New-York tribune., 1918-02-23
Roads Will Do Share to
Avert Crisis in East,
He Declares
Sharp Letter to
Food Administrator
Grain Movement Greater
Than in Former Years,
Officials Assert

'"dC, 81 lar as transportation Is con-
cerncd, there is no danger of suffering
IRON serious food shortage in the
Eastern part OF the country.'
This was prompted by the warning
given last night by Food Administrator
Hoover that, unless grain and meat
movement is greatly increased in the
next sixty days, the country is threat
cncd with an acute shortage OF food
and the programme of food shipments
to the Allies will fail In a letter to
Mr.. Hoover, the Director General de-
clared that, if the Food Administrator
VIII give definite information on the To-
cation OF stocks of supplies intended
TOR the Allies, the railroads will move
them promptly to seaboaru.
simultaneously the railroad admin
istration gave out figures showing that
the movement of grain to primary mar
! kets IN the West within. the last ten
days was far greater than in previous
years.
Hoovers Statement Questioned
Although declaring their desire to
avoid controversy with the food adj
ministrations, officials of the railroad
directorate to-day did not conceal their
belief that Mr.. Hoovcr's statement was
not borne out by facts shown in their
reports. Members Of Mr.. McAdoo's
staff assumed the attitude that Mr..
Hoover had dealt in gencralitics, not
supported by figures or other evidence
showing such pcssimistic outlook on
future food conditions.
Writing to Mr.. Hoover, Mr. McAdoo
said:
"You are, as | understand it, the sole
purchaser in this country Of food sup
plies for the Allied governments.
You must therefore know the location
of the food supplies which you from
time to time purchase and the ports in
this country to which you desire such
supplies shipped.
"lf you will notify me from time to
time OF the location of the specific
supplies and the port OF ports in- the
United States to which you wish to
have such supplies transported I will
guarantee the necessary transporta-
ton, subject alone to interruptions
from blizzards and floods.
Wishes to Reassure Country
81 wish to reassurc the country hy
saying that so far as transportation is
concerned there is no danger of suffer
ing from serious food shortage in the
eastern part of the country"
The food administration. upon re-
ceipt Of the letter. issued this state
ment:N
"While Mr.. Hoover is out of town.
food administration officials consider
Mr.. McAdoo's statement very reassur-
ing, since it indicates that further cars
will be furnished to Western terminals
and that the shortage from these West
ern terminals to Eastern territory now
will be overcome. AS the railway di-
rectoratc are evidently alive to the
situation, they Will no doubt take all
! necessary steps,
A railroad administration statements
without referring to Mr.. Hoover's dec
laration that the domestic and Allied
food situation can be solved only by
loading 100000 bushels of grain "a day
for the next sixty days, explained that
already 100000 bushels of grain are
being loaded daily and even better
loading - in prospect. Unotiicially it
was declared that practically all the
grain being offered by farmers and
local elevators was being hauled by the
railroads under general priority or
/ ders for foodstutfs, particularly for
grain in the West.
1t was suggested that farmers might
not be bringing their grain TO market
a. fast as they should. Railroad Off
cials also called attention to the fact
tlat potato growers last fall held much
of their crop for higher prices, and that
condition is partl; responsible for the
extraordinary Offering at this time of
potatoes which the railroads are having
soma difficulty moving.
Great Ehort by Railroads
Referring to the general food moving
situation. the railroad administration
statement said:
There has now been about two weeks
OF moderately good weather. during
which time an extraordinary effort has
been put forth by the railroads. For
the week ended February l6, 22.104 900
bushels of grain were received at West
clu primary markets, which were the
largest receipts for one week in two
Years. an Increase of 81 per cent over
the previous week and 51i. per cent
oTor the same week last year
he average number of cars of grain
being loaded Is 5000, which is approx
nately 100000 bushels daily. This
has been done notwithstanding The
weather conditions are still severe in 3.
large part o. the country, and it Will
certainly increase in proportion as the
weather lnOGeratey.'
This statement was based on figures
gathered by the traffic division of the
railroad administration headed by Ed
ward Chambers. former tratii manager
FOR the food administration Other re-
ports showed that in the nine davs be-
tween February II and February 20
grain received az the principal elevator
and milling centres OF the West in
cludcd 1861 900 bushels os corn.
much o. which was the soft corn.
which is 50 prevalent this year. o.
$4,000 bushels of oats, and 2.446.o0O
bushels Of wheat.
Forty-twc special food trains, con-
Gaining / 1868 cars. We're sent eastward
from Chicago and East st. Louis to
New Yori;, Philadelphia and Boston for
transshipment 10 The Allies between
February II and 10. This through
movement of food trains is still con
tinuirg. and six trains of meat are 90
ing daily TO Eastern ports for export.
Between February 10 and February
II. 1868 cars. or about 260 trains. OF
! livestock, dressed beef and perishablc
products have been shipped Eastward
from Chicago.