The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-05-11
PRICE OF COMMODITIES
TRAGEDY TO FAMILIES

TRAGEDY TO FAMILIES
Columbia, May THE shortage in
supplies of household commodities IS
forcibly called attention to in let.
ter written today by Col. E. J. Wat
son, commissioner Of agriculture,
commerce and industries, to meet
ing Of Columbia women, held to look
into the advisability Or inauguratlng
plans for the conservation Of such
supplies, particularly in the line OF
canning them for use in the future.
After giving the figures as to canned
goods on hand in the city Of Coium-
bia, Commissioner Watson says
similar conditions exist as to almost
all other household commodi IS anu
the prices ares indeed tragedy to
the family depending on a salary OF
even so much as s1,500 a year"
The letter, which is indicative OF
conditions throughout the State, as
gathered by Commissioner Watson's
Office, is of particular interest at this
time. 1t is as follows:
"Mrs. T. /. Weston, Columbia, S. c..
Dear Mrs. Weston: The damp
weather makes it practically impossl-
bic for me to speak this morning, ev-
en- in a conversational tone, and an
consequently prevented from attend
ing your meeting. My sympathy and
interest are altogether with you in
your movement and anything that
this department can DO to aid in your
work is yours to command.
"The work that you are undeyaking
is vitally necessary and should be
thoroughly done The address of Mrs.
McNab Miller, to the people of Colum-
bia yesterday, summed the situation
up exactly and her words should be
needed in every household in the city.
She could not. however, in the absence
of actual figures, picture to you the
real seriousness of the situation here.
"Our people have been accustomed
in this State to buy S14,000,000 worth
of canned goods annually from the
middle west; the east and the far
west. The, people of the cities and
towns live absolutely on supplies thus
imported. Already those supplies are
being cut Off by reason of transports
ton problems and boarding for war
purposes.
eve have recently taken stock OF
the canned goods in 43 OF the whole
sale and retail stores of the city OF
Columbia, and it may shock you
housewives to know that the entire
stock on hand is represented by only
l3131 cases: 2,297 LEGS than usually
carried &C this season Of the year.
This supply is sufficient to last for
only an average of II weeks and pur-
chase; contracts ahead are for sup
plies to last only an average OF about
20 weeks.
Similar conditions exist as to al
most all other household commodl-
ties, and the prices are indeed a trag-
edy to the family depending on sal
ary of even so much as $1,000 year
'.It would, therefore, seem lmpera
tive for the women of the city te
concentrate their attention upon the
work of canning vegetables and fruits
and conserving the food supply II
every possible manner. I am sure
Miss Edith l.. Parrott, who is IL
charge of the canning work in thl
State, as State agent, will do every
thing in her power to assist you, an'
if your efforts can lead to the estao
lishment of canning factory at onc'
to care for the surplus products o
the countryside around Columbia
they will be we'll worth the while.
81 would further earnestly urge tn
housewives of Columbia to make u.s.
of tie State bureau Of marketing Il
purchase butter, eggs, cured meats
etc, direct from the farm by parce
post. without middlemen's charges
WHY the women of Columbia have no
done so, while their sisters in smaller
towns have, is beyond my compre
hension.
cat present, less than one-half Of
one per cent. of the food and feec
consumed in the cities of this State
is home-raised The rest is all iui-
ported, and comes to you plus freight
rates, brokers', wholesalers and re,
tailers' profits.
eff Germany had been living as we
are living she would have been STAYED
to death within two weeks after the
British blockade began, We are al
this moment threatened and indeed al
ready experiencing commercial
blockade in the holding back of ou1
exports and it is more likely than moi
to become far more serious.
yours very truly,
stE. J. WATSO 7.