Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-15
BEEF CATTLE ARE
MUCH NEEDED
Lieutenant Governor McClain
. Makes Interesting State
ment at Philadelphia

Possibilities of cattle shortage
in the eighteen eastern counties of
the State in the spring were point
ed out yesterday by Lieutenant Gov
ernor Frank b. McClain.
The price of corn. when the fall
crop is harvested. he said, would de-
termine the beef supply in the hands
of the farmers throughout the east
ern section OF the State. If corn is
bringing $1.50 a bushel when har-
vested, fewer beef cattle will be
through the winter than during "e the
last five years. That corn will sell
at the price quoted, Mr.. McClain
said, seemed highly probable
Il have just returned from a trip
through the West, made for the pur-
pose'of sizing up the cattle and crop
situation" he said. While the big
corn growers in the Mississippi VAL
ley told me the prospects for good
crop would be realized, they impress
sed on me that it would fall below
the expectations of those who have
been prophesying a record break
ing yield.
From my own observations I
know that in the eighteen eastern
counties of the State fewer beef cat
tie have been bought so far this year
/ than in the last five years. If corn
is selling at $3.50 a bushel when
the harvest is in the farmers will
not buy cattle to feed for beef for
sale in the spring. They are hesi-
tating owing to the uncertainty as
to what action the government will
take in regulating prices, and while
1t would be impossible to establish
by proclamation the selling price of
beef, they are not taking any
| chances"
Community. Canning
While the results of the food con-
| serVation campaign started by the
State Defense Committee in the
spring cannot be definitely ascertain
ed yet. Mr.. McClain said the facts
| obtained indicate an appreciable in
crease in food products through the
cultivation of rear yards in the
smaller communities throughout the
State. At Lancaster the yield from
the city lots became so heavy an ar
rangement was made by local COM
mittee with the Y. NJ. c. A. for the
use of it's kitchen equipment. Since
then thousands of cans and jars of
fruits and vegetables have been put
up.
The basis on which the canning
was carried on provided for the re-
turn to the raiser of one-half of
the produce supplied by him after it
had been canned. The other half is
being held by the local charitable
organizations and will be distributed
during the winter among the de-
serving poor
Educationally, the campaign has
resulted in introducing. economic
practices which will be adhered to
for many years following the termi-
nation of the war, Mr.. McClain says.
He also intimated the public's expert
ence would tend logically to the es-
tablishment of community canneries,
operated for the conservation of To-
cal food surpluses.
Plans for the establishment of ad-
ditional curb markets in several i'm
portant industrial centers of the
State were completed by the Food
Supply Committee of the State Com
mittee of Public Safety, at a meet
ing yesterday afternoon in the fl
nance building.
Howard Heinz. State Food Direc-
tor, said the success of the markets
established at Scranton and Allen
town proved the plan practicable.
Bethlehem and Pottstown are two
of the centers where markets are
proposed.