The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-09-27
"PIT CAMPAIGN URGENT"
FOOD ADMIR-. PRESCOTT

"Too much emphasis cannot be laid
on the campaign to collect certain
fruit stones, fruit pits and nut Shells"
said Food Administrator G. A. Pres
colt today. "Mr. Hoover has sent me
copy of the Red Cross instructions
for carrying on the campaign and /
have just finished reading this para
graph.
"a nationwide campaign for the
collection of these materials should be
carried on Immediately and with the
utmost vigor. These materials are
urgently needed to make carbon, which
is to protect our men overseas from
German poison gas. This is an emer-
gency," added Mr.. Prescott, "and
great emphasis should be placed on the
fact that this is truly an emergency
matter, 1t is a question of saving the
lives and health of our men overseas.
Every patriotic citizen in all Michigan
should be eager to take part in this
campaign.
"Only pits Of peaches, prunes, plums,
apricots, olives, cherries and dates are
wanted, as we'll as shells of Brazil
and hickory nuts, walnuts and butter
nuts. These must be cleaned and dried
before being turned in. From these
can be made grade of carbon that
will stand up longer without deterior-
alton under the poison gas used by
the Germans than ordinary, CONNER
cial carbon. From cocoanut shells
good carbon can be made, but shortage
of ships render difficult their transpor-
tation from the tropics.
Druggists Are Helping Out
"Wholesale and retail druggists
throughout the country have been en-
listed in the drive. Communications
have been sent to the drug trade by
1t. Col. F. F. Simpson, chief of the
Section of Medical Industry, War In
dustries Board, at Washington, urging
them to establish points of collection
at their stores and ask their customers
to save the material. One hundred
collection stations for assembling the
pits and shells have been designated
in as many cities by the Red Cross,
which organization is in charge of the
collections throughout the country.
Two hundred others will be establish
ed.
u. S. Chemists Make Discovery Re-
7+f Gently
Investigation by chemists has
shown that pits of apricots, peaches,
prunes, olives, dates, cherries and
plums and the shells of Brazil and
hickory nuts, walnuts and butternuts
make the best carbon for masks. There
is a double incentive to save these.
Not only will their carbon save many
lives at the front, but consumption of
the fruit from which they come will
result in utilization of perishable food,
while collection of nuts for their shells
will also make possible the use OF
their meats as food.
"All pits and shells saved should
be dried and turned into the nearest
Red Cross organization. The Red
Cross will arrange for their shipment
to central points. Only those named
are of use; no others should be put in
to the receptacles, because time and
labor must not be wasted in sorting.
Boys and girls are asked to scour the
woods for hickory nuts, walnuts and
butternuts. 1t is urged by the Food
Administration that their meats be
extracted for use as food before they
are turned in. These materials will
go by parcel post from outlying terri
tory to the larger centers of the state,
in boxes or cartons of not more than
70 pounds in weight. Later carload
shipments of 20 tons each will be made
to centers of utilization.