Evening star., 1946-06-26
Meat Stocks Vanish
lnDistrict Area With
Distributors Depleted

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A famine in fresh meat was
spreading through the Washing
ton area and the Nation today
as wholesale and retail supply
houses received "driblets or
nothing at all' and saw no i'm
mediate improvement in sight.
Wholesale firms, according to an
official of the Merchants and Man.
ufacturer's Association, ARE really
not open for meat today because
they have nothing to SELL
A wholesaler representing Armour
g. Co here said the company recent
ly got some lamb, calves and a very
little beef" but nowhere enough to
go around" He described the scar
city as acute, but added that the
supply has not completely stopped.
The retail picture apparently was
better. but spokesmen refused to
look more than a few days ahead
in forecasting supplies.
Safeway stores, spokesman re-
ported, are continuing to sell some
meat" on flrst-come, first-served
basis. He said the company has
been obtaining supply of meat, al
though far below normal, from its
regular sources
But trying to say how long this
will last or whether we will be
selling any meat next week Is like
trying to predict the score of to-
days ball game" he added
Hotel and restaurant patrons are
certain to find dwindling supplies.
Arthur }. Hartnett, president of the
Hotel Association of Washington,
asserted that few hotels will have
meat deliveries by tomorrow unless
there is sudden improvement in
the supply. He expects that by the
emo of this week most hotels will
be running out of most kinds of
meat.
Seafood Supply Is Good.
Robert Wilson, executive secre-
tary of the Washington Restaurant
nSOOLlallOll, odlO Su1 fCy Vi
ber establishments in the District
indicated very. very little meat" on
hand and practically all of it from
reserve stocks rather than new de-
liveries.
The sea food supply holds good,
as do vegetables and fruits. Mr.
Wilson reported restaurant owners
are apprehensive of a threatened
poultry shortage but that they are
experiencing no such shortage this
week.
Whatever happens to the meat
supply, restaurants will remain open
In Washington, he declared. They
already are concentrating on salads,
vegetable plates and other nonmeat
itsems especially adapted to the
summer.
Hotels Report Shortage
Several hotels reported purchase
of small amounts almost every day
but usually can serve only one or
two major meat dishes. The Wash
ington Hotel has not obtained a
delivery since late last week, al
though it has sufficient beef on hand
for another three days and other
varieties such as lamb. for at least
five days, an official said.
The hotel meat shortage, in the
opinion of Willard Hotel spokes-
man lis the worst I have seen in
40 years and much worse than dur
in the war"
Steward Andrew w. O'Connor of
the Mayhower Hotel declared I'VE
are living from day to day." but
can pull through" until the end of
the week If the shortage grows no
worse.
Some Deliveries Obtained.
A Shoreham Hotel official de-
scribed the meat situation as "aw-
fully short" He said that whereas
he ordinarily bought six Or eight
sides of beef at time, he feels
lucky if he can get two on any day
now. The hotel has some meat set
aside and probably can serve a few
varieties for several days more.
The Wardman Park Hotel has a
very limited supply of lamb and
beef. but has been able to get deliv-
cry of small quantities almost every
Gay recently, the managers office
said. The supply is SO small that
the menu seldom carries more than
ore main meat item. other than cold
cuts and sweetbreads, an official
said
Sherman E. Wooley, chief steward
at Hotel Statler, repeated his earlier
prediction that his hotels meat sup
ply in storage and the little we have
been able to get in recent days will
hold until at least early next week.
The Hay-Adams Hotel, spokes-
man said, still gets little bit" of
meat every day, mostly veal. 1t has
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