Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-25
GOLD CANT
BUY FOODS
Bread, Potatoes,
Sugar, and Other Necessi-
ties, at Unparalleled
Prices, Unobtainable Elk
cept in Meager Quantities.
BOLSHEVIKI SEIZE
WEALTH IN BANKS

Petrograd, Jan. 23.-Since tho disso
luton Of the constituent assembly ant
the disappearance Of any immediate
hope of reconciltng the striving polit
ical parties, public attention in nortl
Russia is conferred on the bread short
age, the lack Of practically all foot
stuffs, the breakdown Of transporta
ton and the commercial stagnation a:
the result of the closing of the banks
Moscow, Petrograd and all the larg
or cities of north Russia have LITTLE
bread.
The bread allowance in Petrograt
today has been reduced to quarter o.
pound daily and the food commits
sion has limited eggs to children I'm
der 3 years, each child to have foul
eggs q month.
EGGS NOT oBTAlNAsLE.
But eggs are not obtainable at any
price.
The commission also has limited
fresh meat to children between the
ages of and IL with half pound
monthly to each child. Potatoes have
been substituted for bread at Novgo
rod and many other places in norti,
Russia but the cost Is equivalent to
IS cents per pound in Petrograd and
consequently the masses of the people
cannot buy them.
A general suspension Of passenger
trains began today in an effort to
speed the transportation of foodstuffs
from Siberia and south Russia to- the
north.
RAILROADS ARE CRIPPLED.
Members Of the railway mems
unions are remaining at their posts
trying to maintain transportation but
locomotives and cars are badly dis
abled and traffic is hindered by the
masses Of wandering soldiers from all
sections Of the country who insist that
their trains have precedence over
freight Virtually all trains arriving
at Petrograd are crowded with sol.
diers and the windows in many Of the
passenger coaches have been broken
by the passengers to get air.
Former bank employees in Moscow
and Petrograd still refuse to work
under the direction of the Smolny in
stitute. Withdrawals on checks are
limited to 500 rubles to each deposition
daily and long lines form at the banks
because Of the long delays and dim
culties in getting money.
REDS coNFIscATE CASH.
Bolshevik agents are opening safe
deposit boxes and confiscating
boarded gold and silver for the gov.
eminent and turning boarded paper
into current accounts for the
owners.
Street cars and lighting plants have
suspended operations frequently in
Petrograd because Of the lack Of fuel
and carlines when operating are so
crowded by soldiers and refugees that
much of the rolling stock is broken
down. In Moscow the car lines are in
a worse condition than here.
WARRIORS TURN PEDDLERs.
Soldiers and sailors have become
peddlers throughout north Russia. and
are making excursions into the coun.
try and returning to the cities with
bread, meat, tobacco and sugar. Al
though the city shops are without
stocks the streets are lined with SOL
diers offering supplies at high prices.
Illuminating oil is not obtainable in
Petrograd and candles are selling at
IS cents per pound. One pound OF
sugar is allowed each person monthly
by card at % cents per pound, but
sugar bought without card costs rs
cents a pound. Flour is unobtainable
at any price and black bread when
bought with cards costs so cents a
pound when obtainable. Dispatches
from many points in the Samara and
Moscow districts report starvation.
THOUSANDS IN PARADE.
Thousands marched yesterday in
peaceful demonstration following the
funeral services for NJ. Loginoff 81.
berian member of the constituent. a..
sembly and other victims Of last Fri.
days demonstration. The city was
quiet during the day, the holiday ami.
of Bloody Sunday" January
3, 1905.