Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-07-24
PLAN MOVING OF
BIC GRAIN CROPS
Railroad Administration GiWnq
Careful Consideration to NeC-
esSary Measures.
EXPECT GREAT WHEAT YIELD
Tonnage of Grain viii Exceed That
of Last Year by Large Margin
May Try Permit System
Again.

WaShingtOn.-The railroad adminiS-
tration is giving careful consideration
to the measures necessary for the sat
isfactory' transportation of the antici-
pated large crops of grains, according
to statement authorized by Walker
d. Hines, director general of rail-
roads. The department of agriculture
has estimated that the yield of winter
wheat viii exceed 900000000 bushels.
A fair estimate of the yield of spring
wheat approximates 300,000,000 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, it can per-
haps be properly expected that the
tonnage in 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 desire on the part of the
producer to realize his earnings as
quickly as possible, and since a 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 it
became necessary to install the So
called permit system" which was
early made operative at the ports, and
I'm September, 1918, at the principal in
terror markets.
Controlling Traffic.
The permit system is 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 a 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 paraly-
sis of traffic in former years was most
apparent in the East, but its inJuri-
Gus effects were felt throughout the
country.
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
the 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
In view of that possibility the railroad
administration is already preparing
the necessary machinery so that 1t
may be prepared to act without delay
at the proper time. Conferences
have already been held with represent
atives of the grain corporation.
As graphically illustrating the ne
cessfty of regulating the transporta-
ton of this tonnage, and the results
obtained from such regulation, the fol-
lowing facts are of value and interest
ing: For the nine months of the crop
wear. July ], 1918, to May l, 1919, there
passed through the grain handling ia
cilities of the country-elevators and
mjIls--a total of 3,440,236,000 bushels
of all grains, although the highest
point of grain storage of all KINDS at
any one time in that period was 4So,-
100000 bushels. That is, in nine
months the flow of grain was seven
times the quantity which accumulated
in storage at the highest point during
that period. This is a direct iIlustra-
ton of the necessity of keeping uhe
grain-handlng facilities of the coun-
try liquid to avoid the distress TO All
interests that would follow the block
ing of this flow of grain.
Reinauaurate Permit Plan.
The permit system as operated last
wear contemplates the closest cooper
alton between the railroad administra-
ton and the United States food adj
ADMINISTRATION grain corporation. Inc
local representatives of the grain cor
poration were in daily contact with
the grain control committees at each
market and in view of the very com
prehensiye data and information IN
their possession as to storage tacili-
ties. anticipated movements OUT "f
markets. the needs Of different sec
lions of the country not only as TO
wheat but as to other cereals that now
coincidentally with wheat, etc. were
of Invaluable aid in the accomplish
ment of the permit system with 81
minimum economic disturbance. The
same character of assistance Is being
arranged for from the grain corpora
ton. or the wheat director, in anticr
patton that 1t win be necessary 70 re-
inaugurate the permit plan WITHIN the
next one or two months.
The wheat director is as vitality IN
terested as the railroad administration
that the grain tonnage shah be nan
died with the least possible friction a.
between all interests concerned, ane
is In entire harmony with the railroad
administration as TO the plans pro
posed In that direction.