Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-14
While Some Of the Operatives Who Quit Are Reported to
Have Returned to Work, Many Are Still Out and They
Say Others Are Deserving and They Expect the Iieup
to Become More Serious.
MAY GET SUPPLIES
FROM GOVERNMENT
City Can Have Frozen and
Canned Meats in Event
Of Food Crisis.

The great food stores and supplies of
Uncle Sam may have to be resorted to by
Wilmington in the event that the strike
situation becomes such as to shut off
the receipt OF supplies from normal
sources. The government has large
stocks in its depots In Baltimore and
Philadelphia, which it is understood can
be made available in the event of necessity
The city made one experiment in the
handling of government supplies, and is
not encouraged by the experience then TO
repeat it. But conditions in the next few
days may develop that will be vastly
different from those when the carload
was obtained by Councilman Abrahams
and his committee. At that time there was
no scarcity, and the matter of high prices
was the impelling motive in bringing the
supply here. For various reasons the
stock was rather slow in being disposed
Of and it was probably a month before
it was all gone and final settlement was
made with the government.
Unless there is an improvement In the
strike situation and the normal move
ment of foodstuffs is resumed. condi-
tions may become such IN the city that
the people will be not so backward in
availing themselves of an opportunity to
tAN ltOEfIi anu tdllllCl ~,oftt btSi
and hog products. The government has
offered 20 let the cities have supplies
from its stores, and il is not unlikely
that the offer will have TO be accepted
certainly il viii be gladly taken advan-
tage of in the event that famine condi-
tions become prevalent as the result
of food embargo brought on by the
strike. The supplies could be brought 10
Wilmington by boat from Philadelphia
or from Baltimore.
Wholesale grocers OF the city say that
they have on hand the normal supplies
for the time of year, but of course they
would rapidly dwindle II not repienished
by receipts. In other words, the tie-slp
in freight has not yet been felt by the
jobbers
The consumer has been feeling the
effect for several days in the advance in
prices in the retail stores. This advance
seems 10 have been made in anticipation
OF a shortage rather than because Of an
existing scarcity.
The greatest scarcity among the iobbers
is evident in sugar. but this was existent
before the strike. and OF course has been
added to and emphasized by the railroad
troubles. Very few of the retailers have
any sugar on hand. The price has now
gone to 20 cents pound, and it is ex-
pected that il viii go higher. According
to reports as to the price being paid for
raw sugar in Cuba, the price Of the refined
psoduct may reach the neighborhood Of
so cents
wholesale meat dealer said this morn
ing that there had been no cars of meats
received today, and the supply is running
low-and the prices running correspond
ingly high Best cuts Of beef have gone
UP I to 10 cents on the pound, and pork
products have made corresponding
advance.
If supply Of the government meats
can be obtained for Wilmington, and
could be sold at a reasonable profit over
the Government price, the people
would be greatly benefited. The frozen
beef and canned roast beef which is
stored in Philadelphia is priced and
packed as follows: One pound cans, "a
10 the case. Is cents per can. No 2 cans
"a or "a 10 the case % cents per can
Two pound cans, "a to case, 80 cents per
can. Six pound cans, IL TO the case 85
cents per can.
The minimum quantity Of any OF the
sizes for which orders will be accepted is
ten cas- S. The bacon, of which there is
surplus stored in Philadelphis. is packed
in II pound cans, six cans 70 the case and
will be sold at S2.75 per can.