New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-27
U. S. Army L ood
Surplus " o1'tEl
$l28,63l,386
} Millions in Carload Lots
Sold by War Department.;
Huge Stores of Sugar and
Meats Are Now ON Hand
Neac York Tribune
W.,L 70

ANeW ORR tribune
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, July 26.-The au
proximate value to-day of all surplus
food supplies held by the War Depart
ment' which ultimately will go to the
American people, is $12s,63 1885.
This single fact was developed at the
end Of two days of investigation at the
surplus property division, to deter
mine the approximate amounts of food
to be sold, its condition, it's location
and what it cost the government.
Many explanations were given by Of
ficers of the surplus property division
as to why it was impossible to give de-
tailed information on the surplus food
supplies. The explanation given in
response to previous requests for this
information was that such an an
nouncement would "frighten the retail
crs," who would jump to the conclu-
sion that all this food was to be
dumped" on the market Immediately.
Such an impression would result in
protests to the War Department by
organizations of all kinds and bv
thousands of individual retailers. This
explanation was not put forward to-
day.
Surplus Reduced Daily
p. c. Morse, acting director of sales,
said it was difficult to give the amounts
OF surplus food on hand because the
surplus was constantly being reduced
by sales at the thirteen zone supply
offices. He had asked for telegraphlc
reports from the zone supply officers
on the amount of food stocks at the
various warehouses and the amounts
of sales, but these reports had not vet
been received.
A statement of the approximate
value of the various kinds of food on
hand was promised for tomorrow, but
no explanation was forthcoming as
to how the values could be arrived a.
without accurate information as to the
amounts of food available
The rapidity with which the army
is being demobilized to meet the re.
quirements of the army appropriation
bill, it was explained, presents another
difficulty in determining the exact
quantity of foodstuffs to be disposed
of, since it results in the constant
declaration of new surpluses, making
attempted inventories inaccurate.
Cities Buying Stores
Since the offer of the War Depart
ment on July to sell food products
to municipalities in carload lots abou.
$5,000000 worth of meats and canned
has been sold. Whether all
tutons and jobbers could not be
learned.
Many cities have been halted in their
plans to distribute food under the
terms of the army offer by threats of
injunctions by local food merchants.
Others, it was explained at the office
Of the director of sales, have not yet
their selling organizations,
and will not be IN a position to take
advantage Of the War Department Of
fer for several weeks
The implied demand Of the commit
tee of the House investigating the
quartermaster supplies that new sys-
tenn of food distribution &c adopted to
dispose of the food Immediately ap-
parently was without effect. Ne new
available was under consideration, il
was stated.
The charge in the committee report
that millions of pounds" of food prod
ucts had spoiled while the War De-
partment delayed selling it was no.
taken seriously. Some hams and bs-
con had deteriorated, but all the other
meats were of the best cuts, csrefully
prepared, and not at all likely to spoil,
it was said.
The food supplies are stored prin-
cipally at New York, Boston, Phila-
delphia. Baltimore, Newport News, At
lanta, Chicago, st. Louis, New Orleans.
Fort Sam Houston, Ell Paso, Omaha and
San Francisco. Not all the food in
these cities is to be disposed Of, nor
IS 1t llkely that all the food supplies
declared surplus will be sold to tho
people.
Ample Sugar and Bacon
The War Department has surplus
OF 2l'ooo 900 pounds of granulated
sugar; l7,O00, 900 pounds stored at New
orleans and 100000 pounds at San
franc'sco. This sugar will be distribu-
Continued on mana fo,,r