The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-06-18
Plan MOVING Of
BIC GRAIN CROPS
Railroad Administration Giving
Careful Consideration to Nee
esSary Measures.
EXPECT GREAT WHEAT YIELD
Tonnage of Grain Will Exceed That
Of Last Year by Large Margin
May Try Permit System
Again.

Washington.-The railroad admipis
tration is giving careful consideration
to the measures necessary for the sat
isfactory transportation Of the antici
pated large crops Of grains, according
to a statement authorized by Walker
D. Hines, director general Of rail-
roads. The department Of agriculture
has estimated that the yield of winter
wheat will exceed 9O0,0O0,O00 bushels
A fair estimate Of the yield of spring
wheat approximates 30O,0O0,0O0 bush
els. The total yield of wheat this
year will in all probability exceed the
total of last year by from three to
four hundred millions Of bushels. No
estimate of other grains is, Of course,
possible at this time, but, barring
unusual climatic conditions, 1t can per-
haps be properly expected that the
tonnage il grain that will be pro-
duced this year will exceed that of
last year by considerable margin.
The stable price fixed last year by
the government on wheat naturally
provoked a desire on the part Of the
producer to realize his earnings as
| quickly as possible, and since stable
price has again been fixed by the gov
eminent for this years crop it is as
sumed a similar condition will obtain.
Last year this economical condition,
coupled with more or less disarrange-
ment in ocean tonnage and consequent
disruption in shipping, resulted In
such an acute situation at the interior
grain markets and at seaports, that 1t
became necessary to install the So
called permit system" which was
early made operative at the ports and
in September 1918, at the principal in
terror markets.
Controlling Traffic.
The permit system is a highly bene-
fetal system of controlling traffic at
the sources to prevent serious conges-
ton on the road and at destination.
This system prevented in the fall of
1918 serious transportation paralysis
of former years due to widespread
congestion of traffic which had been
shipped but which could not be dis
posed of at destination. This paraiy-
sis of traffic in former years was most
in the East, but its injuri-
Gus effects were felt throughout the
While the permit system at the
ports is still in operation, it was SuS-
pended a few months ago at the in
terror markets, due to improved ocean |
shipping and the fact that the bulk of |
he grain had been moved. 1t is, how
ever, to be expected that the system
will again be inaugurated with the
opening of the new wheat season, and
n view of that possibility the railroad
is already preparing
he necessary machinery so that 1T
nay be prepared to act without delay
It the proper time. Conferences
AVE already been held with represent
ltives of the grain corporation.
AS graphically illustrating the ne
'essity of regulating the transporta-
ion of this tonnage, and the results
obtained from such regulation, the fol
owing facts are of value and interest
ng: For the nine months of the crop
ear. July l. 1913, to May 1, 1919, there
passed through the grain handling ia
lities of the country-elevators and
nills-a total of 3,440,236,000 bushels
# all grains, although the highest
Joint of grain storage of all kinds at
ny one time in that period was 400,-
10000 bushels. That is, in nine
nonths the flow of grain was seven
ines the quantity which accumulated {
q storage at the highest point during
hat period. This is a direct illustra- I
ion of the necessity of keeping the
facilities of the coun-
ry liquid to avoid the distress to all
lterests that would follow the block
1g of this flow of grain.
Reinaugurate Permit Plan.
The permit system as operated last
ear contemplates the closest cooper
ton between the railroad administra-
on and the United States food ad-
grain corporation. The
zeal representatives of the grain cor
grafton were in daily contact with
le grain control committees at each
arket, and in view of the very COM I
rehensive data and information in I
leir possession as to storage faclll-
es, anticipated movements out OF
arkets, the needs of different sec
ons of the country, not only as to
heat but as to other cereals that flow :
incidentally with wheat, etc., were
invaluable aid in the accomplish {
ent of the permit system with y
economic disturbance. The
me character of assistance is being
ranged for from the grain corpora
IN, or the wheat director, in antici- c,
Ition that it will be necessary to re- e.
augurate the permit plan within the &C
xt one or two months. XII
The wheat director is as vitality In sc
rested as the railroad administration &C
at the grain tonnage shall be han OF