Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-08-31
Agricultural Department Sends Out Blanks To Be
 Filled By Dealers.
IS PRELIMINARY
 TO LATER CHECK
Eighteen Staple Articles of Food Are Listed As Those On Which GOyern- ment Wants Data, As Basis For
 Food Control Work.

Washington, Aug 3O-Since the federal law requires that all firms having commercial stocks of foods shall make returns of what they have on hand or in transit on August 91, the United States department of az riculture charged with carrying out the provisions of the law, has desig- mated certain places within each state where the blank food survey sched- ules may be obtained.
 These blanks are to be filled in du- plicate, one copy to be retained by the reporting firm and the other to be sent to the department at Washing ton. In the state of Arkansas the survey blanks may be obtained at the College of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
 Each blank has spaces for record ing the stocks of IS principal com modities, including the chief food cer- calls. meats, lard, oils, fish, sugar and condensed or evaporated milk. Eleva- tors, mills, dealers, canners, bakers, confectioners, manufacturers, jObbers, packers, grocers, hotels, department and general stores dealing in grocer ies, and other types of business to the number of about 100, are required to report their stocks not later than September 10, though an extension of time may be granted by the secre- tary of agriculture on special request if good reason can be shown.
 Survey Is Preliminary.
 Tho c,,rvo,, of fo1. as it concerns the supplies of Is prin- cipal foOdstuffs, is preliminary, to be followed by more complete one after the crops are harvested. For the complete schedule the blanks call for returns on 103 items. Blanks giving all information have been mailed to some 35O,O0O firms, but any firm which has not yet received these blanks should apply at once to the bureau of markets, department of ag- riculture, Washington, or to the ad dress given above. While the returns are required under the law, with a heavy penalty for noncompliance, it is expected by the department that all firms will consider it their patriotic duty to fill out and return the sched- ules as requested.
 Secretary of agriculture Houston makes the following statement on each of the report blanks, to explain the purpose of the survey and the plans of the department:
 Under an act of congress, approv- ed by the president August 10, 1917, the secretary of agriculture is author ized, among other things. to take stock of the nations food supply.
 "The purpose of such investigations is to secure essential facts as to our food supply, it's ownership and con- trol, for the guidance of governmental agencies and the public in making plans for increasing production, for promoting efficient distribution. and for directing conservation and utiliza- ton.
 "For your part in this service, you are hereby requested, and are requir- ed by the aforementioned law. under the penalties therein provided. to fill out and mail tn following sched- ule, in accordance with the instruc- tions below This schedule should be mailed to the chief of the bureau of markets as soon as possible after August 31, 1917. If received not later than September list, it must be mailed by September 10th. If not received until after September 1st, it must be returned within ten days after the date of receipt. If, in any case. the schedule can not be returned within the time above mentioned. an exten' sion not to exceed thirty days from the original date of your receipt of the schedule may be granted by the sec retary of agriculture for good cause shown. The preliminary inventory of August 31, 1917, which embraces IS items as shown on page 3, is to be followed by more comprehensive survey after the seasons crops are harvested. A list of items to be re- ported at that time is found on page two.
 "In accordance with the provisions contained in section two of the act, Charles J. Brand, chief of the bureau of markets of the United States de partment of agriculture, has been authorized and instructed as my agent to take such steps as may be neces- sary to obtain authoritative informa- tion regarding the matters authorized to be investigated under that sec tion."
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