The Washington times., 1919-10-25
!. &c. HASON[Y
15-2ODAYS'
FOOD SUPPLY
City Would Suffer In Event d
Rail Strike-Situation Said
To Be Critical. IA

Washington's food supply would lsst
from fifteen to twenty days II rail-
road strike cut Of all supplies to the
Capital according 90 rough estimates
given this morning by local whole
sale grocers and meat dealers
The total amount Of food. fresh
meat, smoked cneat, and groceries
kept in stock for emergencies would
probably be exhausted at the end Of
that period. provided all rail COM
municstton wsk cut on. But dealers
secuted the idea Of total isolation
from the food supply centers. and be-
lieye that ~ Wsshinrton were sf-
fected by q nation wide strike some
means would be found Immediately
to bring supplies 70 wsshfngton.
The fresh vegetable market wouid
be affected, II is stated. and there
would be a severe shortage. yet
farmers from Virginia and outlying
districts about washington would b.
able TO bring q large amount of
fresh vegetables TO the CapftAi -
horse and motor traneportatfon-
This would only add slightly to the
supply, however. and vouh serve
only to sid-n decreasing the severity
Of the shortage
Nest wsuIS Safer.
washinTtons meat market prob
ably would suffer severely. Both
fresh meat and smoked meats would
be exhausted At the end OF eight
days, calculating on the maximuu
amount OF this food stored IN Wash.
ington's cold storage plants
As the city's meat supply comes
largely from the West. necessitatin8
long haul over the railroads. this
commodity probably would be more
scarce than any other in the Capital
Timed food would come into De-
mand. but the stock on hand would
not Re able TO alleviate the shortsgs
for more than ten days at the y ost,
provided no re-inforcements were
brought in Fish would also play .
large part in adding to the supply Of
food in Washington, and ~ q great
many hsh are secured from Norfolk
Baltimore and down tp< river pointA
transportation could be furnished ~
boat and automobile, Washingtoa
would probably rely 70 a great extent
upon fish ~
There probably would not be a crest
shortage in milk. as outlying dairies
around Washington send the milk
supply TO the city by automobile sn9
trolley, although some Of II reaches
the Capital by rail
Local dealers readily state that
should Washington. be cut on for even
week. the shortage would be Sc
verely felt in the Capital on all food
After the railroad trouble was re-
iieved, Il Ia stated. there would ts
l continued shortage until Washing
-on markets could fully catch up with
the demand.
Here's the Situation.
Here is the estimate Of one Of
Nashington's merchants on the
amount of food in the Capital at pres
ent: Apples. enough for thirty days
salt meat. fifteen days: eggs, fifteen
days: butter. one week: fresh meat
one week; flour, sixteen 20 thirty !.
days; nsh. twenty-four hours; canned
goods. fifteen 10 thirty days
Different wholesalers. however. have
different opinions as TO the exact
amount of food in the Capital One
dealer tondsy said that canned goods
in hand would last from two to three
kept on hand I'm advance all the time
Corn, tomatoes. peas, and beans are
among the most plentiful.
All dealers agreed upon the fresh
meat supply. however. Dealers ~
Washington who receive a shipmene
of fresh meat on Monday are usually
sold out by "Wednesday OF the same
week. Only by addition Of the stock
In transit. and supposing ~ would
reach Washington before rail strike
was put into effect could the meat
be made TO last more than eight days
Washington ~ould feel the effects
Of rail tie-up within three DAYS
after IL had been put IN effect. se-
cordfnc IN the consensus Of opinion