Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1917-05-31
WATSON SURVEYS
FOOD SITUATION
COMMISSIONER PRESENTS Ex.
HAUsTIvE INVESTIGATION OF
SOUTH CAROLINA.
DISPATCHES FROM COLUMBIA
0oinss and Happenings That Mark tho
Progress Of South Carolina People.
Gathered Around the State Capital.
Columbia.

Columbia.
Comprehensive in its scope and
somewhat alarming in its revelations
Is 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 28
Fifty-two cities and towns were in
cluded in the investigation these be.
ing the principal market distributing
points in the state. Six hundred and
48 wholesale and retail establish.
ments. grist and flour 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:
ITO ascertain the whereabouts and
amount Of stocks Of corn, oats, mixed
feeds, corn meal. grits. flour, hay
lard. sugar. hams, bacon. butt or
cheese. eggs. beef. cabbage, Irish po
tatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, tu.'
nips. canned goods. canned milk
spring chickens. hens, live hogs. cot
tonseed meal and rice. The inquiry
was directed to obtain the following
information: % 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;
| CD retail prices now and a year ago
(S) source Of supplies; co. percent
age OF stock Of home growth: QO)
length Of time present stock will last
QD length Of time stock bought OF
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 tte number
Of stores reported to be without stock
of certain commoditIes.0utpf g
total OF 633 stores. ofl15 2S4 repNrreu
a present stock Of corn. An ever
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 pei
cent were supplied with hams.
The number Of bushels Of corn or
hand now was reported to be 112, ,12;
against 121 1862 for the corresponding
period last year and 123,4S5 bushels
The supply Of corn meal has been re
duced by 40 per cent. Only 38.453
sacks OF meal were reported against 9
total stock of 59,262 one year ago
The supply Of flour is another item OF
more than common interest. The sur
vey indicates q stock Of 47.769 bar
rels against 58.7S7 last year. wher
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 or
hand against 296.145 hundredweigh,
in May. 1916 The supply of ham Is
reduced approximately 90 per cent.
Prices obtaining are even more dis
tressing. The average retail figure
struck for -four from the total mum
ber of markets investigated was SAT-
barrel against $7.4S one year ago
corn meal $1.99 a sack against $1.O9,
corn $2.02 a bushel against SLOT;
lard 19 cents against 13 cents; bacon
"a cents against Is cents; sugar Il
cents against 8 cents.
Grain Acreage Abandoned.
Some Of the most alarming conclu
sions deducted by Col. Watson are:
THAT on March 1 of this year the
stock OF corn on the farms Of the
state was 100000 bushels. against
17.904. 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 bushels
against 1,496.O 900 bushels the preced
ing year at the same date.
THAT the oat crop this year will be
the shortest perhaps in several years.
Appointments to Naval Academy.
Special from Washington. - Con
gressman Stevenson has announced
the following Annapolis appointments