The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-06-22
DISTRIBUTED CORN
AMONG MEXICANS
Government Gave Out Nearly a Quarter
of Million Bushels to Relieve the
Situation of the Needy.

Mexico City, June % Correspondence,
of The Associated Press Nearly quar-
ter of million bushels of corn, valued al
more than Sl,000,o00 was distributed in
the eight months ending last March, by
the Mexican food commission to relieve
| the food crisis that has existed in this
republic.
| Partial failure of the 1917 corn crop
upon which the greater part of Mexico's
100000 inhabitants depend for sus-
tenance, was the primal factor in the
formation OF the commission. There was
danger of famine in some parts of the
country, and it was difficult to transport
food to these regions, the surplus that
obtained in other parts of Mexico. BY its
work, the commission averted the threat
ened famine, stabilized the price of corn
and, in great measure, prevented specu-
lation in it,
After presenting the facts before the
consul general of the United States here,
an export permit was obtained from the
United States government to cover the
importation of 100000 bushels of corn
monthly from Dec. i, 1917, to Oct. 80,
1918. The commission now is endeavor-
ing to secure another similar permit.
The first shipments from the United
States, which were bought through
Kansas City firm. were distributed in va
rious cities and towns along the border,
where there was a great scarcity and
where the price was exceedingly high.
Later the distribution was extended to
other parts of the republic, notably to
the large mining camps, where the com
panies bought many carloads from the
commission, stored 1t, and then retailed
it at much below the cost price to their
employees.
Chambers of commerce, located at or
near these points, have either been the
direct distributors or have had charge of
the distribution. This supervision, how
ever, was not necessary in the case of
the mining and industrial concerns who
greatly by the importations, for
there was danger that they might have
had to shut down their plants had the
food supply for their employees been ex-
hausted.
Another phase of the commissions ac-
tivities was the establishment in the City
Of Mexico of 40 stores, which retail corn
10 the laboring classes at about p per !
,ent below market prices. These stores, |
according TO the report, are selling about |
? 500 bushels daily. II is planned to
start, as soon as possible, ticket sys-
EN-. whereby each ticket holder win re-
GIVE about 25 pounds of corn weekly.
An attempt by the commission to put |
nto effect a scheme for the distribution 4
# sugar similar to that for corn, has 4
Tot vet been completed.
In addition TO the aid extended by the
the commission has received
'aluable cooperation from various large
mining companies, mostly those backed 4
" foreign capital One mine at II ORC. 4
tate OF Mexico. converted four huge steel \
pachuca tanks into a miniature grain
ievator, capable Of holding thousands Of 4
.ushels. This grain Is retailed az prices
Glow cost through the company store 70
+ employees. When conditions forced the
losing Of great smslter a. Aglss Ca
.entes. the company, 90 keep its idle EN-
ioyes from want. continued the distri-
ution Of corn from its storeh0uses 81 the
visionary prices.