The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-02-23
ROADS TO AVERT
FAMINE IN EAST,
M'ADO0 REPLIES
Railroad Director Asks
Hoover to Give Location
of Supplies.
HITCH IN CONTROL PLAN
Reliable Figures Lacking as
Result Of Delay in Pro-
jected Survey.
Special DespG,cA TO Tnr s,&.

Special Despatch to The S,S.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 2:.--1n a rather
sharp letter sent to-day to Food Admin
istrator Hoover Director-Gercral Nc
AcOo told Mr.. Hoover that II he would
give the location OF the food supplies
requiring shipment he would guarantee
the necessary transportation. In the
same letter Mr. McAdoo gave assurances
to the country that 80 far as trans
portation was concerned there was no
danger OF a food famine here. as Mr..
Hoover's statement yesterday had
seemed to imply.
1t was again evident to-day that the
Hoover statement describing food con-
di:Ions as critical both for this country
and the Allies and pla cling the blame on
the railroads had created a rather Pc
cui!ar situation between the railroad and
food administrations.
Before sending his letter to Mr.. Hoover
to-day Mr.. McAdoo called a conference
Of his staff and went over the whole sit
nation. Following Is the letter despatched
to the Food Administrators
You arc. as understand it. the
sole purchaser in this country OF food
supplies FOR the allied Governments.
You must therefore know the location
or the food supplies which YOU from
true to time purchase and the ports in
this country to which You de sire such
supplies shipped. II ynu will notify me
from time to time OF the location OF
the specific supplies and the port o.
ports in tho United States to which
you wish to have such supplies trans
81,
transportation subject alone to inter-
ruptlons from blixzards and foods.
I wish to reassure the country by
saying that 40 far as transportation ~
concerned there is 10 danger Of suffer-
ing from a serious food shortage in tho
Eastern part Of the country.
Hoover Absent.
MIR Hoover was rot In town to-day
hut he expected t" return tomorrow. II
his absence the following reply to Mr.
McAdoo was issued:
While Mr.. Hoover 10 out of town.
Food Administration officials consider
Mr.. McAdoo's statement very reassur.'
ing, since Il Indicates that further
cars will he furnished to Western ter
minals and that the shortage from
these Western terminals to Eastern
territory now will be overcome. Az
tho railway directorate are evidently
alive to the situation they will no
doubt take all necessary steps.
1t appears unlikely that Mr. Hoove,
will furnish Mr.. McAdoo with the infor.
nation he seeks because tho Food Ad.
ministrat ton has not this information. II
cannot tell exactly where the food /,
outside OF the primary markets. having
no organization for this purpose. The
task OF locating the food. It was eS
planned, belonged TO the Department q
Agriculture. The Lever bill appropriated
$1,000. 900 last fall for tho purpose OF 8
food survey to be made BY the Depart
men, of Agriculture. For some reason
work on this has Jagged and now at q
time when such figures are urgently re-
quired this survey ia not yet completed
according to the Food Administration.
Allies' SUPPLIES Endangered.
1t was apparent to-day that there wa!
supplies somewhere which might caus,
grave consequences for the Allies,
Tho railroad administration reportc1
that approximately 6,o00.o 900 bushels o
grain were being moved daily. but ther,
Is 1000. 900 bushels shor. OF Mr.. Hoo
ver's minimum requirements. The state
ment issued from Mr. McAdoos offic,
said:
"There has now been about two week.
Of moderately good weather. durint
which time an extraordinary effort ha
been put forth by the railroads. For tn,
week ended February 16. 22.104.0oI
bushels Of grain were received at Wes;
ern primary markets. which were tn
largest receipts for one week in the year
an Increase OF ~ per cent. over the pre-
vious week and 51is over the same weel
last year. The average number Of car
OF grain being loaded is 5000. which Il
approximately 100000 bushels daily
This has been done Notwithstanding tina
weather conditions arc still severe In
largo part Of the country. and It viii
certainly increase in proportion as tn
weat ther moderates.''
Other reports showed that In tho min
days between February IL and Februar.
20 grain received at the principal elc
vators and milling centres of the Wes
included 1851. 900 bushels OF corn. Il
the eight days between February IL an,
February 10 38.750 cars were loadc,
with grain, OF which 26.549 were in tn
Western district. or west OF the Missis
sippi. 1919 were in the Eastern distric
and 2.ss2 In the South.
a. Food Trains Moved.
Forty-two special food trains. con
| tanning 1868 cars. were sent eastwar
from Chicago and East st. Louis to Ne,
York. Philadelphia and Boston for trans
shipment TO the Allies between Febru
ary IL and 10.
This through movement OF food train
10 still continuing and trains Of meat
are going daily to Eastern ports for ex
port.
Between February 10 and Fehruar
~. twelve days, s.363 cars. or about 26
trains, OF live stock. dressed beef an
perishable products have been shippe
eastward from Chicago.