Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-24
EAT LESS WHEAT
NEW FOOD ED|CT
Reduction in Ration Will Entail
No Hardship, in Opinion
of Officials.
ALLIES IN NEED OF GRAIN
Farmers Hold Back Supplies,
Hoping for Higher Price Leg
islation by Congress.
ALLIES IN NEED OF GRAIN
LEY Associated Prcss.I


WASIIINGTON. March 23.-Further
reduction in the consumption OF wheat
was asked OF tho public tonight by tho
food administration that the scant sup
plies available before the next harvest
may be stretched to meet the needs of
the army. domestic consumers and the
allies. Every American is urged to cut
his average ration OF wheat by 90 per
cent which would reduce the total nor
NAL consumption of 100000 bushels
month to 21,o0o.o00. That gives a
ration OF not more than one and one
half pounds OF wheat products weekly
for each person. Flour sales will be
cut TO one-eighth OF barrel for a
town customer and TO onc-quarter OF
barrel for any country customer. that
retailers stocks may be distributed to
as great number as possible. The
wheat content of bakerss bread will be
reduced to IS per cent April IA. which
increases by > per cent the amount Of
substitutes that must be used.
Sacrifice In the wheat ration will en-
tail no hardship in the opinion OF food
administration officials. because the
supply of potatoes, corn. oats and milk
Is ample TO maintain health.
The full seriousness OF the wheat
condition and some of the difficulties
with which the food administration has
had to contend in wardinE off famine
from the allies became known with the
announcement of the new plans.
With food rations in France and Eng
land cut to the utmost, there has been
constant danger that the United States
could not meet even minimum demands
because of transportation handicaps
! The breakdown In tho railroads upset
! the corn expectation scheduled, SO that
| on March there had been sent abroad
only 100000 against the G4,00o,0oo
bushels OF last year. and the 1oo.oo0,ooo
(; bushels which it was hoped to send.
| Accordingly. the foreign populations
have been dependent on wheat. Their
need of wheat is growing, for after
April the shipment OF corn is attended
with great risk of loss, owing to the
possibility OF termination.
AS the demand for wheat has grown,
the supplies in elevators have dwin-
died. Also the usual how of grain to
market has decreased in the last month
J from 100000 bushels weekly" to s.
00o, 900, due, il is declared. TO the de-
I sire of farmers to hold out their grain
! for the higher price proposed in leg
Z islation before Congress. Corn grow
ers have added 10 the confusion by
threatening that IL the corn price is
not raised and fixed as the price OF
wheat has been fixed. they will plant
wheat instead of corn. which officials
declare would work untold loss in the
meat supply.
HIGHER PRICE MEANS
sI5 A HARREL FOR FLOUR
The price of -four would be increased
TO Sis a barrel if the price OF $3.50
for wheat becomes law. according to
food administration officials. They said
tonight their work had been hamper
ed by the refusal of many persons 10
cooperate in food conservation. One
German-American in New Mexico was
discovered to have raised 5000 bushels
Of wheat and to have purchased an
additional 100, 900 bushels. all OF which
he stored and refused TO sell. The
grain was reQuistioned.
Several similar cases in Minnesota
arc under investigation. and the full
power OF the law will be invoked to
punish boarding.
Regulations for the enforcement OF
wheat conservation are being worked
out by the food administration. AS the
new regulations probably will he nnc-
! essary only until the harvest. n mat
! ter OF three months, tho adminisira-
tion has abandoned the idea of "a
tion cards and will impose restrictions
on mills, wholesalers and retailers
which can be established ineNpensiva-
~ ana done away with quickly Con
troll of wheat at the mills probably will
be frightened. so that its distribution
! throughout the country will be based
on an equitable scale, and no dealer
will have more -four than he can s.li
l,,r Il
he desires to take care of his trade.