The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-03-20

CUTS H,
E. OF l.
Campaign of Publicity
Brings Desired Result
in Short Time.

New Orleans, La, March 16.-The
food situation in New Orleans. both as
regards supply and prices eased off
greatly at the beginning of the present
week. Part Of this increase of food
stuffs on the market and the added
factor of appreciably lower prices was
due to action by the board Of trade,
part to more stringent supervision of
curb markets by the women of the fear
Of federal prosecution.
Through the newspapers, the board
Of trade, which has been particularly
active in getting to the cause for cur
rent high prices called the attention of
the pubIlcto the fact that Louisiana yell
low yams, the best sweet pota toes in the
world, were selling at cents a pound,
while white potatoes ranged from 6h
to cents. The result of two days
publication of this fact was that sweet
potato sales gained nearly 200 per cent,
while white potatoes were forced down,
by lack Of demand, to and 51h cents.
At the same time, the board of trade
brought to the front the cowpea as a
substitute for beans. The pea, of which
thousands Of tons are plowed under an
nually for fertilizer. without troubling
to gather the seeds. in Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi, Alabama and Texas, is selling
at cents a pound, as compared with
Is cents for red beans
with cowpeas and salt meat for sea-
soning," says the board Of trade in its
advice to the people, "and rice and
gravy and sweet potatoes, the poor man
has as good a meal as if he had white
potatoes and beefsteak. and all at about
one half the cost of the latter"
From all parts of Louisiana reports
are coming to the board of trade and
to freight agents Of TRANSFORMATION lines
Of increased demand for rice. 1t is
now selling at IL and IS cents a pound
There has been no boycott Of any
foods here by the housewives, but there
has been widespread turning away from
the more expensive foods and extensive
search for cheaper substitutes.
| The people of New Orleans are be-
ginning seriously to consider the abol-
lshment Of the stall rental system and
the throwing open Of all the city mar
kets to the producers, just as the curb
markets are open to them now.
| Due to, the activities of the House
wives league, vegetables have sold
much lower than for weeks. These
women, among them many prominent
in club and social circles of this city,
went to the curb markets before day.
light on the early days of the week,
consulted with the producers and with
the stall-keepers at other markets un-
til they arrived at reasonable prices
and then forced the producers to sell
at those prices or leave the market.
The housekeepers of the city have
fallen in with the leagues plans and
have refused to buy from wagons or
producers unless they are under the
protection Of the league at the curb
markets, and this has had an excellent
effect in keeping prices down.
The farmer or fisherman or poultry
raiser who ships his output to the COM
lie Lnz trHNnVN
Il ing to the curb market for relief, and
the Housewives league has been SELL
ing his produce direct to the consumer
insuring immediate sales, possibly at
smaller prices. even, then those paid
by the commission merchant. but with
much less loss to the farmer.
The cheapness of seafood has been