THE WAUPACA REPUBLICAN

January 21, 1915

 

POTATOES FOR BELGIUM

Movement Started to Send Potatoes to War Sufferers

and Conserve Wheat Supply

           

            The legislature of Minnesota has started what may become a national movement to the end that contributions of potatoes to war sufferers of Europe may in a measure conserve the wheat supply of this country as the latter has already reached the highest price since war times and there is believed to be a surplus of something like 25,000,000 bushels of potatoes in the United States.

            A copy of a resolution by the Minnesota legislature will be sent to the governors of the states of Maine, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Dakota, it being estimated that those states, with Minnesota possess the bulk of the potatoes now on hand which amount is estimated in the body of the resolution to be 100,000,000 bushels.

 

Potatoes Luxury in South

 

            In this connection we might say that potatoes are a luxury to many poor people to the south of the Ohio River.  And the freight rates from Waupaca to Nashville, Tenn., is more than Waupaca county farmers can sell their products for.  We have not heard of any application to by the farmers to any commission to make good for the loss of raising potatoes at the low price that must now be sold at.  Railroad Commission recently allowed to eastern railroads in their application to advance freight rates on account of conditions growing out of the European war.