Evening journal., 1918-02-22
FOOD PROBLEM HAS
BECOME CRITICAL
Hoover Blames Railroads
for Lack OF Supplies for
Home and Armies
FARM STOCKS
ARE ABUNDANT

States had fallen far behind lts agreed
food program with the Allies, "due sole
ly 20 the railway congestion since the
early part OF December"
From sources close 20 Director Cen
eral Of Railroads W. q. McAd0O 10 was
learned that the railroads are in a POSI-
tion TO move the food supplies prom
lsed 20 the Allies, provided they are
told where the supplies are located
MIR. Hoover declared that THE least
amount Of grain that must be loaded
for the next 60 days is sOO0,OOO bushels
q day" and this, u Is understood, the
railroads stand ready TO do.
From Mr.. HOOvers viewpoint the
question is one OF transportation. and
the transportation official, believe it
one Of production and getting the sup
plies to the carriers. The statement fol-
lows:
"ln response TO many inquiries, I beg
20 say IL Is true that since December
I we have fallen far behind our agreed
food program with the Allies. BY the
end Of February we will be short 550O0,-
900 bushels in cereal products which we
undertoJ odr share Of their sup
plies. We will also be short Of the
amount OF meat and pork products that
we were to deliver. This deficiency Is
iue solely 10 the railway congestion
since that date. The railway director
ate since coming into control on jan
uary 1 has made effort to ind remedy,
but during the month Of January the
weather was insuperable. and although
progress has been made since February
3 the situation Is the accumulation OF
three months delays.
"The next sixty days will be the most
critical period In our food history. The
simple fact Is that the problem goes
far deeper than supplies 20 The Allies.
During the last three months we have
fallen far behind In movement Of food
stuns from the farms TO the consuming
and storage centers. Up TO February 1
less than so per cent. OF the normal
ratio Of corn has been moved, less than
50 per cent Of the oats and less than
60 per cent. Of the potatoes. From No
vember 4 10 January 1 we were short
In the usual movement OF grains and
grain products into the terminals alone
by more than 10000 carlOads-more
than 100000 Obushels-and this further
aggregated by similar shortage outside
the terminals
Furthermore, this year we have the
largest percentage Of soft corn in many
wears, and though we have a record
crop Of corn, a considerable por-
ton OF the soft corn will be lost by
spelling unless It can be moved IN the
next sixty days 20 the drying terminals.
The least amount Of grain that must be
loaded FOR the next sixty days is 100000
bushels per day-and we Nave not YET
attained that Less than this viii solve
neither the ALLIED nor our domestic sit
we had about 1900 carloads Of po-
4atoes on November 1 which should
have been moved from the principal
producing centers, and up TO the tst or
February we had moved about 5000
carloads. while we should have moved
over 5000 in. this period. The result
ls that potatoes are piled up spelling IN
fhe producers hands and the consum-
ing centers have only been supplied by
virtue Of the summer gardens and other
stores carried over from last year.
There Is q great deal Of livestock
which has been ready for the market
for some time, but this is still held IN
fhe farmers hands, through inability 10
secure transportation These cattle are
eating their heads on without increas-
ing their meat value and are only adding
n the costs Of the farmer and consuhl-
aThe effect Of this delayed movement
has been many fold:
"First. To ieopardize the satety OF
Great deal Of the soft corn and perish
ables, such as potatoes.
second. The structure In now or
distribution has entirely disturbed the
price conditions in the country by Writ
'iallv suspending the law Of supply ana
demand. The margins between the far
rner and the consumer In many com
.nodi,ies were never wider than they
are TODAY because the consuming trades
are under-supplled and the farmers COM
nsfe FOR transportation. Prices Of the
coarse grains have reached unhesrd Of
levels. while the limited transportation
las diminished the farmers returns.
Third. The cost OF grains for reed
ing livestock has so increased TO the
feeders OF finished cattle that they face
ssrlous losses. The costs Of the dairy
ing industries have necessarily greatly
increased.
Fourth. Through the large consum-
lng areas we have been living on re-
serves through the period Of scant sup
olies. These reserves are IN many sec
Ions approaching exhaustion.
Fifth. we have not been able TO
transport 10 seaboard the necessary
foodstuffs for the Allies. This has not
Been due 80 much 10 the actual inabil-
lty Of the railways giving priority 70
foodstuffs for Allied shipping as II mas
been 10 bringing products from the
arms TO the terminal markets where u
can be aggregated. prepared and pur-
'hased by the Allies.
"The economic ramiilcatlons or THIS
whole DELAY In the movement Of the
national harvest are almost countless
and they present the most critical OF
situations, OF which no solution exists
but a continued expansion OF the et-
forts OF the railway administration IN
he movement OF foodstuffs in every
direction 90 the exclusion OF much
other commerce OF the country Con-
siderable progress has been made In
lhe last ten days, but continued rises In
he price OF cereal commodities and
he failure 10 secure sunlcient surplus
over immediate domestic consumption
20 feed the Allies are evidence that
there Is stlll a deficiency In food cars
and that they need 90 be still further
increased.
"Comparisons OF the movement from
day TO day during the last few days
with movements Of similar periods last
wear reflect the efforts being made by
The railway directorate. We have now
.r.II A.. l..