Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-03-19
CONGRESS DOING
ALL 1T CAN FOR
SAVING OF FRUIT
Dehydration Plant, Provided
for by Appropriation, viii
Save Thousands of Tons of
PeriShabEe Food

Especial Dispatch to The JournalD
WASHINGTON, March 16--It is
doubtful if any other session of con-
gress in the couutry's history ever did
as many substantial, practical and use
fIl things, because of war conditions, as
will be recorded when the present ses-
sion comes to an end. AS one illustra-
ticn Of what is being done, there is now
Icing considered in connection with the
agricultural appropriation bill, an
amendment which will be of inestimabie
Benefit to the people ofIthe south who
are engaged in fruit and vegetable
growing. 1t would permit the secretary
of agriculture to establish and operate
plants for the drying or dehydration Of
vegetables, fruits and other edible prod
ucts, including the erection or rent of
other necessary buildings and co-opera-
ton with plants maintained and operated
for the manufacture of such products.
The appropriation TO be made for this
purpose will be $3.50, 600.
This dehydration plant will he used, |
primarily, for the purpose of supplying
food for our own soldiers and the al
lies. In addition to this however, it
Will help us at home to conserve more |
or our own fruit-food materials.
Old Process
The dehydration or drying of fruits |
is process that is very old, it was
known and practiced a great many years |
ago. 1t possesses very material ad- |
Vantages over any other known method /
for the preservation, proportion and /
conservation of food products. Com /
ing now, at a time, when the question /
of food, not only for us but for the |
entire world, is the paramount cues
ton Of all, it is exceedingly desirable, |
If 1t can be done, that we take adj |
vantage Of the modern methods Of de- |
MIGRATING or drying fruits and vege- |
tables for the purpose of economyzing |
ana for the purpose of supplying food |
particularly for the army and navy and, |
incidentally, for all our people, as we'll |
as for the people OF the allied govern |
ments and of the neutral nations.
The pending legislation is a war |
proposition, and will undoubtedly sue
coed.
The testimony before the committee
on agriculture, which heard the merits |
of this matter, showed that in the Boer |
war the British government contract |
ed with a private individual or indi- |
viduals and secured large quantities OF |
dehydrated food of various kinds. The |
British authorities had purchased food |
during the Boer war and at the end |
Of hOstilities had large quantities Of |
it on hand. Having no further use |
for it. it was stored away and was not |
brought out again until the beginning |
of the war with Germany. Then the |
British officials made an investigation |
to ascertain the condition of those fruits |
and vegetables. and found they were |
in as good condition as they were years |
before, when they were put UP during |
the Boer war. They are now being |
served to soldiers of the British army |
Essential Principle
The essential DripCiOla in dahu
ton is the taking of water out of the |
fruit and vegetables. When that is |
done properly the product can be kept |
indefinitely, it is not necessary to put |
1t in an expensive container; it is not !
necessary 20 take any extra precautions |
TO prevent it from freezing; or from |
heat; it is less expensive to prepare |
and keep fruits and vegetables preserv-
ed in this manner than by any other |
known method.
If the potato crop were dried, IL |
would not make any difference whether |
it were shipped this fall or next fall, |
but under present conditions they must |
be shipped within Il given time. If |
they were dried, the same quantity of |
potatoes could be shipped by the use
of one-twentieth the number of cars
now necessary for their transportation,
and it would be unnecessary to pay any
attention to freezing or cold weather.
Good Market
This dehydrated process may be APP
piled to almost any known fruit and |
vegetable.
There are two main features to the |
pending legislation which are of vital |
interest. Il will afford the people of |
the United States a good mari et for
their supplies, way having been found
to prevent spelling, and the other is
that more food, more of it every day,
must be sent our own and the allies
troops while the war lasts.
1t is believed that there will be no
difficulty in feeding our troops this
year, but next year we are going to
be called upon 20 send thousands of /
bushels of potatoes and other kinds of
food 20 our men in Europe in addition !
to corn, tomatoes, onions and other
vegetables, which will tax US sorely. 4
For this reason the United States must
begin nov to handle next years heavy
burdens.