The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-25
Waste IS REAL CAUSE
OF HIGH FOOD COST
"WiIful Waste Makes WoefuI Want
BY W. X. Bache, Mgr. Rich,
mond Mfgrs. Exhibit.

Our glorious country OF magnificent
distances, of unlimited acreage, OF un-
bounded wealth and boastful produc-
siveness is on the verge Of famine
conditions. At least. in our large
>. cities there is actual suffering from
hunger and the prices of the COM
nohest foods are soaring beyond the
purchasing ability Of the poor and
even Of the salaried man and wage
Garner.
Many reasons are given for this
condition of affairs Some attribute
81 to the war IN europe. some to the
crop shortage of 1916. others to in
ability of the railroads to move freight
because of car shortage. and yet 9TH
ers charge 1t to the money grasping
spectators who are boarding the ne
Cessities of the people to grind out
OF them the last cent of profit.
All the above reasons are partly re-
Gponsibie; but there is "a cause back Of
those reasons which makes Il possible
for any or all OF them to bring about
famine In land OF plenty That
cause is wilful waste In the time OF
abundance. over this entire country
there Is vast efulness 10 the point Of
crfminality. For example, take the
matter OF fruit and vegetables. Mil
Hons OF pounds OF both are permitted
TO rot on the farms of Virginia, TO
say nothing or the other states 81
the union.
In the spring and summer when
fruit and vegetables are abundant,
and nearly all farmers and those liv
ing in small towns and villages. have
their Kitchen garden" there is much
more raised than can be consumed
by tho family. Except around cities
and large towns, there Ia no market
for the surplus: some little is pre-
fp~ hn W "a tor q hp ~
ily: the balance is allowed N go 20
waste. to rot upon the ground, while
in the large cities many are hungry.
and in the winter actually suffer, While
prices advance, as we are uow ex~
periencing.
The country housewife cannot pre-
serve or can more than shc now does,
in fact, Il Is SO difficult IN secure help
IN canning season that many arc u1-
able 10 supply their own winter moods
The remedy. therefore, Cor this tre-
nendous waste Is the community can
merry 10 be organized bv the tai mors
on the cooperative plan. 1T cab he
n church community. school com
munity or a village community, en-
hracing radius Of four 20 six miles
Let the farmers enter into coop
eratiSe agreement to build and equip
a small cannery; To employ a man +"
operate IL The agricultural depart
snent is supplying a demonstrators 10
educate the people In the art OF prop
er canning and preserving Al me
farmers and their wives would be I'M
yger agreement TO bring their surplus
fruit and vegetables TO the cannery
fresh every day, they would he given
credit for every pound supplied. Az
che end of the season eacn FARMER
would be furnished what was re
cuired for home consumption, same
70 be charged 10 his account All
@he surplus TO be sold IN whoiesa'e
rrocer in Abe nearby cttv and tn" pro
cee,is paid pro rata 10 the farmers as
thew haA credit on the books, This
MAN would avoid individual canning
labor at home and would bring many
thousands OF dollars to the farmers
and would supply thousands or poun3s
OF food TO The people of the cities
which is now lost AFTER the iaboF ana
sost OF raising Il
snrtnr and summer cabbage Is one
of the sources Of greatest waste, this
could he made into kraut as ia done
hv the Germans RI is q simple and
inexpensive process and kraft is rs
nutritious as fresh cabbage and can
he canned 10 good advantage.
There is heavy demand by the
pickle factories for cabbage eul-
flower. small onions. snaps, peppers
and cucumbers in brine, all OF which
could he taken care of by tho carnery.
we need to take lessons from Ger
many, ~ nmark. Holland. Switze' land
and other European countries In The
conservation OF the abundance Of ev-
erything in the food line. The slip
ehod hit or miss methods NJ the past
must cease.
TX X PACHE
Mgr. Richmond Manufactures
Exhibit