The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-17
NATIONS BIG fOuO
INVENTORY STARTS SOON
War Emergency Survey to i5e Launch
csi by Bureau OF MARI cts--ID-
formation to &c Used I'm If
forts to Maintain and Pro
ducr adequate supplies,

Washington. Dee. 1.-THE most
ompTehensiyc inventory of food re
sources In the United States ever made
the war emergency food survey,
provided for by cnnKress-will be
! started within the next few days.
| when the first batch Of the more than
quarters OF million schedules
or questtonnaires to be sent out VIII
be placed in the mails
! The bureau OF markets has been
! com r1issioned 10y the secretary Of agri-
u"u-c to carry out the hiE stock-tak-
4 ing enterprise with the cooperation Of
other branches II the department. This
survey will touch evcry dealer in rood
and food materials. every food manu-
! faCturer. and every holder or substan-
! tial quantities of foods in the coun-
! try except the family. requiring them
I to report stocks which they have on
hand December 81, 1917. A separate
g, heduls VIII be sent 10 representa-
tive number OF specially selected
homes throughout the country and
'Gron returns from these an estimate
viii he made for all homes.
The approaching survey follows
preliminary inventory for limited
number OF food items made August
"a last, results of which nave been
nearly all tabulat~d.
The aim OF the major survey to be
begun shortly is 10 give the govern
ment. producers, dealers and consum-
ars exact information of the quantities
OF the various Important food ma
teriais on hand. 1t Is only with trust
worthy figures OF existing food stocks
as . hasis. as was pointed out when
congress provided for the survey, that
= a Fysr ygy,~
and distributing foods already on
hand. and for producing the foods
needed next season.
Questionnaircs 20 Be Used.
The survey will be MADE by means
Of schedules or uuestionnaires con-
tanning questions and blanks for an
swers in regard TO eighty ak ltema,
covering more than q hundred dif
farent foods. These items are dtyid-
ed into ten general groups: Grain and
seeds grain food Droduct meat and
n eat products. fish. animal and vege-
table fats. dairy and related products.
canned goods. fresh fruits ard Tege-
tables, dried fruits. nuts ana peanuts.
and sugar. starches. etc. Answers are
TO show the quantities Of each item on
hand and an estimate OF quantities,
II any. in transit outward by freight OF
express, on December 81, 1917. and
the quantities that were on hand De-
e. Hber al 1915 TFe returns also
win show the nature. O. ganiZatiou and
size OF the business of each dealer
They must be aligned by the owner OF
at authorized official
Schedules will be gent 10 All dealers
in food materials, all manufactures OF
food products, and all holders OF such
commodities in lots substantially
thetefore Will be expected from whole
sale and retail Rroeers. bakers, com
PETITIONERS and all other dealers in
commodities containing rood ma
teriaIs: from wRrehousom ane cold
storage concerns from cominlsssaries
OF institutions end commercial and
industrial establishments; from OK
porters; from manufacturers employ
ing any food product in their opera
tons. and from representatives OF
foreign governments who buy sup
desires reports even from concerns
using foodstuffs as ingredients in
products not ordinarily considered
food from bottlsrr Of soda water and
similar beverages and from chewing
gum manufacturers for example. he
cause ot tho sugar employed
Penalties for Failure TO Report.
Altogether. more than three guar
.ters OK 4, million Schedules VIII Or dis
ItTibuted >Mailir7s lists ,have BEEN pre-
pared to cover the field rs fully as
possible. but SONS individuals and con
Germs who should make report Of food
materials held by them undoubtedly
have been unavoidably missed The
bureau Of markets therefore Is ask
fng each such Individual and concern
that does not receive a schedule Of
January to writ~ 10 the bureau Of
narkstF, United Sta ss department of
agriculture Washington, y. G.. or 20
any of the many agencies of the bu-
resu throughout the country, FOR &
copy. The local addresses Of these
Aganciek are given with each OF the
three quarters % ii million schedules
which are being distributed, and may
conveniently be obtained by inquiry
of any business associate who has re-
ceived one OF tbs schedules.
'rhe act Of congress providing for
the war emergency food survey hxed
q hne not excseeing $4,000 or impris
onment not exceeding one year. or
both. as punishment for any in6i-
vidual or concern who wiiruily fails
to mako report when requested. or
wiliLly reports Incorrectly The bu-
reau OF markets, however. counts on
the fu1 cooperation Of the affected
trades and industries, and hopes that
there VIII be very few cases III which
II VIII be necessary 20 enforce compli-
ance through prosecution.