El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-06-18
CORN
AVERT5 FAMINE
Mexico Distributes Thou
sands of Bushels Among
Suffering People.

Mexico city. Mex. June 1S-lCor- ]
respondence Of The Associated 2ress.) /
Nearly quarter Of a million bush
els Of corn. valued at more than ST.
100000, was distributed in the eight
months ending last March. by the
Mexican food commission 10 relieve
The food crisis that has existed in this
republic.
Partial failure OF the 1917 corn crop,
upon which the greater part OF Mex
ico's $1,000, 600 inhabitants depend Tor
susteuance. was the primal factor IN
the formation Of the commission
There was danger Of famine IN some
PARTS Of the country, and 10 was diff
ficult TO transport food TO these re-
eious the surplus that obtained In
other parts Of Mexico BY its WOT j.
the commission averted thethreatened
famine. stabilized the price OF corn
and. in a great measure, prevented
Asks View L. s. Permit.
After presenting the facts before
the consul general OF the United
States here. an export permit was op-
taineu from the United tSates govern
meur TO cover the importation or
500. 600 bushels Of corn from December
]. 1917, 10 October so, 1918 The COM
mission now is endeaVorlnE 10 secure
another similar permit
The first shipments from the Unit
ed States. which were bought through
a Kansas City firm. were distributed
in various cities and towns along the
border where there was great scar
city and where the price was exceed
inglv high Later the distribution was
. EXTENDED TO other parts Of the repub-
lie. notably 20 the large mining camps
where the companies bought many
liza . w g 81
it and then retailed it at much below
cost price to their employees
Chambers Of commerce. located at
I or near these points, have either been
the direct distributors or have had
charge Of the distribution. This SUI
rervision. however. was not neces-
sary in the case Of the mining and
Z Industrial concerns who benefited
greatly by the iuportauous, for there
Z was danger that they might have had
TO shut down their plants had the food
supply for their employees been exc
] hausted.
40 Corn stores Established.
! Another phase Of the commission s
activities was the establishment in the
City Of Mexico Of 40 stores, which re
I tail corn 10 the laborinE classes at
! about % percent below market prices
/ are selling ABOUT 2500 bushels daily.
I IL is planned 10 start, as soon as pos
sible. a ticket system, whereby each
/ ticket holder viii receive about 25
I pounds Of corn weekly An attempt
/ by the commission 20 put into effect
Ia scheme for the distribution Of sugar
/ similar 20 that Of corn, has not yet
7 been obtained
I In addition 70 the aid extended by
I the government, the commission has
] received valuable cooperation from
T various large mining companies,
mostly those backed by foreign cap
itaL One mine at II ORC. state OF
I Mexico. converted four huge "Pachuca
tanks" into q miniature grain eleva-
I tor. capable OF holding thousands Of
bushels. This grain IS retailed at
prices below cost through the COM
panv store 20 its employees When
+ conditions forced the closing OF a
great smelter at Aguas Caiientes, the
company. to keep its idle employees
from want. continued the distribution
OF corn from Its storehouses at the
. customary prices