The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-08-02
WOMEN URGED
TO CAN ALL FOOD
PRESIDENT WARNS OF THREAT
ENEp LOSS TO NATION.
MUST ACT TO WIN THE WAR
Declares We Have Not Only Increased
Crops Of Staples, but Also Large
Productions of Fruits and
Vegetables.

Washington, July 30.--Prcsident
Wilson, in a letter to Secretary of
Agriculture ID. f. Houston, appeals to
the women of the nation to take imme-
date steps to avoid threatened loss
of vast amount of perishable fruits
and vegetables. The president says:
Every bushel of POTATOES properly
stored, every pound of vegetables put
by for future use, every Jar of fruit
preserved add that much to our in
surance of victory-add that much to
hasten the end of the conflict.
I'VE must aim to consume these
things locally so far as possible and
thus relieve the pressure in transpor-
tation agencies, freeing them for the
more efficient handling of products re-
quired for military purposes. What
we cannot presently consume we must
conserve" Gs,.,f
Large Crops Assured.
Other parts of the letter which is
addressed to Secretary Houston and a
special committee working under his
direction follows:
Il very earnestly desire to commend
your plans and to second your efforts
to secure conservation of perishable'
food products. The patriotic farmers
of the nation gave immediate and eff
fective response to my appeal to in
crease production. Providence favored
them and we have not only the pros
oft Cd % -
staples, but also thes certainty of
large production of fruits and vege-
tables.
But it is of the first Importance thar
we take care of what has been raised
and make it available for consumption.
The task is of peculiar urgency with
reference to our perishable farm prod
ucts. 1t is essential not only that
adequate measures be taken to secure
their conservation but also that the de-
partment of agriculture redouble its
efforts to assist producers In the mat
ter of marketing.
Il am informed that in many sec
lions the people already are canning
and drying fruits and vegetables in
large quantities. But in this hour OF
peril, am concerned, as l know you
are, with the necessity of avoiding
waste everywhere. ..
ITO win we must have maximum ef-
flciency in all directions. We cannot
win without complete and effective
concentration of all our efforts.
HWn oil of1 Iy,
consumption of perishable products,
and by so doing relieve the strain on
our store of staples.
"The service we are asking the peo-
pie to render in this matter is a public
service. Upon the housewife much of
the burden of the task will fall. / join
you in your appeal to the women of
the nation. whether living In city,
town or country, TO devote their time,
so far as 1t may be feasible, to this
very essential work. .. ...
Committee Helps In Work.
II am sure we may confidently rely
upon the cooperation of the editors of
the nation in disseminating necessary
information" ,,
Aiding the department of agricul-
tre is the national volunteer commit
tee on preserving of fruit and garden
products, called to Washington last
week. Its chairman is A. d. Lasker Of
Lord & Thomas OF Chicago. Other
members are G. j. Brand, chief of the
bureau of markets; DIR. G. i. Alsberg,
chief of the bureau of chemistry: Char
ence Ousley, assistant to the secretary
of agriculture; William NJ. Wilkes of
Washington; F. Il. Gorrell, secretary
of the National Gamers association;
J. o. Ross of Boston, and f. G. Ball of
Muncie, Ind.