Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-15
THREE CARLOADS
OF FOOD SOLD IN
CITY FIREHOUSES
Great Throngs Eager to Purchase u. S.
Meat and Canned Foods at Bargain
Prices; Little Is Left at Noon
6ACON AND CORN GREATLY
IN DEMAND BY HOUSEWIVES

harrisburg folks cleaned up three
carloads of Government foodstuffs
IN short order to-day. From 9
o'clock until noon there was a con-
tinuous rush at each of the eleven
firehouses. One hour after the sale
started three of the firehouse chair
men reported that all bacon and
roast beef had been sold, and by
noon only one firehouse had roast
beef on hand.
Mayor Daniel l.. Keister with
Lieutenant Colonel Edward II.
Schell, chairman; r. Ross Seaman.
secretary and treasurer, and mem
bers of the committee, made a tour
of the firehouses this morning. This
afternoon a second visit was made
and arrangements mad to handle
any surplus food at a central place
to accommodate buyers who were
unable to make purchases this morn
ing.
The amount of goods sold in Har-
risburg is far in excess of that sold
at Williamsport, Erie, Altoona and
Wilmington. The total amount of
each commodity bought by Harris
burg people included 1S,200 cans
each of corn and tomatoes, 1900
cars corned beef, 500 12-pound cans
of bacon and 500 two-pound cans of
roast beef. The committee will
meet tomorrow or Monday and
take up plans for further sales.
Parcel Post Sale
While the Government is offering
by parcel post food commodities at
low prices, including delivery at the
door of each purchaser, Mayor
Daniel L. Keister stated to-day that
he believed there were some foods
not on the parcl post list that could
be purchased in Philadelphia, and
that inquiries would be made and,
if satisfactory arrangements were
possible, the people of Harrisburg
would be notified.
No member of the committee
doubted that the people of Harris
burg would buy the goods offered,
but there was a belief that the sale
in Harrisburg would continue for
several days. Indications are there
will be a complete sell out before
this evening. Unsold food will be
left at the tirehouses until the COM
mittee decides upon central loca-
ton for the sale of surplus stock.
Demand Is Great
The trip of the committee was
made between $50 and IL. At the
Hope tirehouse Edward Halbert, the
chairman, reported that he was half
sold out at 10 a. m. one hour later
he had several cases of tomatoes
and corned beef on hand. Later he
went to the Paxton firehouse where
corn was plentiful and secured an
additional supply. This was sold be-
fore noon. Mr.. Halbert had a big
crowd of volunteer statesmen assist
ing.
The Reilly statesmen reported no
meats on hand at 1915 a. m. ]. w.
DeChant, the chairman, said he had
a big rush from the start. The big
demand was for bacon and roast
beef. Corn was a ready seller. To-
matoes were slow sellers but the
majority of the buyers took the
limit, six cans.
At the Camp Curtin headquarters
Herman f. Hahn and J. A. Good
were half sold out when the commit
tee called. All bacon had been sold
and roast beef was selling rapidly.
Buyers were anxious to get more
than the limit on canned goods, but
the rule was adhered to.
busy place was the Good Will
firehouse where Richard Robinson
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