New-York tribune., 1918-02-09
Move Will Save Vast Stores
of Corn, Threatened
With Rotting
Suggested by Envoy
British Commercial Attache
Pointed Out Delay in
Allied Orders

WASHINGTON, Feb. S.-Transporta-
ton priority for grain, flour, cornmeal
and other grain products in Western
and Middle Western producing states
was ordered to-day by Director General
McAdoo as means of fastening to
market all grains and particularly the
vast accumulated stores Of soft corn.
This corn, full of moisture as a re-
suit of last years growing conditions.
composcs as much as 10 per cent of the
stocks in many sections, and is threat
cncd with rotting in the moderate
weather of the last few days unless
rushed to elevators and dried
The order is intended also to insure
adequate shipments of grains to mills
to fill Allied orders. The situation was
discussed yesterday at conference
between Director General McAdoo and
Sir Richard Crawford, commercial at
tache of the British Embassy, who ex-
pressed fear that bad transportation
conditions of recent weeks in the
United States would seriously inter
ferc with the Allied food shipments
unless special efforts were made to
hasten grain to scapOrts
TO Commander Cars
Thousands Of box cars will be used
for the grain movement, and consc-
qucntly will be withheld from indus
trial shipments. Unofficial prefcren-
tial orders have been in effect through
out the Western States for several
days. and tho quantity of grain hauled
has been far greater than in the cor
responding period of last year.
In addition to supplying more cars
and giving preferential movement, rail.
roads were ordered to have their sta
tion agents in rural communities and
their traffic agents go direct to farm
ers and explain The necessity of prompt
loading and movement of their grain
stocks. For week, or perhaps more
an educational campaign will be con.
Quoted by every available agency OF
the roads to stimulate the movctneu;
of grain from farm and local storage
houses. The preferential movement
will be discontinued as soon as the
emergency is past.
The Railroad Admin stration's an
nouncemcnt specifies certain states to
which the preferential order applies,
but officials said it will be effective
in others where the need of prompt
shipment was apparent to local rail
road authorities
Even before the issuance of to-day's
order, the railroads might have given
priority to grain under former order
auth orizing special preference for food
products, fuel and war materials.
Some roads, however. had not fur
nished as many box cars as appeared
necessary for grain movement, and the
special instructions were issued ac-
cordngly, after conference with Food
Administration officials.
McAdoo's Order
"Director General McAdoo an
nounced to-day" said the Railroad
ADMINISTRATION statement to-day,
that in order to meet the imperative
demands for grain and grain products
for war purposes occasioned by the
needs Of our army and the Allies in
Europe he had ordered that prefer
ence De given for the time being to
the furnishing of box cars for grain
and grain products and for the move
ment thereof in the states Of Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota,
North Dakota and South Dakota. Mon
tana, Nebraska. Kansas, Missouri and
Oklahoma, with the exception of less
than carload merchandise.
"This preference will be discontin-
ued as soon as the emergency is over.
Meanwhile, every effort should be
made by farmers. grain dealers and
others to facilitate the accumulation,
prompt loading and shipment of all
kinds of GRAIN" !"