Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-23
Will BE mo- DELAY
IN FOOD SHIPMENTS
McAdoo Asks Food Administrations
to State It's transportation
Requirements.
STANDS READY TO MEET THEM
Railroads Functioning Efficiently
Now, and, Barring Billiards and
Floods, Will BE Able to Meet Do
mands on Them Promptly.
lRy Associated Press.1

WASHINGTON. February 22.-Direo-
tor-Generai McAdoo to-day gave as
surance that so far as transportation
Is concerned there is no Danger of sur
fcring from n serious food shortage In
tho eastern part OF the country"
This was prompted by tho warning
given last night by Food Admin istrator
Hoover that unless grain and meat
movement is greatly Increased In tho
next sixty days the country is threat
ened with an acute shortage OF food
and the program of food shipments to
the allies will fail. In n letter to Mr.
Hoover. the dircctor-gencraI declared
that if the food administration will
Sive definite information on the loca-
ton Of stocks Of supplies intended for
the allies. the railroads will move
them promptly to seaboard. Stimuli
taneously the railroad administration
gave out figures showing chat the NOV
Ing OF grain to primary markets in
the West within the last ten days was
far greater than in previous years.
Although declaring their desire to
avoid controversy with the food adj
ministration, officials or tho railroad
directorate tonight did not conceal
their belief that Mr.. Hoovers state
r,ent was not borne out by the facts
shown in their reports. Members OF
Mr.. McAdoc's staff assumed the atti-
tudc that Mr.. Hoover had dealt in
seneralities, not supported by figures
or other evidence showing such pes
simistic outlook on future food condi-
tons. Writing to Mr.. Hoover. Mr.. Nc
Adoo said:
MchDOO ASKS FOR
SPECIFIC INFORMATION
You are. as I understand it. tho solo
purchaser in this county OF food sup
plies for the allied governments. You
must. therefore know the location oc
the food supplies which you from time
TO time purchase and the ports In this
country to which ou desire such sun
plies shipped
IF you will notify me from tfmo to
time OF the location of the specific sup
plicS ana the port or ports i'm the United
States to which you wish to have such
supplies transported / will guarantee
The necessary transportation subject
| alone to Interruptions from blizzards
and floods. -
I wish to reassure the country by
saying that so far as transportation IS
| concerned there is 10 danger OF sur
fering from serious food shortage in
the eastern part of the country"
The food administration. upon receipt
of the letter issued t:.s statement:
While Mr.. Hoover is out Of town,
food administration officials consider
Mr. McAdoos statement very reassur-
ing. since it indicates that further cars
VIII he furnished in western terminals,
and that the shortage from these
western terminals to eastern territory
x..i1 ho
road directorate are evidently alive to
the situation they will no doubt take
all necessary steps"
\ railroad administration state. ent
without referring to Mr.. Hoover's dec
laration that the domestic and allied
1000 situation can be solved only ,by
loading 5000, 600 bushels or grain a day
Tor the next sixty days. explained that
already 100000 bushels of grain are
being loaded daily and even better
loading Is in prospect