Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-02-08
VAST SURPLUS OF WAR SUPPLIES
MAKE NO BREAK IN THE MARKETS
WILL BE DISPOSED OF SO AS TO
III. H. Windsor in Popular Mechan-
les Magazine).

III. H. Windsor in Popular Mechan-
les Magazine).
With the signing of the armistice
n-any of the functions of war auto
matically and instantly ceased. One
OF these was the making OF supplies.
The great reservoir of manufactur-
ed things which were pouring in
through streams leading from all
parts of the land was found to con-
lain six months supply, aggregat-
ing perhaps the largest quantity of
merchandise in the world, ever
owned by one interest That so
vast a surplus amount could be ac-
cumulated in so short a time indi-
Gates the manufacturing capacity
of the nation. These supplies are
at this moment contained in / 800
government depots, warehouses, and
arsenals throughout the United
States. The few following items
will serve to suggest the thousands
Of other supply items, and include
only supplies in this country:
70,000,000 cans of tomatoes.
$4,000. 600 cans of corn.
100000 cans of pork and beans.
100000 yards OF duck.
100000 cotton coats.
1,50O, 600 wooden coats.
100000 leggins.
16,000,000 pair of shoes.
5,0OO.000 miscellaneous hats.
100000 pair Of mittens.
100000 bed sacks.
36,OO0,000 pair of summer and
winter underwear.
100000 pair of summer under
shirts.
$4,000 automobile trucks.
100000 pounds of hors eshoes.
100000 tOOthbrushes.
10000, 600 shovels.
The intention of the war depart
ment contemplates an army of p
100000 men until July l, 1919, and
100000 thereafter. After setting
aside supplies necessary for the
uumber named, there remains
vast store of goods" all of which
y ould deteriorate in time; much OF
which would in a few months or
years become worthless. To sal
wage this property was the question
confronting the war department.
To answer it a surplus stock board
was created. This board has, with
remarkable rapidity, worked out a
selling plan which will be ready
TO become operative soon after the
inventory of the 1,500 supply depOts
is concluded or about Jan. Is, 1919.
Were these stocks comparatively
small they might be Immediately
closed out to the highest bidders, az
a price far below their cost to the
to be retailed through
out the country at about one-half (
the cost of production, and no spe-
Cial disturbance result. This meth /
cd while the easiest and quickest, |
if applied to supplies running into !
billions, would result in chaotic /
conditions to the manufacturer, and /
likewise to the rate OF wages paid |
The condition may be |
fairly compared to an abnormal ac-
of snow lasting late into !
spring. Ii it can spread it's melt
ing over days, little or no damage
need result; but if it goes off In
rapid thaw of a few hours, floods
and foundations are bound to oc-
-ur.
The surplus stock board intends
70 prevent the flood by controlling
he melting process. To accomplish
his, the board has requested the
iarious industries interested each
o select from its number a few
nen of largest experience and abil-
ty, to confer with the board. 1t
S planned to follow so far as pos
ible the recommendations of these
omnittees as to the amount Of
foods which the country can absorb
rom time to time without break
ng the market" The committee
n shoes, for instance, will name a
ate on which two or three million
airs Of shoes can be released.
hen some more at late date, and
@ on until exhausted. It might
Gem that under this plan the shoe !
ommittee by soldering on its $
OBJ" would never reach a date
fhich the shoe factories really |
bought was a convenient time; but ,
he supply board, II neglected too S;
ong, always has the alternative to !
fer all its shoes at one time and
Q price which would sell the gov