The Robesonian., 1917-05-03
TO HELP FARMERS PRO-
DUCE MORE FOOD STUFFS

senate Passes Measure Appropriating
S1O'OOO,O00 to Purchase Nitrates
tor kertilizing Purposes-Would
Increase Production of Food Crops
National Committeeman Mclean
Urges Support of the Measure
Washington Dispatch, May /.
Appropriation of $4,000 900 for
purchase by the government of nj
trates for fertilizing purposes and
their distribution at cost to farmers
j OF the Atlantic seaboard would be- au-
thorized by bill today by the Sen
ate, So to 8.
Increase in production of food
crops, mostly in South Atlantic
States, is the object sought. The bill
provides for transportation of nj
trates from Chile in government ves-
sells and their sale by Federal au-
thorities to farmers.
Many Southern farmers and agri-
! cultural organizations endorsed the
measure. Senators Smith of South
Carolina and Smith Oh Georgia, told
the Senate that the government could
i buy nltfates now stored in this coun-
try, sell them to the farmers, and
later replace them by bringing in
more from Chile. Several Senators
}, who expressed fear that nitrate sun
plies needed for manufacture of pow
der might be depleted were told that
present supplies are sufficient fo1
two years.
i The South Carolina Senator sale
that by making nitrates available al
reduced prices, the corn and cottor
; crops of the South Atlantic seaboarc
! could be increased from SO to 100 pei
cent.
. Senator Simmons of North Carroll
ma declared middlemen's profits ant
lack of transportation facilities from
: Chile were responsible for exhorbi
5 tant nitrate prices at present.
A Washington special of the Is
to the Wilmington Star has the fol
t lowing:
: Senator Simmons maize stron,
speech in support of the Joint reso
luton presented to the House toda.
J Iroviding for an appropriation {.
$10,000,000 to be used to help tn
d farmers of the country to produc
more food stuffs. Hundreds of tel
$ egrams came to Senators Simmon
: and Overman today urging them t
: support the bill.
i "National Committeeman A.W. Nc
: Lean of Lumbertoh wired that tn
i farmers were very much intereste
e in the passage of the resolution an
!. urged the North Carolina delegatio
k to lend their support. The resolutio
|, provides:
!; That the President is authorize
e and directed to. procure, or aid
IL procuring, such stocks Of nitrate {
n soda, Iand other fertilizers and fe1
/, tilizer ingredients, as he may d.
eI termine to be necessary, and fin
e., available, for increasing agrieultu,
3, a, production during the calends
r year 1917, and to dispose o fthe sam
c., CT credit or otherwise at..y cost,
such way as he deems best to facil
a tcte the purpose. For carrying o,
1t tie purposes Of this resolution, the
10 is hereby appropriated, out OF al
Or moneys in the Treasury not othe
wise appropriated, available imme
lately and until expended, the su
D of $1O,OOO,OO0 or so much thereof ;
may be necessary, and the Preside
n, is authorized to make such regul
tions and to use such means al
n agencies of the government as in b
at discretion he may deem best. ~
OF proceeds arising from the dispositi'
,g hereunder of fertilizers and fertiliz
er ingredients shall go into the Tea
eS urv as miscellaneous"