Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-31
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to Now York because there was not
sufficient demand for II. He would
gladly give. 1t away to any ono who
| called for 1t. no asserted. but in the
meantime he Intended, to use it for fer
tilizing his land.
The soliciting and collecting commit
| tee of a food conservation center would
have little difficulty in obtaining pro-
duce for canning and drying either
troe or charge or at n very small cost.
In addition to the large farms. there
arc many small truck patches and gar
dcns that have been started this year
Tor patriotic motives. For example.
on a vacant lot In Washington there
Is neat little truck patch which Is
yielding bushels OF string beans and
caooages 1t is worked by young
slri VINO is government clerk and her
brother. an automobile agent. For the
past month they have raised 30 much
more than they can use that every
morning they get up early. load n large
quantity Of string beans and cabbages
various settlement houses.
Vast Quantities Thrown Away.
The stores alone Will provide large
supplies OF produce Every Saturday
night whole boxes Of food arc thrown
away because they will not keep over
Sunday. 1t Is part OF Mrs. Claxton's
plan to collect all this on Saturday
night and preserve IL Sunday. When
she suggested this to the Washington
food preservation committee of which
she Is member. many OF the ladies
we're shocked. "What-put food up on
Sunday?" they asked In scandai!zed
voices WELL" said one lady cham
pioning Mrs. Claxton's cause. I'VE let
other people work for us on Sunday.
II 1t doesn't hurt our cooks. chauffeurs
elevator boys and street car employees.
don't see why II should hurt u.s."
The Jars for preserving the food
would also be solicited by special
committee Of the municipal center
Many women have nifty or a hundred
Jars on their shelves. 1t would be no
particular hardship for them to give
away three or four. Yet II every
woman gave that many. the municipal
center would soon have all that il
could use. However. II this plan failed,
money would be raised TO supply the
Jars.
stnrt Work Immediately.
In order to make this plan effective
for next winter when food prices will
soar even higher. work will have to DO
started Immediately while fresh vege-
tables arc at the height OF their sea-
son in the markets Ccnters must DO
opened at once; the food preserved. and
stored for next winter And here is
an important fact concerning this plan.
II is not the purpose OF the food CEN
tiers to give away food. except in needy
cases which have been thoroughly In
vcstigated. nor docs It expect to un.
dcrsell the groccrs unless II becomes
absolutely necessary Such municipal
canning and storing OF food would
simply relieve the strain on the ordl-
nary food supply. large portions OF
which could he shipped to Europe
without the danger OF hunger at home.
1t IL interesting to note that In
these days of alleged high wages. tho
number OF cases on tho lists OF the
associated charities Is steadily incrcas-
Ing. "ashington's slums small
compared with those OF other cities. yet
last year the associated charities spent
$4,000 in keeping people alive there.
This year II expects TO spend $4,000.
Last winters bread riots in New York
still linger painfully in the memory
OF those who Witnessed them. Tho
predictions for next winter arc ex-
ceedingly gloomy. Under these cir
cumstances." says Mrs Claxton. "ie II
not the duty OF the cities to provide
for their own food cmergencics?'