Evening star., 1943-08-11
Food Shortages
Held Critical in
Southern Md.
Population Doubled
By Defense Projects
Is Principal Factor
BY JAMES BIRCHFIELD,
Star stan CORRESPONDENT.

BY JAMES BIRCHFIELD,
Star STAN Correspondent.
LEoNARDTowN, Md. Aug. IL
Unless critical shortages in foods
and certain items of clothing are
eased, important defense projects In
this Southern Maryland area will
be seriously impaired. informed per-
sons IN st. Marys, Charles and Call
vert Counties declared yesterday.
In series of interviews, in which
more than score Of merchants, Of
ficials and residents of these South
ern Maryland counties were Ques-
toned, food shortages. resulting In
substandard diets in many homes,
were attributed to these conditions:
An increase in population almost
double that of year ago. with no
boost in food allotments to the area.
Inadequate transportation facil-
tiles and cut in ailotments of gas
oline to wholesalers and other deal
ers making truck deliveries into the
Southern Maryland counties.
Drought Cuts Crops.
Almost total failure of gardens
because of drought conditions,
throwing an added burden on local
merchants to supply food to those
who ordinarily grow large amount
Of their own summer food supply.
Merchants pointed out that food.
as well as other items, are supplied
by jobbers in amounts based on
percentages of purchases made In
normal years. Wholesalers, they
said, have failed to take into con-
sideration the large rise in popu-
lation.
IF we had only as many people
to feed now as we had Is months
ago." one merchant said, I'VE would
be in fine shape If this were true,
our people would lack only a few
of the luxuries which have been
suspended generally all over the
Nation"
County Ration Board officials
said, however. that arrangements
are being made with State OPA ofi-
cials to obtain increased food ship
ments to the county. Meetings we're
held in Baltimore yesterday to re-
lieve the situation after a survey
had revealed the shortages.
Explaining the tremendous in
crease in business here since the
Navy began work on the Cedar
Point and Piney Point naval bases,
E. j. Waring, executive secretary
of the st. Marys County Ration
Board, said deposits in one local
bank have risen from 100000 in
1941 to 100000 now, and in the
other bank deposits now total S2,-
100000. He said the county's popu.
lation has increased from 14,000 to
$4,000 within the last Is months.
No Railroad Service.
Declaring that inadequate trans
poItation facilities are contributing
to the shortage in the area, Lewis
Nathanson. owner of one of Leon
ardtown's largest dry goods stores,
said the county is totally without
rail transportation. He said only
one truck line has regular service
into the area. and that 1t now Is SO
"swamped" with business that it
sometimes takes as long as a month
to get shipment through.
Many dealers also charged Balti-
more and Washington jobbers with
supplying their own areas where the
demand is greater and letting their
more distant customers 60 begging.
Julius johnson. st. Marys County
agricultural agent, said an added
load is being placed on local mer-
chants by residents whose gardens
have burned out" Most local
families, he said, depend largely on
their gardens for summer produce.
These, however, are now competing
with defense workers for the avail
able fresh vegetables in the stores.
In Calvert County, officials said
food shortages are easing some-
what because of a decrease in the
number of outside defense workers.
They said the principal shortage
area at present is in the southern
section of the county, near the
Nays Solomon Island base.
Black Markets Spring Up.
M. w. Fowler, owner of a Prince
Frederick food store, said that with
the exception of a few items of
canned foods, he is getting adequate
supplies for his customers. He said
supplies of meat, delivered each Fri
day, usually last through the week.
Food shortages IN the area, it was
said, consist mostly of meats, milk
and other dairy products, with milk
reported selling as high as Is cents
quart in some sections of st.
Marys County.
Ration board officials said the
food shortages are giving rise to
black markets throughout the area.
They added that they have lost
control over the ceiling price pro-
gram because of the shortages.
While board officials admitted the
rise of black markets in foods, they
denied any widespread illegal use
OF gasoline in the area.
Mr.. Waring said motorists are be-
ing given sufficient gasoline for
their legitimate use. He said he
doubted if there was any illegal
traffic in gasoline coupons In St.
Marys County. Several pleasure
driving cases are now before the
board, he added.
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