Evening star., 1919-08-18
ARMY FOOD ORDERS
WITHHELD PENDING
INCREASED SUPPLY
Assortment of Commodities
on Hand in D. C. Ware
house Nearly Exhausted.

Distribution Of order blanks for the
purchase Of surplus Army food to be
sold here this week was stopped to-
the arrival in Washington Of sufficient
foodstuffs to properly I'LL orders which
began to come in this morning.
This step was taken by Assistant
City Postmaster Kerlin today. follow
ing ascertainment that only beans.
peas and small quantity Of roast beef
were on hand at the warehouses of
the local zone surplus property ofiicer.
Only about 10 or Is per cent of the
total amount of LOO tons of food
stuffs consigned to the District had
been received to date. it was declared.
and the city post Office was. therefore.
unable to even begin to fill the orders.
Distribution of order blanks by let
ter carriers throughout the city Was
discontinued until sufficient foodstuns
are on hand TO NIL the orders already
coming in Is hQned that .disfrihu-
ton may be resnned wffhfn = Few
dayA ss ssasss..
Do Not Wish to Tie Up Money.
1t is believed that persons do not
desire TO "tie up their money by
handing in orders for the food. which
must be accompanied by cash in all
cases. with no knowledge Of how long
they may have to wait. for the de-
livery OF the food ordered
Those VINO desire, nevertheless, to
order goods and wait for their de-
livery may secure order blanks at
the city post Office or any of the sub
stations. Orders will be filled in the
order OF theiEreceipt at the city post
office. it was pointed out, so that pa
irons who are willing to wait for the
food to be delivered may order at
once if they choose to do SO.
First orders received at the city
post office today averaged about $40
each, each order calling for a variety
of foodstuffs. 1t is manifestly impos-
sible to fill an order for ten different
sorts of foods, ranging from flour to
cinnamon. when there are only three
foodstuhs, beans. peas and roast beef,
to choose from. officials pointed out.
The value of the foodsturs which
are to be sold here and delivered as
soon as they have arrived Is placed at
1892, 1873. This amount Of foodstuffs ia
contained in $3.50 cases or 807;491
cans 1t will amount to seventy five
carloads. or about 100 tons. There
are $4,000 cans of tomatoes in the
consignment.
Plans for Distribution.
Plans for distributing the food were
completed at the city post Office today.
Handling the orders and money re-
ceived with the orders will be in
charge of Mr.. Kerlin, assistant city
postmaster. assisted by a staff OF
clerks. and the actual handling Of the
foodstunfs and their delivery will be
under direction of William H. Hay
cock, superintendent of mails.
First orders for the surplus Army
food, which is to be distributed here
and throughout large cities of the ma
ton under plans worked out by the
War Department and the Post Office
Department. were received at the city
post Office today. The first order re-
ceved was placed by Sarah A. How
lett of zoos Sd street northeast. Fol
lowing this order, blanks, accompa-
MED by cash payments for the food
ordered. began to come into the office
at fairly lively rate.
Orders received today run large. few
orders being received for less than $25
to $35 for the entire order. City post
Office officials emphasized, however, that
there is no restriction whatever on the
value Of orders, so long as a person does
not attempt to order less than one can
OF IlOIC ludH lWo cases Ol any COM
modify
! Buy in Less Than Case Lots.
At great expense of time and effort
the city post Office is allowing citizen.
the privilege Of buying in less than case
lots. This means that a Householder
may order one can Of cinnamon or two
! cans OF tomatoes. In order to allow this
splitting Of cases the city post office will
increase it's clerical force temporarily by
about 100 persons. to allow the propel
handling of the orders. Officials are de.
/ termined that regular city deliverie.
I of mail and parcel post packages shall
not suffer by reason of the handling Of
the Army food.
] Citizens are asked to cooperate
! with the city post office, and make tn,
handling of the food as expedition.
! as possible for all concerned. House
wives are asked not to ask carriers
/ when they deliver the order blanks
what is the carriers opinion as to thu
as the carrier is not supposed to hav,
any opinions and does not know tn,
brands In fact. officials to not know
; the brands of the goods
/ Those orde ering food. are urged b.
I the post office to club together in 81
far as possible, in order that case'
/ of foods may be sold intact. thus aid
/ ing the city post office. This does no
! imply in any way, it was pointed out
| that one must not order by the can
i To order by the can. except in few
cases when articles must be sold II
! original packages. Is the privilege o.