Evening star., 1921-10-17
FOOD SUPPLY HERE
WILL LAST month
Use of Canal Can Augment
Three.Week Store
of Coal.
HARDSHIPS NOT FEARED
Supplies Could Be Brought In by
River and Motor Truck From
Rural Districts.
HARDsHIPs NOT FEARED

Notwithstanding eighty-five per
cent of the food consumed in Wash
ington is transported by rail and
an even greater proportion Of the coal
burned here is brought in the same
way. a railroad strike stopping every
freight train destined for the National
Capital probably would not infiict
serious hardship on it's population.
It was estimated today there is at
least a three week supply of coal ON
hand, and this can he augmented by
shipments over the c. o. canal
which connects Washington with the
Georges Creek field at Cumberland,
Md.
Motor Trucks Could De Used.
The capitals food supply, without
augmentation. is sufficient to carry
Fairly good crops have been har-
vested in the agricultural sections
bordering the District. Motor truck
could bring enough produce In from
the farms to carry the population
through the winter dealers assert al al
though the situation would call for
a reduction in the normal table re-
uuirements of most homes.
Fuel dealers in Washington dis
played little apprehension today over
the prospect of a general rail strike
Most dealers have their yards full of
impression that before the supply
has been exhausted the trouble be-
tween the railroads and their en-
ployes will have been settled.
Canal Ready for Use.
Should the ,essity arise, how
ever. the old c. & o. canal can be
pressed into service to the extent
of delivering several thousand tons
of coal before freezing weather sets
in. Then it's usefulness would end.
Plans have beer made to close this
waterway for the season at the end
of the present week because of slack
business conditions General Manager
Nicolson said today that, If public
necessity demanded. the canal could
under normal weather conditions. 1t
would be able to operate until the
middle of December. Only soft coal
is mined in the Cumberland district.
but in a pinch. 1t could be used in
furnaces and stoves.
Representatives of wholesale food
establishments estimated today that
Washington has the following re-
serve supply of foods: Milk. "a hours:
eggs. As hours: cold storage eggs,
20 to 80 days; poultry, l week; salt
meats. ~ to so days; fresh meats,
:; days; fresh vegetables OF nome
grown variety "a .tof48 hours; apples,
. months; canned goods 30 days.
Collecting Fooa- - NStor Trucks.
If the threatened sssike should de-
velop into 'serfous reality the
problem Of feeding the capital would
become one of coalerting food from
the nearby cuuntTYT IN motor trucks,
food dealers were Of the unanimous
belief today. It; was pointed out
that much produee could be trans
PORTED by river also.
The Post Office Department. which
formerly operated a number of motor
truck services in an effort to build up
a farm-to- the table buying move
ment. now has hut a single line in
operation. the Leonardtown line. 1t
was said today the department still
has a number Of trucks which could
be pressed into service il the food sit
uation becomes acute.
Prior to June 80, 1890. the depart
'mer. brought TN Toodstuffs over its
motor truck routes at prices -approxi-
mately half the regular parcel post
rates. Much of this food was de-
livered to and sold through local
community centers.
Three Trucks Operate Daily.
Congress failed to provide an ap-
preparation for continuing the motor
truck service, but the LeonardtowD
line was continued on q full parcel
post rate basis Three trucks now
operate daily over this line and the
department Will furnish;the means OF
farmers shipping over the line to any
Washingtonians who wish to buy
produce direct from the producers.
Reports reaching the Post Office De-
partment indicate, 1t is said, that the
supply of general produce in the
country is not up to that of normal
years. However. there have been good
potato crops. it is stated. and there
is enough surplus food In the store
houses of the farmers to safeguard
Washington against the danger of a
famine should it be shut off entirely