Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-11
SUPPLIES OF FOOD
TO Be CONSERVED
Eastern Cities Officials Are
Planning to Offset Effects
of Drought.


NEW YORK, August 11.-Officials of
Eastern cities are today mobilizing their
resources for surveys and checks on
food supplies and prices, to forestall
any possibility of profteering, and to
map and possibly extend surrounding
milk sheds and produce areas to meet
the threat of food shortage left at the
thresholds of the great cities by the
drought.
New York is not suffering-as yet.
Commission men estimate that about
five more rainless days will sharply
diminish the incoming supply of fruits
and vegetables for the 10000 600 per-
sons in the metropolitan area, and that
unless New England and Canada come
to the rescue, continued drought will
bring about a critical food situation in
the city Milk prices in New Jersey
and New York have advanced l cent
a quart, an increase considered reason
able by Health Commissioner Wynne,
in view of the shortage OF feed.
Price Increases.
other commodities prices are climb
ing, but there have been no serious
charges of profiteering. 1t Is estimated
here that in New York. Chicago, Boston
and Philadelphia price increases al
ready in effect are costing consumers
about $3,500,000 a day.
New England, especially in the coast
regions, has suffered but little from the
drought, and there would have been a
big oversupply of produce on the Bos-
ton market had it not been for the long
rainless stretch in other sections. For
the first time in many years, New Eng
land produce is being shipped to Middle
Western and Southern States and sup
plies from far into Maine and New
Hampshire are being drawn upon.
The 101 milk inspectors OF the New
York City Health Department will re-
port today on a milk study which may
result in the metropolis reaching up into
Canada to augment its diminishing milk
supply. With the duties imposed by the
new Smoot- Hawley tariff bill, this will
be costly, but the Dairymen's League
Cooperative Association, with $4,000
members, insists that it is quite possible
that nothing short of a heavy Canadian
supply can save the situation if the
drought continues. Conditions are fairly
good In Northern Vermont, but Boston
and other large New England cities
draw heavily on this supply and there
is little hope of an adequate surplus
from this region.
AS the thermometer climbed here
early today, it appeared that while the
devastating heat wave was broken with
the relief that came Sunday, the cooling
showers were but passing f1urries which
gave little promise of the long, nourish-
ing rains that would save crops and
water supplies.
Water Supply.
The magnificent water supply OF
Greater New York has, so far, served
to tide surrounding suburbs ever seri-
Gus shortage. Precipitation in the
Catskills was heavy last Winter and
Spring, which circumstance alone
doubtless saved the city from the most
serious water famine in its history. In
upstate towns and villages there have
been official requests for care in water
usage, but for the most part no rigid
restrictions. In the New York region,
Long Island has suffered the most
severely, with Sundays hail and wind
further Furnishing the parched and
wilted crops.
downright, 1901