Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-09
FOOD IS BIGGEST
RUSS WORRY NOW
With Dissolution Of the Assembly and
Close Of Politics, Attention Turns
to Bread Shortage.
LARGE CITIES FACING FAMINE
Moscow and PetrOgrad Said to Be
Nearly Out Of CommOdity-Eggs
Thing Of the Past.

Petrograd.-Since the dissolution OF v
the constituent assembly and the dis =
appearance of any immediate hope Of
reconciling the striving political par
ties, public attention in north Russia
is conferred on the bread shortage, the
lack of practically all foodstuffs, the
breakdown of transportation and the
commercial stagnation as the result
of the closing of the banks.
Moscow, Petrograd and all the
larger cities of north Russia have
little bread.
The bread allowance in Petrograd
today has been reduced to quarter of
pound daily and the food commits
sion has limited eggs 20 children un-
der three years, each child to have
four eggs a month. But eggs are not
obtainable at any price. The commits
sion also has limited fresh meat to
children between the ages of 3 and II
with half pound monthly to each
child. Potatoes have been substituted
for bread at Novgorod and many other I
places in north Russia but the cost is |
= equivalent to Is cents per pound in
Petrograd and consequently the
masses cannot buy them.
Halt Passenger Trains.
! A general suspension of passenger
| trains began today in an effort to
speed the transportation of foodstuffs
from Siberia and south Russia to the
i north. Members of the railway mems
unions are remaining at their posts
trying to maintain transportation but
locomotives and cars are badly dis
: abled and traffic is hindered by masses
} of wandering soldiers from all sec
lions of the country who insist that
, their trans have precedence over
r freight. Virtually all trains arriving
: at Petrograd are crowded with SOL
diers, the windows in many Of the
passenger coaches having been broken
by the passengers to get the air.
0 Former bank employees in Moscow
:. and Petrograd still refuse to work I'M
0 der the direction of the Smolny insti-
: tute. Withdrawals on checks are lin
tied to 500 rubles to each depOsitor
daily and long lines form at the banks
e because of the long delays and diff
p culties. Bolsheviki agents are open
ing safe deposit boxes and confiscat-
/ ing boarded gold and silver for the
" government and turning boarded
: paper money into current accounts for
ST the owners
Have Fuel Shortage.
J. Street cars and lighting plants have
J. suspended operations frequently in
e Petrograd because of the lack of fuel
and car lines when operating are sc
crowded by soldiers and refugees thai
ID much of the rolling stock is broker
+ down. In Moscow the car lines are II
T. worse condition than here.
Soldiers and sailors have becom:
le peddlers throughout north Russia
le and are making excursions into thu
at.I country and returning to the cite!
ct with bread, meat, tobacco and sugar
~ Although the city shops are withou
stocks the streets are lined with sol
oilers offering supplies at high prices.
% Sugar Sold by Card.
u Illuminating oil is not obtainable il
Petrograd and candles are selling a
VI 10 cents per pound. One pound o
s. sugar is allowed each person MONTH.
- by card at 20 cents per pound, bu
sugar bought without card costs Y