Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-02-26
FOOD SITUATION Critical
New England Is the SeVefeSt Suf.
fefef..
RAILROADS Are MOSTLY To BLAME

Very Great and that There Can Be
But Little Hope Of Relief for the
Next Sixty Days-Mueh Corn Will
be Lost.
The eastern part Of the United
, States faces food shortage likely
to continue for the next sixty days.
In making this disclosure. Food
Administrator Hoover declared that
the situation is the most critical in
the country's history and that in many
Of the large consuming areas reserve
food stores are at the point OF eX-
haustion.
The whole blame is put by the food
administration ON railroad congestion.
which he says also has thrown the
food administration far behind in its
program for feeding the allies. The
only solution he sees, is greatly in
creased rail movement OF foodstuffs
even to the exclusion OF much other
commerce.
1t is very evident that the railroad
administration is inclined TO resent
Mr.. Hoover's blame OF the railroads.
and Director General McAdoo de-
clared he was ready TO provide ev-
cry transportation facility for expe-
diting food movement. The railroad
| administration. he said. has suggested
that farmers he urged to release their
grain holdings that large numbers OF
available cars might be utilized in
moving them.
Cereal Exports Behind.
Cereal exports TO the allies. Mr..
Hooyer's statement says, Will be i'.-
900. 900 bushels short On March l and
meat shipments also are far short
of the amounts promised.
Inability to move the crops. Mr..
Hoover sets forth. has suspended the
law OF supply and demand and has
created Il price margin between pro-
ducer and consumer wider than 1t
ever was before.
a large part of the corn crop is
about to spoil because 1t Is not moving
TO terminals for drying. The percent
age OF soft corn in last years crop. all
of which must be dried II II is to be
saved, Is the largest ever known. rs
Inmates placed the amount us high as
a billion bushels.
The cost Of grains for feeding live
stock has increased TO such an extent
BY reason Of transportation difficulties.
Mr.. Hoover says. that feeders are
confronted with the prospect OF Sc
rious losses. Dairying interests. too.
he declares, are hard hit.
Potatoes, the food administrator
declares, are spelling in the produc-
er's hands while consumers have been
supplied only from summer garden
cEops apd. stores Carried oYeC
Text Of Hoover Statement.
Mr.. Hoover's statement follows:
In response TO many inquiries, |
beg to say 1t is true that since the first
Of December we have fallen far be-
hind our agreed food program with
the allies. BY the end of February We
will be short 45,00O,OOO bushels In
cereal products which We undertook
as our share of the supplies. We
will also be short of the amount Of
meat and pork products that we were
TO deliver This deficiency is due
solely to the railway congestion since
that date The railway directorate
since coming into control on January
1 has made effort to find remedy. but
during the month OF January the
weather was insuperable and although
progress has been made since the 5th
Of February, the situation is the ac-
cumulation Of three months delays.
The next GO days will be the most
critical period in our food history.
The simple fact Is that the problem
goes far deeper than supplies to the
allies. During the last three months
we have far fallen behind In move
ment Of foodstuffs from the farms to
the consuming and storage centers.
Up to the first of February less than
so per cent of the normal ratio OF
corn has been moved. less than so per
cent of the oats and less than 80 per
cent Of the potatoes. From NOVEMBER
to January !. we were short in the
usual movement of grains and grain
products into the terminals alone by
over 10000 carloads-over 100000
600 bushels, and this further aggre-
gated by similar shortage outside the
terminals.