Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-12-17
NATIONS BIG FOOD
INVENTORY SOON
More Than Three-quarters Of a
Million Schedules 10 be
Mailed
TO PRODUCE NEEDED SUPPLIES
War Emergency Food Survey to be
Launched by Bureau of Markets,
= U. S Dept of agriculture

= U. 5 Dept Of Agriculture
The most comprehensive inventory
OF food resources in the United States
ever made ~ the War Emergency
Food Survey, provided for by Con-
gress-win be started within the next
few days, when the first batch of the
more than three-quarters of a mil
lion schedules or questionnaires to
De sent out will be placed in the mails
The Bureau OF Markets has been COM
missioned by the Secretary Of Agri-
| culture TO carry out the big stock
-aking enterprise with the co-opera-
| ion of other branches Of the Depart
! ment. This survey will touch every
dealer in food and food materials,
every fod manufacturer, and every
| holder of substantial quantities of
foods in the country except the fam
ly requiring them TO report stocks
which they have on hand December
81, 1917. A separate schedule will be
sent to a representative number of
specially selected homes throughout
ohe country and upon returns from
these an estimate will be made for
all homes.
The approaching survey follows a
preliminary inventory for a limited
number of food items made August
81 last, results of which have been
nearly all tabulated
The aim of the major survey to be
begun shortly is to give the govern
ment, producers, dealers and consum-
ers exact information of the. quantities
of the various important food mater
ials on hand 1t is only with trust
worthy figures of existing food stocks
as a basis, as was pointed out when
Congress provided for the survey,
that safe plans can be made for con-
serving and distributing foods already
on hand, and for producing the foods
needed next season.
QuestiOnnaireS To Be Used.
The survey will be made by means
of schedules or questionnaires con-
! answers in regard to Sc items, COW
ering more than hundred different
foods. These Items are divided into
ten general groups. Grain and seeds,
grain food products, meat and meat
products, fish, animal and vegetable
fats, dairy and related products, can
ned goods, fresh fruits and vegetables,
dried fruits, nuts and peanuts, and
sugar, starches, etc. Answers are to
show the quantities of each item on
hand and an estimate of quantities,
if any, in transit outward by freight
or express, on December 331, 1917,
and the quantities that were on hand
December 81, 1916. The returns also
will show the nature, organization and
size of the business of each dealer.
They must be signed by the owner or
an authorized official.
Schedules will be sent to all deal
ers in food materials, all manufac
turers of food products, and all hold
ers of such commodities in lots sub
stantially greater than family sup
plies Reports, therefore. will be ex-
pected from wholesale and retail
grocers, bakers, confectioners and all
other dealers in commodities contain
ing food materials; from warehouse
men and coldstorage concerns; from
commissaries OF institutions and COM
mercial and industrial establishments;
from exporters: from manufacturers
employing any food product in their
operations; and from representatives
of foreign governments who buy sup
plies in this country The govern
ment desires reports even from con-
| Germs using foodstuffs as ingredients
in products not ordinarily considered
| food; from bottlers of soda water and
similar beverages, and from chewing
gum manufacturers. for example, be-
cause of the sugar employed.
/ Penalties For Failure To Report.
| Altogether, more than three-quar-
| ters of a million schedules will be
distributed. Mailing lists have been
prepared to cover the field as fully
as possible. but some individuals and
concerns who should make report OF
food materials held by them undoubt-
edly have been unavoidably missed
The Bureau of Markets, therefore, is
asking each such individual and con-
| Germ that does not receive a schedule
by January 2 to write to the Bureau
OF Markets, L. S. Department of Agri-
culture. washington, d. c., or TO any
of the many agencies of the Bureau
throughout the country. for a copy,
The local addresses of these agencies
are given with each of the three-quar-
ters of a million schedules which are
being distributed, and may convenient
IL be obtained by inquiry Of any husi-
/ ness associate who has received one
of the schedules.
The Act of Congress providing for
he War Emergency Food Survey fix-
/ ed a fine not exceeding $1,000 or i'm
nrisonment not exceeding one year
or both. as punishment for any IN
dividuai or concern who wilfully fails
| to make report when requested, or
wilfully reports incorrectly The Bu-
rsau Of Markets. however, counts on
the fuH cooperation OF the afIecteo
trades and industries, and hopes tha'
there will be very few cases in which
Il viii be necessary TO enforce com
pliance through prosecution.