Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1917-05-31
WATSON SURVEYS
FOOD SITUATION
COMMISSIONER PRESENTS Ex.
HAusrlvE INVESTIGATION OF
SOUTH CAROLINA.
DISPATCHES FROM COLUMBIA
potnqs and Happenings That Mark the
Progress Of South Carolina People,
Gathered Around the State Capital.
Columbia.


Columbia.
Comprehensive in Its scope and
somewhat alarming in its revelations
ia the exhaustive report prepared by
Col E. J. Watson. secretary OF agri-
culture, commerce and industries, for
Gov Manning, to indicate the state Of
preparedness of South Carolina to
meet war conditions. Fourteen in.
spectors have been driving under
pressure since the request for the
survey of the food and feed situation
came from Gov. Manning April %.
Fifty-two cities and towns were in
cluded in the investigation these be-
ing the principal market distributing
noints in the state. Six hundred and
4S wholesale and retail establish
ments, grist and -four plants and mix
ed feed mills were included in the
stock taking. Every important point
in the state was visited and about
two.thirds of the commercial business
in foods and feeds are represented.
In the words OF the author, the object
Of the report was:
"To ascertain the whereabouts and
amount OF stocks OF corn, oats, mixed
feeds. corn meal, grits, flour, hay,
lard. sugar, hams, bacon, butter,
cheese, eggs, beef, cabbage, Irish po'
tatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, tur.
nips. canned goods, canned milk,
spring chickens, hens, live hogs, cot,
tonseed meal and rice. The inquiry
was directed to obtain the following
information: O The number OF
stores with stocks Of each commodity;
(2) number without stock; (3) stock
ON hand at the time Of the survey;
(4) usual stock carried at this season
of the year; (5) estimated amount OF
each commodity sold annually; (6)
wholesale prices now and a year ago;
(0 retail prices now and a year ago;
(S) source of supplies; (9) percent
age of stock Of home growth; QO)
length of time present stock will last;
l1) length of time stock bought or
contracted for will carry 1t is en-
phasied that but two merchants In
the state failed to cooperate in the
stock census plan.
Stores Without Stock.
A feature of the report, calculated
TO give something of the serious as.
pect of the situation Is the number
of stores reported to beNyithout stock
of certain commodities $ nj Of a
total Of 633 stores. only 2SlSE epostad
a present stock of corn -An even
greater percentage were without oats.
Approximately one-half had a stock
of mixed feeds, with about two-thirds
reporting a supply Of corn meal
About IS per cent reported a stock
of -four and lard. Less than 5 per
cent were supplied with hams.
The number of bushels OF corn on
hand now was reported to be 112,122
against 121,362 for the corresponding
period last year and 123,4S5 bushels
of oats against 1858 last season
The supply of corn meal has been re-
duced by 40 per cent. Only 3S,45S
sacks of meal were reported against a
total stock of 59,262 one year ago
The supply of -four is another item OF
more than common interest. The sur
yey indicates stock Of 47,769 bar
rels against 5S,787 last year, when
conditions were by no means normal
The salt bacon situation is even more
alarming. From the business houses
Of the survey, only 1921 hundred
weight of bacon was reported to be on
hand against 296,145 hundredweigh'
in May, 1916. The supply OF ham Is
reduced approximately 20 per cent.
Prices obtaining are even more dis
tressing. The average retail figure
struck for flour from the total num-
her of markets investigated was SAT-
a barrel against S7.4S one year ago;
corn meal s1.99 a sack against $1.09,
corn s2.O2 bushel against $l.O7;
lard 10 cents against 1S cents; bacon
"a cents against Is cents; sugar Il
cents against cents.
Grain Acreage Abandoned.
Some of the most alarming conclu
sions deducted by Col. Watson are:
THAT on March l OF this year the
stock OF corn on the farms OF the
state was 100000 bushels, against
1904. 900 at the same date OF the pre-
ceding year. At the same date, of the
home crop of oats still on the farms
there were only 100000 bushel;
against 1,496,OOO bushels the preced
ing year at the same date.
"That the oat crop this year will be
the shortest perhaps in several years.