Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-16
RAILROADS WILL AID
IN BIG FOOD CAMPAIGN
Industrial Agents Urge Farmers to
Plant Food Rather Than
Money Crops.
MAKE CLOSE INVESTIGATION
Baltimore and Ohio Is Tabulating
All Food Resources in It's District,
Including Warehouses and EIcva-
tors, With Their Capacity.

/ tors, With Their Capacity.
with the United States facing what
| is described as the gravest economical
situation that has ever confronted this
nation through the demands that will
be made on It's sources of food sup
| plies in prosecuting the offensive now
! being planned against Germany. con-
| certed action Is being taken through
out the country not only to preserve
! foodstuns, but to insure a far greater
production this year. with the present
| high cost of living admittedly result
! ing largely from the shortage in VA
| rsous crops. experts say there must
| be tremendous increase In produce
| ton TO meet the demands.
| Action along many lines to meet this
situation is now being taken Through
out the United States movements are
| on FOOT and meeting with considcra BILE
success, to interest individuals in cities
to cultivate their back yards and other
| spaces for tho growth OF several staple
| foodstuns.
| Probably the greatest effort and
| which promises to meet with signal
success. Is that undertaken by the va
! rious railroad systems Of the United
| states, and more especially by those
| lines traversing the Southland. These
railroads have maintained industrial
! and agricultural departments for a
number of years. which have been
gradually charging their scope and
| increasing their value both TO the rail-
! roads and the farmers. AS we'll az TO
! the consumer.
| SEEK TO INCREASE
FOOD PRODUCTION
| The initiative for unusual effort
/ taken by the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
/ road. which is expected to be followed
! by similar action on the part OF other
+tx.,,
! In formulating ways and means TO in
! sure Increased food production I'm the
! territory traversed by it's lines has
! not only received the strong ;ndorse-
! ment OF the Federal government, but
| hearty responses 10 the first announce
| ment of the plan by offers OF co-opera-
! ton from every quarter.
| Kenneth T. Crawley, agricultural and
/ industrial agent OF the Chesapeake and
| ohio Railway Company. said ycstcr-
| dag that plans were being laid for an
| extensive campaign In the near future
! for farm work. This railroad several
weeks ago operated a special farmers
! institute train in connection with the
! state Department of Agriculture for
| the education OF farmers along it's
| lines. The lectures given on this train
! twice daily proved unusually success
ful and we'll attended. and from later
reports received from the sections
visited by the train resulted in great
increase in tho planting OF food rather
| than money crops.
| Plans for much tho same action arc
now being worked gu, by F. II. La
/ haume, industrial agent of the Norfolk
I and Western Railway Company, who is
| doing successful work in assisting the
/ farmers on the lines OF the Norfolk
/ ana Western 10 secure the greatest
! yield from given acreage Mr. La
/ Baune has also secured the services Of
I hr ia, IT
4 farm demonstration work.
| COMPILING DATA As TO
FOOD RESOURCES
! Tho general plan OF the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad calls for the entire
/ force OF, the commercial development
| department. for tho next thirty days to
devote It's time in making study OF
conditions; compiling data and giving
out information wherever ii may be
! asked. enlistinE the cooperation Of
other department in gathering the in
| formation.
| Complete lists have already been
! made or tho grain elevators canning
| factories, cold. storage and other stor-
| age warehouses giving their full ca
pacity and amount OF available food
stufs on hand Farmers and truck
| gardeners. together with their avail
able acreage and number of acres
planted. naming the kind OF product.
! arg peiuS ilStcu by territories.
Tho patriotic farmer will he glad 10
put his ground to use If labor can he
| procured.
| In the ondcaVor 10 secure the ncccs-
sary skilled labor. the people are urC-
| ed by Governor Stuart and other pub
| spirited citizens to plant home gar
| dcns wherever possible and raise yecc-
tables for home consumption. Schools
are asked 10 instruct the younger boys
and girls In home gardening. The use
OF back yards in city districts will be
Of immense help. and II all the people
that have the space Will put It to
practical use in food products. the bur
den of the farmer and the government
Will he accordingly lcssened.
! From reports already received from
! farmers. the amount of available but
unused farm lands because of lack of
! efficient farm labor liz astonishing, and
| this is serious problem to be solved
The patriotic farmers Of America as
| sure those willing to assist at this
| time that the assistance so rendered
will not he for personal financial benefit
TO tho producer. but for the nation and
assures those who are willing TO help
/ the kind OF board and lodging and
| other things one American citizen
should accord another.