The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-02-22
SHORTAGE ingram
NOT DUE TOROADS,
OFFICIALS AVER
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
as long as there IS pending in Con-
gress legislation aimed to give them
q higher price for their product
Following the startling statement
OF Congressman Lever, published yes
terday In The Times. that food COM
ditions OF United States and the al
lies are critical Food Administrator
Hoover today laid bare the alarming
seriousness OF the situation.
Breakdown OF transportation, es-
pecially railroads, was blamed By
Hoover. Food deliveries are short.
Corn and potatoes are rotting. Some
districts are virtually on the verge
OF famine because OF exhausted food
reserves
Hoover's startling revelations.
known here conhdentially for some
time. are intended, It Is believed, TO
spur on the railroads, the ships and
the American public to get behind
the Food Administration and push
through the food that viii win the
war.
In some quarters It was believed
Hoover also was aiming at Congress
In an effort to stop proposed legis-
lation to increase the price OF wheat,
which Il Is claimed, would completely
upset the food program
situation Worst In History.
The situation. characterized By
Hoover as the worst in history, II
briefly as follows, according to his
statement:
The next sixty days will be the most
critical period in our food history.
BY February % we will be short
A OO0 no L. prounfaaN
to the allies.
This deficiency is due solely to rail-
way congestion
Laws OF supply and demand sus-
pended by interrupted dow Of distri-
button.
Food reserves in large consuming
areas approaching exhaustion.
Movement Of food over the national
railroad to practical exclusion. Of
much other commerce. the only solu-
ton.
Hoover's statement follows reports
OF anxiety over the food situation
from Lord Reading. British ambassa-
dor and frantic appeals from heads
of the Italian government 10 It's en-
basSy here urging quick action
Fear that lack OF food will weaken
the allies masses Is forcing the food
question 20 the front Even muni-
tions and soldiers must wait on this
side White food is rushed across.
Special food trains are being sent
across the country in large numbers.
pIling their bulk into the holds OF
allied vessels lying at Atlantic ports
ready 10 sail -Suffcient ships are
available TO carry the necessary food,
the difficulty being almost entirely
one OF Internal transportation here.
Rood Program behind.
"Since the first OF December We
have fallen far behind our agreed
food program with the allies" Hoover
said. "By the end OF February We
will be short 45,OO0.OOO bushels in eef-,
cal products. We will also be short
OF meat and pork products we were
to deliver This deficiency Is dus
solely to railway congestion since that
date.
The railway directorate since COM
ing into control on, January ! has
made efforts to find a remedy, but
during the month Of January the
weather was iasuperable, and al
though progress has been made since
February 5 the situation Is the ac-
emulation OF three months delays
The next sixty days will be the most
critical period in our food history.
Produce Waits on Farms.
"On February 1 less than so per
cent of corn, less than so per cent
OF oats. and less than 80 per cent OF
potatoes had been moved from farms.
1.-THE least amount OF grain that
must be loaded for the next sixty
days is 100000 bushels per day, and
we have not yet attained that Less
than this will solve neither the allied
nor our domestic situation"
Hoover said potatoes are spelling
on growers hands Only $4,000 car
loads were moved February 1, about
half the normal movement.
Price conditions are seriously dis
turbed by the structure in the flow Of
distribution, Hoover explained.
Margins between the farmer and
the consumer in many commodities
were never wider because the sun
Stunning trades are under supplied and
farmers compete for transportation