The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-02-01

impossible to supply the great c"ntcrs
OF population with the necessities OF
life.
In the contract arrangements maze
early last year the canning packers OF
this country directed special eftor's
tu insure the growing OF larger acre
ago OF farm produce. and they also
made complete and ample preparations
properly to care for the anticipated OK
ira bulk Of food products. From this
source thore has come. and IN lncTeas-
, ing ratio there must continue to como
substantial production OF. the lood
supplies for our fighting forces at homo
; and abroad.
With a full recognition Of this urgent
requirement ii was unanimously agreed
at meeting Of the American Gamers
Association recently held in Wash Ing
ton. that the government needs for sup
plies Of canned goods should be given
, priority over all other demands This
action was taken as a patriotic step by
patriotic men. and not upon any hint OF
, compulsion. And they arc pledged 10y
ally 10 continue IN their cooperation.
; and to do all within human possibilities
to coordinate their fueure activities to
the end OF purposeful and helpful SER
; Vice. despite the pretty handicaps OF
well-meaning but ill-directed bureau
. CraCy.
Aside from those actually engaged
in the canning industry. very few peo-
pie have any conception OF the proper
ton Of Americans who depend upon
canned goods for their food supply. A
, recent personal investigation revealed
that canned goods sales comprise about
20 per cent OF the business OF whole
sale groccrs. Some Now York houses
reported that canned goods averaged
fully so per cent Of their total sales
transactions. From Boston and Chi
caeo came reports showing 40 per cent
and more Of total sales. Because OF the
homo supplies Of cannable food IN rural
communities the small town sales
bring the average nf canned food con-
sumption down TO 30 per cent. Canned
goods are food staples to the cave
dwcllcrs in the large cities. and prob
ably always will continue TO hr. -
In round numbers the output OF can
ned goods In the United States last year
WAS approximately 4.3Qo.000,00o cans.
an increase Of nearly l.0O0D000,OOO
above tho production of 1914. With the
advance In the price Of canned goods
consequent upon conditions developed
hy the war, there has come 10 be pop
uIar conception that this increase In
price means an increase in profit to the
packer That is not so. Really the op-
ros!,e Is true. Although canned goods
Of nearly all kinds sell for higher
prices than those Of. several years ago
the Gamers arc paying the farmer much
more. in some instances moro than dou-
BILE former prices for their products.
The farmers in turn. pay 80 per cent
moro for labor and much more for fer
!, tilizer and every other farm utility.
The packers also pay SO per scent
more for labor and tin cans. nearly 80
pcr cent more for sugar considerable
moro for hox lumber. freight charges
and the general overhead expense.
In establishing the selling price %
their. products the packers estimate
basis that will net them no greater per
centagc Of profit than that OF thirty
wears ago and. with certain exceptions
in war products plants. 1t may be pre-.
sumed that that is true OF nearly all
business in the country.