Evening star., 1923-10-08
SHORTAGE IN CARS;
fruit IS SPO|l|NG
Packing Houses Unable to Get
. Supplies From Fields and
:. Orchards in West.
BY J. C. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


NEW YORK, October s.-Delayed
shipments of grain and some other
commodities. rather than exceptional
ly heavy enipments, are causing 4
slight shortage OF railroad cars In
some sections of tho country. Ihe
soaring prices Of grain last week seem
to have checked rather than increased
the movement of wheat and corn TO
market. Grain receipts at primary
markets are almost one-third less
than last year at this time and nearly
20 per cent below the five-year av-
erage.
With Eugene Meyer, jr., and Frank
". Mondell representing President
Coolidge in active conference &c on .sa1 .he
grain situation in Chicago, the 1eel-
ing that government aid to the farmer
in some form was imminent grew
stronger and was intensified by tne
growing belief that adequate 1unos
would be forthcoming at least 10 tne
cooperative associations for orderly
marketing of the 1928 crops.
Higher Prices Awaited.
These factors have played part In
the evident intention of some grain
growers to hold for higher prices
But the carriers know that sooner or
later the great bulk of the wheat and
corn crops must be moved and they
are holding almost as many cars IN
readiness for this contingency as II
the shipments were fully up 10 the
dve-year average.
Corn cutting is under way over q
large part of the belt with prices at
the highest point since October, 1920.
Timely and advantageous marketing
of the three billion bushels crop, IT IS
felt. will go far toward counteract-
ing any curtailment of buying power
among the agriculturists of the coun-
try as a whole.
Fall Fruit Spelling.
As u result of the car shortage.
however, fruit packing houses In
many sections of the San Joaquin and
Sacramento Valleys in California are
localities the shortage is SO acute
that fruit is spelling. In other sec
tions warning was given by the ran
roads and fruit was allowed to re-
main unpicked until cars were avail
able. Southern Pacific and santa re
railroad officials said today theS
could not tell how long the shortage
would continue. but that all possible
efforts were being made to secure re-
turn of cars from eastern points to
California.
Other Freight Delayed.
Dealers In furniture here are de-
clining to promise immediate deliver
les to customers. This tendency ex-
tends even to department stores WIN
furniture departments. Furniture men
in Grand Rapids and other manu- manuiaca re
turing centers, say that If there are
delays in deliveries to eastern poines
they are caused by embargoeS estap
lished on some roads to give Tishnr ri, oI
Urgent call for furniture in the larger
cities is attributed to the october l
moving day. Housewives moFins W. ny
new quarters, dealers aeGra their
old furniture fits into new surTouHu
ings. They are reported TO De ouS
freely. xt.,d 20 nur-
.bases Of washing machines and s1ml-
lar household goods with copper parts,
according to the copper mills. theae e
has been a slackening OF denaIu loi
such goods in the last montn anu .ha ct fort
that householders are conservins
their money for furniture and winter
fuel purchases.
Textile Men Seek Way Oue'
No matter what policy as to PRO.
auction Is adopted as result OF Ihe
conference today raI, OF e3yer eGye1h consoli-
dations OF a number of mills engaged
in making similar lines Of goods are
anticipated. Plans for cuteins ooWn
overhead expense ana auVautae
purchasing Of raw materials nave
been discussed since the INTERESTS Sin III
yolved in the American Woolen COM
nany took over operation and man
agement of number or cotlon ciosa
niants and it is expected that the
present acute situation Will prlns
come of these tentative arrangements
II is rumored that the Amoskeag
Company. which closed down its cot
tom plants Saturday. plans to change
Snction. perhaps adapting them to the
manufacture of silk, but these reports
have not been confirmed.
In order to be prepared to comply
with all demands upon 1t to hanaie
either raw or finished materials this
ninter. the New York, New Haven
and Hartford road will put In opera
tion, twenty six new steam and elec-
tric locomotives before snow HES.