Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1917-08-31
Addresses Secretary of Agricul-
ture Regarding Preserva-
ton of Foods.
TWENTY FOUR STATES
INVOLVED IN ADDRESS
Indorses Efforts of Secretary Of Agri-
culture to Promote Canning, Dry
ing, and Storage to Prevent Waste
of Vegetables and Fruits.

Secretary of Agriculture the follow
ing letter commencing the plans Of a
special committee to encourage the
canning, drying, preserving, and stor-
ing, as well as consumption of perish
able fruits and vegetables--especially
in the twenty-four states where i'm
portant SURPRISES Of these products
are indicated.
The Presidents letter reads as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Secretary and Gentlemen Of
the Committee: I very earnestly de-
sire to commend your plans and to
second your efforts to secure the con-
servation Of SURPRISES Of perishable
food products. Out of the depths Of
their patriotism the farmers of the
Nation gave an immediate response
to my appeal to increase production.
Providence favored them and we have
not only the increased crops of num-
Der Of staples but also the certainty
Of large production of fruits and
vegetables.
But increased production, important
as it is, is only part of the solution
of the food problem. 1t is Of the first
Importance that we take care of what
has been raised and make it available
for consumption. This task is of pc
culiar urgency with reference to our
perishable farm products. 1t is es-
sential not only to secure their con-
servation but also to assist producers
in the matter of marketing.
am informed that in many sec
tions in which fruits and vegetables
have been produced in abundance the
people already are canning and dry
ing them in large quantities. But we
should be content with nothing short
of perfection of organization and
should be unwilling that anything
should be lost In this hour of peril,
am concerned, as | know you are,
with the necessity of avoiding waste.
Every bushel of potatoes properly
stored, every pound of vegetables
properly put by for future use, every
jar of fruit preserved, add that much
to our insurance of victory, add that
much to hasten the end of this con-
flict. To win we must have maximum
efficiency in all directions. We can
not win without complete and effec-
tive concentration of all our efforts.
We can all aid by increasing our
consumption of perishable products.
Such Of them as we can efficiently util-
ize, we must utilize, and, by so doing,
relieve the strain on our supply of
staples. We must aim to consume
these things locally SO far as possible
and thus relieve the pressure on trans
portation agencies, freeing them for
the more efficient handling of pro-
ducts required for military purposes.
What we cannot presently consume
we must conserve.
The service we are asking the peo-
pie to perform in this matter is a
public service. 1t is one primarily
for the household. Upon the house
wife much of the burden of the task
will fall. ! join you in your appeal
to the women of the Nation whether
living in a city, town, or country, TO
devote their time, so far as it may be
feasible and necessary, to the per-
Torrance of this very essential work.
Among them some will be found who
are fitted by experience to teach 9th
ers, and they will put THU knowledge
whole heartedly at the service of their
neighbors.
am sure that we may confidently
count upon the cooperation of the
editors of the Nation in disseminat-
ing the necessary information. | am
equally certain that the governors
and the food committees appointed
by them in the States in which this
problem is urgent will leave nothing
undone to attack it promptly and to
assist in solving it,
Faithfully yours,
(Signed) WOODROW WILSON.
The states in which heavy produc-
ton is indicated and in which serious
spoilage of food will result unless un,
usual efforts are made by their citi,