The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-07-30
APPEAL MADE
| TO HOUSEWIVES
To Avoid a Threatened Loss
of Vast Amount of Per-
ishable Fruits, Etc.
START CANNING
AND PRESERVING
Pres. Wilson Asks Women
of the Nation to Take
Active Steps


in city, town or country, was issued to
day through Secretary of Agricultur,
D. F. Houston TO take immediate step
to avoid threatened loss of vas
amounts of perishable fruits and vege
tables, especially in "a states that hav,
asked governmental assistance and infor
nation on the subject of "How House
wives May Immediately Start Canning
Preserving, Picking, Drying and Stor,
ing"
The advance organization work has
all been completed by a special commit.
tee working nationally under the direc-
ton of Secretary of Agriculture Hous,
ton and the most intensive campaign,
especially in the "a states in distress,
will be conducted during the next three
weeks. The presidents letter follows
The White House, Washington.
July %, 1917.
Mr.. Secretary and Gentlemen of the
Committee:
very earnestly desire to commend
your plans and to second your efforts to
secure the conservation of SURPRISES of
perishable food products. Out of the
depths of their patriotism the farmers of
the nation gave an immediate and effec-
tive response to my appeal to increase
production. Providence favored them
and we have not only the prospect of in
creased crops of a number of staples but
also the certainty of a 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 impor-
lance that we take care of what has
been raised and make it available for
consumption. This task is of peculiar
urgency with reference to our perishable
farm products. 1t is essential not only
that adequate measures be taken to Sc
cure their conservation, but also that the
department of agriculture redouble its
efforts to assist producers in the matter
of marketing
/ am informed that in many sections
in which fruits and vegetables have been
produced in abundance the people al
ready are canning and drying them in
large quantities. But we should be con.
tent with nothing short of the 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 proper
" stored, every pound of vegetables !
properly put by for future use, every jar
IF fruit preserved, add that much to our
insurance of victory, add that much to
hasten the end of this conflict. To win
We must have maximum efficiency in all
directions We cannot win without com
,lete and effective concentration of all
,ur efforts.
We can all aid by increasing our con-
of perishable products. Such
If them as we can efficiently utilize, we
must utilize, and, by so doing, relieve the
train on our store of staples. We must
i'm to consume these things locally so
ar as possible and thus relieve the pres
ure on transportation agencies. freeing
hem for the more efficient handling of
PRODUCTS required for military purposes.
What we cannot presently consume we
nust conserve.
The service we are asking the people
o render in this matter is a public sery-
e. 1t is one primarily for the house
old Upon the housewife much of the
urden of the task will fall. join you
, your appeal to the women of the ma
ion, whether living in city, town, or
ountry, to devote their time, so far as it
lay be feasible and necessary, to the
erformance of this very essential work.
mong them some will be found who are
tied by experience to teach others, and
rev will put their knowledge whole
eartedly at the service of their neigh
prs.
| am sure that we may confidently
,unt upon the cooperation of the edi-
,rs Of the nation in disseminating the
.cessary information. | am equally
rtain that the governors and the food
mmittees appointed by them in the
ates in which this problem is urgent
i'll leave nothing undone to attack it
omptly and TO assist in solving it.
Faithfully yours,
(Signedl Woodrow Wilson.
The national volunteer committee on
e preserving of fruit and garden prod
Is, called to Washington last week, Of
iich A. D. Lasker of lord & Thomas,
icsgo. is chairman, is devoting its time
this intensive public service and in
ldes:
John Callsn oLsughlin, Washington,
C., newspaper correspondent;
c. J. Brand, chief, bureau of markets
DR.. c. L. Alsberg, chief, bureau Of
Clarence ousley, assistant TO the sec
airy;
". NJ. Wilkes, indianapolis. Ind. trep
enting Van Camp Packing Col;
J. Thomas. Washington, D. c. (B. T.
irtevant company;
J. o. Ross. Boston, Mass (B. T. Stur-
ant company;
2 C. Ball. Muncie. Ind. president, Ball
Iss Manufacturing Col.
l. W Phelps, New York. vice-presi-
i Of the American Can company. and
+. Gorrell, Washington, secretary Of
National Gamers association. par
pated in an advisory capacity in the
liminarv conferences Of the national
lnteer COMMITTEES.
h. - states Which have vrovvr lara