The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-08-15
CHARGE YAKIMA
GETS ALL CARS
Harry Yost Informs Commercial
Club That Fruit Growers
Have Actual Refrigera-
tor Surplus

Charging that the present potato car
shortage and embargo results from
an actual congestion of refrigerator
cars in the Yakima and other Wash
ington and Oregon fruit sections,
Harry Yost, representing the potato
buyers of this section, galvanized the
Commercial club into action at the
Tuesday evening meeting. Commit
tees were appointed and a veritable
storm of kilograms sent to President
Wilson, Director Hines of the rail
road administration and the Idaho
senators and representatives in con-
gress
Mr.. Yost holds the belief that be-
cause fruit is regarded as perishable
more cars than are necessary have
been sent to the fruit producing sec
tons where they are actually standing
on sidetracks awaiting maturity of
fruit that they may be pressed into
service
Took All Precautions.
He was emphatic in declaring that
everything possible had been done we'll
in advance of the present critical sit
uation to inform the railroad admins
tration of the number of cars which
they would be required to furnish to
handle the Canyon county potato crop.
In June. a meeting of the potato grow
ers with railroad officials in attend
ance, estimated that the crop would
total about 100 cars. Growers were
assured at that time that the cars
would be available for immediate
transportation of the crop.
Later the estimate was modified to
1900 cars and assurances were again
made that cars to handle the crop
would be forthcoming. Probably not
so many as that will be necessary, Mr..
Yost said, to handle the crop satisfac-
torily.
The situation is regarded as being
| grave because immediate disposal Of
the crop is essential No potatoes can
be harvested and allowed to remain
long without cars. They will stand up
only about one week since they have
been artificiially matured Nor is il
possible, Mr.. Yost informed the club
to permit the potatoes to remain ir
the ground without harvesting.
Crop Increases Three Fold.
One explanation for the UNUSUAL,
acute situation faced here this year
Mr.. Yost believed, is the fact that this
years crop exceeds that of last veal
about three fold. Early potatoes are
those now demanding immediate ship
ments. Should it be possible to pre-
serve that crop for month and avail
cars, there will be no market for then
because they cannot compete with SUI
perior later matured potatoes.
Following Mr.. Yost's discussion o
the situation, NJ S. Sandmeyer pro
posed that the Commercial club wir,
Idaho congressional members askin,
that they utilize all possible influence
to avert the impending disaster. JOIN
Smeed, president of the club, proposed
that Mr.. Yost write several letters il
behalf of the Commercial club to fol
low up the kilograms and that per
sonal friends of Idaho congressman
utilize their influence in behalf of tn
potato producers.
i, Potatoes No. Perishable.
T. A. Walters, James Ford. ]. M
Thompson and Walter Griffiths wer
appointed by Mr.. Smeed to overse
the work of obtaining kilograms to b
sent officials in Washington.
The belief is prevalent locally tina
the inability to obtain shipping
! largely the result of the railroad ad
: ministrations failure to recogniz
: carly potatoes as perishable product.
Because fruit is so regarded, it
natural that fruit producing section
: should thus have prior rights on sue
r cars rs are available, 1t is understood
that the fact that Canyon county art
{ ficially matured potatoes must b
$ handled promptly and are truly perish
able products will be presented en-
e phatically to the railroad administr;
{ ton in the fight to obtain cars.
. Until Tuesday noon, nothing defil
E lite had been learned of the results {
I the campaign to obtain cars, Caldwe
: Traction officials announced Thursda
morning that they expected no ca,
during the day and that probably nor
:, would be Immediately forthcoming.