Evening star., 1946-05-26
Washington Assured
Of Adequate Food
As Rail Tieup Ends

End of the railroad strike assured
Washington housewives of plenti.
full supply of most food, but the
shortage of fresh meat is expected
to continue for several days, Off
Gals estimated last night.
Poultry, eggs and milk. to take
the place of meat temporarily, are
abundant. Bread, however, is short
so is flour.
The buying rush in grocery stores
Whlch reached oWd-conditions
friday and yesterday morning, be-
gan TO taper off at noon yesterday
1t had practically disappeared even
before announcement of the end of
the strike
Many homes were believed to have
1ull larders, which may last longer
than Just the week end. AS result
buying in food stores tomorrow
morning may be lighter than usual
some experts said.
Meat Problem to Continue.
lhe meat problem may continue
according to an estimate bv the
Board of Trades special committee
appointed to consider the city's SUD-
ply of needed materials during the
strike.
Wholesale dealers anticipate very
small deliveries Of fresh meat until
the end of the week" said the re-
port, issued before the strike ended, y
even If the rail strike should be
settled within the next few hours,
They report that the packing COM
panles in the Midwest have been
curtailing shipments by rail in view
OF the uncertainty of delivery"
one effort to get more meat from
slaughterhouseS within trucking dis
tance of Washington failed late YES
terday. Mason looked into the pos
slblllty of getting the killing quotas
OF some slaughterhouses lifted by
the Agriculture Department to fur
nlsh fresh meat for Washington.
Packers Unable to Help.
On investigation later by William
Press, secretary of the Trade Board.
however, 1t was learned that packers
at Baltimore and Frederick could
not help. Their quotas were high
enough. Mr.. Press learned, but they
were unable to buy sufficient beef
cattle to supply their own demand,
at ceiling prices.
One carload of beef for the
Southern Hotel Supply Co.. here, is
due to arrive tomorrow from
Brunswick, Md, according to Thom-
as T. Keane. company vice presi-
dent Even before the end of the
strike. the B. & o. railroad had
promised delivery of the car here.
Commissioner Mason last night
estimated that there was probably
enough meat on hand in Wash
ington for day and a half to two
days. He emphasized there was
plenty of other food in the stores
and warehouses here to tide people
over until the flow of meat could
be resumed. He promised to look
INTO the situation again tomorrow
morning.
Reiterates Assurances.
Commissioner Mason reiterated
his reinsurance to the public first
issued in the Commissioners proc
lamation Friday, that Washington's
foodstuffS were ample" and there
was no occasion for panic-buying.
Despite this assurance on Friday.
crowds lined up early yesterday
morning at food stores. In most
places, Neat and bread disappeared
quickly. The crowds fell off gradu-
ally, at noon in some places, by 2
pm. in others.
Dealers at the New Center Mar
ket, Fifth and K streets NV, who
usually sell out most of their stock
by pm. on Saturday, were sold
out by 2 pm, according to F. w.
Knudson. market manager.
At o Street Market. the biggest
crowds surged in on Friday, A. F.
Harlan, market master said. They
were mostly "heat-hunters. He
denied reports the crowds had been
so heavy yesterday morning the
doors had to be closed temporarily.
Most of the meat was gone by noon.
he said
Truckers Pledge Aid
Joseph c. McGarraghy. president
OF the Board of Trade, and special
committee chairman reported pros
poets were good for several cars of
perishable food being moved into
Washington from both Brunswick.
and Cumberland. Md. All of the
cars left in the Benning yard yester-
day were moved with the assistance
of a roundhouse switch engine he
said, and their contents trucked to
warehouses.
Otto Rupert. district manager of
the Davidson Transfer and Storage
Co, pledged support of local truck
ing companies to haul emergency
supplies, if necessary.
Representatives of the produce
industry reported Washington could
look forward to steady replenish-
ment of these food supplies bv truck.
Only apparent shortage, it was said.
were carrots from California.
Eel hs... NlE.II II