The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-22
PROBLEM Of FOOD
fConfirued from rfrst PAGE.

PROBLEM u tOOD
tcontinued from Ytrst PAGE
hns largest percentage Of soft corn
fn many years and though we have "a
record crop Of corn. a consider able
portion Of the soft corn win be lost
by spelling unless Il can be moved tn
tire next sixty days 20 the drying ter
kntnais The least amount az grain
chat must be loaded for the naxt sixty
and ere have rot vet attained that
less than this win soivs neither the
allied nor our domestic situation
we hae about $50. 600 carloads Of
reeatoAs on November !. which SIN ould
Rave been moved from tbs principal
produoing centers and up to the hrrt
Of February we had moved about as
coo carloads. while ws should have
sieved over $1,000 !n this period. The
sesuIt 10 that potatoes are piline up.
spelling In this producers hands and
the consuming certers have only been
supplied by virtue Of the summer gar
oens and other stores carried over
from last year.
Live STOCK Fm& Supplies.
'-Thers is great daaI OF live stock
which has been ready for the market
the fsrners' hands through inability
80 secure transportation. These cattle
ere eating their heads of without TN
cw~ssing their meat value and Are
@adinw 60 the costs Of the farmer and
consuming the grain.
""rAs effect Of this DELAYED move
ssssnt has been many fold,
~y9rwt--To Seopardixe the safety of
great deal OF the aoft CORN and per
fshAblas ouch as potatoes
''second--'T'hs structure in few eff
distribution has entirely d!sturbed tho
price conditions In the country by
practically suspending the law OF sup
ply and demand. The margins be-
tween the farmer and the consumer
sn many commodities wero nsvor wider
than they are today because the con-
Stunning trades are under-suppiied and
xhs farmers compete for trsusporta~
2aon. Prices OF the ccares grains have
reached unhsArd-of levels, while the
limited transportation has 6Iminished
the farmers retuTnE.
'"T-hird--Tbe cost Of grains for feed
fnE live stock has 80 increased TO the
feeders cf finished cattle that they
face serious losses TIE costs Of the
dairytng industries have necessarily
greatly Increased.
"Fourth-Through the large consun-
Sag areas we have been living of re-
w@vves through tho period Of sesnt sup
1liss. These reserves are IN many sec
tons approaching exhaustion.
'Fifth-we havo BEEN unable to
transport 10 seaboare the necessary
Soodstufs Tor the allies This has not
been due so much 10 the actual in
ability Of the railways giving priority
"a foodstufTs for allied shipping as il
las been 20 bring products from the
farms 70 the terminal markets whers
Il can be aggregated, prepared ana
purchased by the allies.
HAnatfacn tons Countless.
The economic raruiAcations % this
whole delay In the movement Of the
rational harvest are almost countless
and they present the most critical Of
situations, of which ro solution EXISTS
bat q continued expansion Of the ef-
forts Of the railway Standardization in
fhe movement Of foodstuTa in every
direction 10 the exclusion Of much
other comm sroe OF the country. Con
siderable progress hoe been made in
ne LAS ter days but continued rises
sr the price Of cereal commodities and
she failure 20 aecure sufficient sur
plus over imme EiSfe domestic con-
sumption to feed the allies are evidence
thsr there - stan deficiency in food
cars and that they need be still fur
ther increased. Companions of The
movement from day 10 Gay during the
last few DAYS with movements of
sirnilar periods last year reflects the
efforts being made by the railway d.
Feotoyate. We have how ever "a long
accumulation 20 be got over and 20 b@
got over within the next SIXTY dsya
THE situation calls for every co-opera-
ton Of the uubl!c-thraueh the quick
loading Of cars. loading them 20 ca
paoity, and dtscharzirr them quickly
~-end In every way reducing the tax
1n the rail ways. Cooperation can be
given b. reduction IN consu~ ption ~
tocestuTs by the consumption Of horas
and local stores 70 +he exclusion So
FAR as may re of trsnsro~teG ertielcs
= every interest co-operates we shaN
supply the allies and remedy fh= dis
tribution OF cur abundance % 6oraes-
lie supplies, for our farms are fu1l y
foodstufs
mo effort is being spared 10 move
allied food AS fast az 81 can be ac-
sumuieted In the interior and today
the railway directorate is arranging
special trains 20 carry Dsat and pack
ing houss products from Chica go to
lead tie waiting ships
when there looms possibility Of
greater shipments is the belief OF the
railroad administration officials
Direetor-csenerai MeAdoo's pr!ortties
and ssabargees have cleared tne situa-
ton somewhat tor rreer transporta-
ttcr 10 the sesports ard or. H. A..
6arneie's fueiiess dsY have helped 60
Tree The hsreora of me ship couEes