The courier-index. (Marianna, Ark.) 1917-current, 1918-07-05
TRANSPORTATION IS .
HEAVILY 0VERTAxED
SOUTH THIS YEAR FACES A GIT.
uATioN MORE CRITICAL
SINCE CIVIL WAR.

By w. c. Lassetter. Director Agricui-
tural Extension Division. University
of Arkansas.
The South this year faces a situa-
ton more critical than any since the
Civil War. Having for many years
depended upon other sections OF tns
country to furnish these food supplies,
and having built up it's system OF az
riculture on that az basis, the South
this year finds transportation facili-
ties of the country heavily over-tax-
ed and therefore faces a threatened
shortage of the facilities for bringing
into the South the food and feedstuifs
needed to support itself under the old
system OF agriculture.
For many years the agricultural
leaders OF the Southern States have
been urging the production OF home
supplies OF food and feed stuffs as
matter of farm economy. Today the
production Of home supplies OF food
and feed stuffs becomes imperative
as a matter of necessity.
Something of the seriousness OF the
situation that now confronts the
South may be seen when We consider
the magnitude of our transportation
problems. The Extension Division is
in receipt of information from the
War Department which shows that
merely to move an army of 10000
troops once required 6,20s cars or 3o6
trains pulled by 800 engines and
operated by 36e crews. Today
we have twenty times $4,000
men in the United States armies and
to move these troops one time would
require 1920 extra trains, extra en-
gines and extra crews. These flg-
ures refer only to railway equipment
required to move such an army one
time
We are fully aware OF the fact that
food and feed are required to support
armies ard their equipment 1t Is
estimated by the Department OF Agfl-
culture that S6,2l6 carloads of food
will be required for the maintenance
OF the present army for enc year. and
that 9S.S21 cars will be required 10
move the feed and for the transporta-
ton required for army animals for
one year.
Nearly $50, 600 Cars Used For Trans
porting Farm Supplies To BE
ueed For the Army.
Consider the transportation prob
lem required by the combined &c
mands OF the army fer food, feed and
troops. Note. that this requires 1884,
AIS cars and will require approximate
ly 1900 extra trains, 1900 extra en-
zines and $4,000 extra crews.
The demands of the army are in
excess of the regular demands OF tina
United States. Shipping requirements
in many lines have increased mater
tally since the outbreak OF the war.
You will recall that ships were IN
able 10 leave Atlantic ports because
OF the failure to deliver coal for their
bunkers. Hundreds OF cities went
partly cold this past winter because
OF the shortage of transportation Tor
coal. Cars are needed to move the
lumber TO the shipbuiloing docks.
Cars must be had to carry the raw
materials to the many INDUSTRIAL
plants which are necessary 10 support
and equip our armies. Raw materials
must be had for the munition plants.
Much of this is in excess Of our nor
NAL transportation needs.
Net q Sacrifice To Do Duty.
When the transportation facilities
OF our country are taxed TO the limit
in conveying supplies to our troops,
raw materials 10 our munition facto-
ries and other war industries. can Ar
kansas ask that a portion OF this
needed transportation be diverted Ia
bring food into the state when that
food may Just ss well be grown with
in our own boundaries
Should we ash that corn be shipped
from Illinois into Arkansas where "
nay he srown just ar welt Can we
ssk thss pork ee shipped from iowa
into Arkansas where hogs thrive SO
well and can De produced even more
cheaply than An our Northern states
Gan We ask that transportation oe
utilized for bringing into the state any
of these things which We can produce
economically al homef
All the agricultural agencies o.
Arkansas ARE backing the nationwide
campaign instituted by the United
States Department Of Agriculture I.
increase food and feed production "
| Arkansas. We are not asked Tor any
sacrifice. We are merely called upor
10 provide oar own food and feed
/ stuffs