grain and lack
~ storage facilities on at least 80
per cent Of the farms Of the state
are pointed our by SIR. AIcCardle in
DISCUSSING the wheat situation, as
reasons for the present conditions
existing. He says that the elevators
are Fun and that rains that may
come al any time will make the
wheat IN shock sprout Immediate
action is necessary. the com mission
or believes. He also has wired Mr..
Hoover asking that some relief be
given the indiana farms and has
prepared data on actual cases where
wheat should ae moved for the fed
eral authorities
His letter follows:
Dear Sir:
II am addressing this letter to you
TO inform you Of the critical situa-
ton that now confrOnts the farmers
who have wheat 10 thresh and de-
liver TO the markets throughout the
state OF Indiana The writer was
IN Washington last week and took
up the matter with Mr. Markham.
car distributor. of Philadelphia. and
explained to him the situation con-
fronting the farmers here. Mr.
Markham informed me that empty
cars were being forwarded west 20
take care Of this crop. but so far if
cars have been coming here. they are
not sufficient TO take care Of thewheat
that is now being threshed.
I want 10 say that perhaps so
per cent Of the farmers in Indiana
who raise wheat have no storage
capacity on the farm. The time is
here now for threshing and the
weather has 10 be taken into con-
sideration. Many of the elevators at
this time are full and unable 10 take
any more wheat The result is that
the farmers cannot thresh, and If
rain sets in as is threatening at this
time. there is a possibility OF this
wheat being lost. I want 10 impress
on your mind the Importance of
these conditions because if we do
not get box cars 20 move this wheat
thousands oS bushels Of it will spoil
The writer is a grain buyer and owns
some country elevator and I be-
Iieve understand the situation. and
we are appealing TO you for relief
II think that the wheat should be
made preferential for at least three
weeks. this would relieve the situa-
ton if cars can be had so what
wheat is left could be taken care Of
and other war munitions could be
forward Of necessary. but at the
present time the outlook is indeed
discoura ging because we have ele-
vators full OF wheat and no cars TO
ship it IN and no prospects Of re-
lief
II would appreciate very much
letter from YOU indicating whether
we can hope for relief"
The same subject has been the
cause of consideration by he stale
council of defense and the federal
food administration for Indiana Eff
forts have been made by The state
grain dealers association recently 20
start movement under which the
federal government might pay thu