The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-02-23
DISAGREES WITH HOOVER.
McAdoo Says No Food Shortage Is
Threatened By Railroad Congestion.

Washington, ID. c.. Feb 23.-Director.
| General McAdoo yesterday gave assur.
anee that so far as transportation is con
| cerned there is no danger of suffering
from a food shortage in the eastern part
of the country.
This was prompted by the warning
given Thursday night by Food Admins
traitor Hoover that, unless grain and
meat movement is greatly increased in
the next so days, the country is threat
ened with an acute shortage of food and
the program of food shipments to the
allies will fail
In a letter TO Mr. Hoover, the director
general declared that if the food admin
istrator will give definite information on
the location of stocks of supplies intend
ed for the allies the railroads viii move
them promptly 10 seaboard Simulta-
neously, the railroad administra lion gave
out figures showing that the movement
of grain to primary markets in the west
within the last ten days was far greater
than in previous years.
Although declaring their desire to
avoid controversy with the food admin.
istration, officials of the railroad direc-
torate did not conceal their belief that
Mr.. Hoover'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
i'll generalities not supported by figures
or other evidence showing such a pessi
mistic outlook on future food conditions.
The food administration, upon re-
ceipt of Mr.. McAdoo's letter, issued this
statement;
while Mr. Hoover is out of town.
food administration officials consider
Mr. McAdoo's statement very reassuring
since il indicates that further cars will be
furnished to western terminals and that
the shortage from these western terni-
mails to eastern territory now will be
overcome As the railroad directorates |
are evidently alive to the situation, they |
will no doubt take all necessary steps
A railroad administration statement !
without referring to Mr.. Hoover's dee |
aration that the domestic and allied |
food situation can be solved only by /
loading S.000,000 bushels of grain day /
for the next 60 days explained that al
-eady 5000 600 bushels of grain are be-
ng loaded daily and even better loading
: in prospect. Unofficially it was de-
Jared that practically all the grain be-
ng offered by farmers and local ele- |,
rators was being hauled by the railroads
nder general priority orders for food
tufts, particularly for grain in the west.
/ was suggested that farmers might not
,e bringing their grain TO market as
asst as they should. Railroad officials
Ilso called attention to the fact that
,otato growers last fall held much of
heir crop for higher prices, and ex-
,ressed belief that that condition is
,artly responsible for the extraordinary
fferipg at this time of potatoes which +
he railroads are having some difficulty !,
n moving.
The movement of special food trains i,
nder fast schedules can be made to any
ection of the country suddenly with 4.
ut a food shortage, according to rail
Dad directorate officials, and this plan
ill resorted to if the shortage
7hich Mr.. Hoover forecasted actually de-
elops.