Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-07
The SOuth'S Contributions
of FOodStutfS.

| contributions to national preparedness since our
entrance into the against Germany is the
South's production of foodstuffs. To illustrate,
! let us take the item of potatoes.
On July II, the days total shipment of pota-
toes from all points in the United States was SSS
carloads of which the South furnished 1913 car
| loads, practically all of which went to northern
and western points Of the remaining hfty-hVe
cars shipped that date, California sent out
twenty and the state of Washington three. These
| figures given out by the Department of Agri-
culture. Harkng back to the early months of
! 1917. Florida shipped North and West thousands
of carloads of potatoes likewise the two Carolinas,
the value of shipments from the Charleston sec
tion alone exceeding 100000.
| OF the S3S carloads of potatoes shipped July
IL, Virginia contributed CSC of the whole, and it
is authoritatively stated that her shipments for
the entire year will be than 100000 bar
rels valued at above $2OOO0,O00. Points north
of Mason and Dixon line have will receive prac-
tically the entire output. To these figures must
be added the potato output of Texas Arkansas,
Tennessee and other southern states running into
thousands of carloads the biggest portion of which
| goes North and West.
| In the joint item of fruits and vegetables
Southern railroads handled during the past twelve
months something in excess of 100000 carloads
from the central South alone to which amazing
production shipments by express to northern points
| NIhOA
Southern states shipped above $1,000 carloads Of
fruits and vegetables, the 100000 being
worth approximately $2OO,OOOOOO. Concerning
this last item we'll the general question of
Southern foodstuffs shipped to northern and west
ern points, the Manufacturers Record noted for
its marked fairness and accuracy, says:
The magnitude of the shipment by ex-
press alone is indicated in statement from
the Southern Express company of Atlanta,
which shows that during the five months from
January to May of this that company
handled from Florida 1,533,O41 boxes and
crates of citrus and other fruits and vege-
tables. During the shipping season ending
with April this spring the express company
handled from Marshallville Ca, 10, 629 crates
of asparagus for eastern and western points,
and from South Carolina, North Carolina and
Virginia sections that company has so far
this season handled 3S3,S39 crates of veg
etables and fruits, and the season is hardly
we'll under way All of this has been done
within five months by the Southern Express
company from the limited area of the central
South including Florida OF the total of 2O0,-
| 900 carloads of fruits and vegetables, one road
| alone hauled stuff originating its line to
the extent of "a 500 carloads The value OF
this produce has from $50 up to $4,000
| car, and If put an average of $500 per
| car we would have total of over $14OO00,-
| 900 worth of early fruits and vegetables fur
nished by the south to the north and west.
| This fact is not generally taken into consid-
| Grafton when the south is officially criticized
for not raising its own foodstuffs. Whenever
| the exact figures can be obtained, they
| should be secured at the next census, we be-
lieve the total for vegetables and fruits alone
will run very far above the $140,OO0OOO
which we estimate, and be nearer to $780,
100000.
In epitomzing the South's food contributions to
the various States we must not overlook earned
fruits and vegetables, which totaled $22, 900, 900
in 1914 and which has increased amazingly since
that year. though correct figures for the last two
years are not Immediately available Oysters also
constitute an appreciable item in the Souths food
products the 1914 census placing the value of the
canned article at 81 ,3O5 900 During the ship
| ping season many millions of dollars worth Of
raw oysters and fresh fish shipped from points
along the Atlantic seaboard and from Gulf ports
as far southwest Brownsville, Texas. Turkeys
chickens and eggs to the value of many millions OF
dollars annually are out from Southern states
| to points North and West, Tennessee, Kentucky
Louisiana and Texas furnishing most of the poul-
try.
Looked at from any angle, it is plain that the
South is not tagging in duty to herself and the
entire country in those food essentials especially
potatoes, which cannot be secured elsewhere. And
what is of large moment and merit in this stress
| full period, we'll for the certain peace ahead
is the fact that 1917 will witness increased pro-
ducton in all food branches throughout the South
particularly in hogs, cattle and wheat We con-
fdeEtly predict that in not a great many years
Georgia will produce substantially all of her meat
and bread, with possibly some to spare. Other
Southern states likewise forging to the point
of living at home, with the ultimate end in view Of
becoming the nations foodstuffs storehouse. This
is not a prediction, but an affirmation of belief
based upon unsurpassed soil and superior climatic
| conditions.