Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-13
Of TRUCKS
SENT 0UTFOR FOOD
Merchants Doing All Posi-
BILE to Prevent Short
aqe of EdibIes.

Fleets Of motor trucks augmented
by passenger automobiles and the
parcel post machines Of the Post
Office Department were resorted to
today by food dealers to save Wash
ington from an imminent food short
age which is gradually and effectively
becoming more serious.
So far as could be learned the only
shipments OF food arriving in wash
ington BY rail todeX MsTe two ears
OF meat which were consigned pe :
ferssths railroad ssrife ,s. sbssan: 1, a1S re,
came In by express Only the motor
trucks which were dispatched late
yesterday to Baltimore and Richmond
returned with perishabie foodstuf1s.
while others are said to be on the
return route.
Food to BE Consiaered First.
The board of governors of the Mer-
chants ind Manufacturers'' Associa-
ton today designated President Philip
and former President M. A. Leese as a
committee to look after the business
interests of Washington in the pres
ent strike situation.
The committee has directed Secre-
tary Charles J. Columbus to bring
about a coordination Of effort in the
establishment of a motor transport
service in and out Of Washington.
Food will be the first considera-
tfon," said President King immediate
ly following the meeting. We shall do
everything possible toward that end.
"A considerable quantity of food is
already being brought into Washing
ton through that channel W.. G..
Carter Of Golden & Co. is certainly
to be commended for the enterprise
that he is manifesting in safeguard
ing Washington food interests. He
has chartered steamer that will ply
between Norfolk and Washington. de-
ffecting perishable foodstufs from
the south to that point as far as
possible.
The committee has directed Secre-
tary Columbus to get In touch with
the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association in Baltimore, the Mer-
chants Association in New York and
other organizations to the end that
the trucks that may be employed, as
the exigencies of the situation de-
mand, may be co-ordinated to the
fullest extent possible.
Motor Trucks Sent Out.
Early today many of the largest
food dealers rounded up fleets of mo-
tor trucks and dispatched them to
and Richmond. Va, to gather up any
foods available A river steamship
was chartered by one Arm to bring
fish and produce from Norfolk and
lower Potomac points.
Hotels. restaurants and other eat
ing Adjustments today were put on
a sugar ration because of the fast
dwindling of the present supply.
Large hotels were limited to fifty
pounds day. while smaller eating
establishments were put on twenty
five-pound ration.
To prevent shortage Of milk in the
District Health Officer Fowler in
structed Chief Food Inspector Ash
ford to make out a detailed list of all
dairymen who have available trucks
to collect the milk in Maryland and
Virginia. Farmers also will be re-
the milk into the city.
Fish Sent to New York.
A fleet Of motor trucks was sent
TO New York by Golden & Co loaded
with $50 barrels of fish. and their
mounds Of Denmark butter. Western
butter. it is said. cannot be obtained
in New York or other cities. and
washington will be forced to use i'm
norted butter until the railroad strike
is settled.
This nrm also sent d meet VI lTuCkS
to richmond for supplies of foodstuffs.
II shipment cannot be obtained there
thew will go on to Norfolk.
One car Of meat was received today
nv Armour & Co. and another of Swift
e. 90 These were the only rail ship
ments received by any Washington
dealers and 1t is said they were on the
raiIs before the strike started
Roth w. W. Truwhella. local man
arsr Of Armour & Co. and D. T. Du-
trow. manager of Swift & Co. ex-
nrcssed the belief that these will be
,hs only shipments Of meats received
mnt,l after the strike. These two large
Arms only have small supplies Of
yresh meats on hand. while the cured
nroducts in storage are expected to
last at least week.
Sending for Sugar.
one large chain grocery firm is pre-
naring to send fleet Of motor trucks
to Philadelphia for sugar this after
noon. This commodity is said to be
tho only staple product of which
Washington is short. while supplies
~ cofYee, tea and canned goods are
sald to be sufficient to last at least
six montha.
Ernest Merrick. one of Washing