Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-01-28

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gWd,~s q War piN1s oUsplss q
Carved oesds n otsrsesvees.
Philadelphia. Jan. s1.--Ths early
Fsisning OF the armistics has left the
United States government piled up
with so many stores that II In now
confronted with tho problem OF dispos.
ing OF the surplus without disturbing
the business world thru the usual
channels OF trade.
Along all the Atlantic ports supplies
have been made ready for shipment
abroad and are now on "the active
list" but with indefinite dates for ship
ment. Some Of these goods may never
be placed aboard ship. bound for E.u-
rope. The supplies' range from
ordnance to fod and clothing.
In the port OF Philadelphia alone
there are approximately 100000 cans
OF soup that were destined for the hos
pitfalls In France. The return OF the
wounded soldiers and the demobiliZa-
ton Of field hospitals has stopped the
shipment. At other ports there is as
much more OF this commodity.
Another item that has come to notice
Is one including thousands OF wagon
wheels ordered to replace parts de-
stroyed and worn out on the field OF
halle. Many machine and gun parts
are also on the list.
Because OF the foreseen surplus the
war department has organized the sur
plus property division. This section has
been given the duty of taking inven-
tory Ind making plans for the disposal
of the property on hand that will not
be needed by the army.
Colonel Tompkins, supply and storage
officer OF the Philadelphia depot. said
that he was unable to state the
amounts or to name all the articles
now in excess Of needs now held in
THE city. An inventory has just been
will be ready for forwarding to WASH
ington within, a short time.
Captain DON Foster, in the office OF
the surplus property division at Wash
ington. said there were large supplies
OF soup, wagon wheels and so forth on
hand, but would name no figures. He
said further that all these goods were
on the active list" and would be more
than needed before rehabilitation OF
the army.
Comprehensive plans are being
worked out. the captain said. by which
all surplus property will be disposed
OF with the least possible disturbance
to business and the regular trade
channels.
The goods you mention" said Cap
tain Foster seem TO be in excess OF
what our records show. We know OF
none of it as actual surplus. The soup
for instance. Is needed and will be
needed do not think there will be
any surplus along that line. The wagon
wheels, as another instance, will be
useful in the foreign and Indian serv-
ice
What surplus there IS will be dis
posed of thru various governmental
and semi governmental agencies. Our
plans now provide for transferring
what godos are available to their pur-
poses to relief organizations. State,
county and municipal governments
ani institutions.
an this way we will arrange things
40 that the regular markets will not be
disturbed by dumping large quantities
OF goods into them on short notice.
The disposal OF this surplus will prob
ably be carried over period Of suffi-
cient length to obviate any such dis
turbance."
Colonel Tompkins gave II as his per-
soral opinion that IT would take about
ten years to dispose OF all the surplus
that will be on hand after all the in
ventories from all over the country are
in. This will be in about sixty days.
After the inventory Is tabulated. the
war department will make a decision
as to what the army standing Of the
future is to be with estimates OF the
needs. Then the surplus property divi-
sion will decide upon what Is surplus
and what Is not.
The colonel said the first surplus to
be disposed OF will re tsa' # food.
Then will come other supplies.