Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-03-21
POTATOES ON SK|DS;.
FALL FROM GRACE IS
BLAMED TO DEALERS
PRICE OF TuBERS DROPS, BUT
DEMAND is NOT TheRE-PUB-
HIGH COST PREVAILED.

Prohteers during the past year
have killed the goose which laid the
golden egg. A lost appetite for p0
tatocs ON the part of the American
public has Uncle Sam "stumped
Proilteers last year caused the peo-
pie 10 change their raiions. Now
the food administration, with a tire
mendous food problem on hand, is
holding the bag
history last year proliteers boosted
the price beyond all reason The
result was that potatoes Mere driv
IN off the American table An APP
petite for substitutes was created.
Now potatoes are dropping steadily
in price, but they will not sell.
The federal food administration is
bending every effort to re'create
the lost appetite, The eating Of
more potatoes means the consump-
ton OF less wheat--the precious grain
which must be sent abroad. II means.
too, that the potato producers, with a
surplus of about SO,000,000 bushels
which must be marketed by July---a
surplus larger than ever known must
get them off their hands or let them
rot and take big losses
Surplus Still on Farms.
Most of this great surplus is still
on American farms and are in add,
ton to potatoes held in warehouses
by dealers. To bring them off the
farms to the big cities will require
about 10000 freight cars.
With the knowledge that the po-
tato surplus may be converted any
day into a potato crisis by a failure
of car service. the food adminstra-
ton announced yesterday that an
agreement has been entered into
with the railroad administration TO
furnish specific number OF ears
each month to July 1 for the exclu
sve handling Of potatoes
Consumption Falls Off,
The food administration has di
rect line on consumption Thru
February II watched what the trade
consumed on its own account at the
proiiteering prices in vogue. n
stead of $4,000 carloads the public
should have consumed 1t paid 5 or [
cents a pound for about 10000 car
loads. It needed no prophet to see
what would happen IN March. April
May and June in the potato grow
ing states.
Ignorant Of the old-time marke,
tricks, which furnished a high mar
ket price when dealers warehouse,
were full and colapsing pric,
when the farmers were able to reach
the market after the winter alIit
iie.up. the farmers could not see thu
rightfulness Of price Of 80 cents /
bushel They have been storminl
at food administration agents VIII,
have been advising them to drive
their crops to market in hurry
Now they are following the adyic,
and the price is falling fast.
Whether the food mistratiou
will be able to restore the potato tt
its regular place in the peoples die
Is n matter giving much worry
Chicago market reports show tina
the tubers are coming in in largel
quantities. with the result that tn,
wholesale price is falling rapidly
Every effort is being made by tn,
food administration to stimulate tn,
appetite and induce the people {,
eat more potatoes. but their appe
titc appears to be gone. Potatoes
today are the cheapest food produc
TO be purchased. But the people dt
not seem to care for them
The price of Wisconsin. Minneso
Ia, Michigan and Dakota potatoe.
dropped cents peck. to % to .!
cents, yesterday in Chicago.