The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-31

hope, not exceed 10 per cent. We should
be able to accomplish this BY a reduc
ton IN the manufacture of confection-
cry and sweet drinks of, say. 20 per
cent, and these very manufacturers
could substitute other things and main
tam their volume of production. Dur
ing the recent shortage we made
patriotic appeal to such manufacturers
20 refuge their consumption of sugar
py % per cent, and placed it at this fig
ufe because we did not wish to destroy
the livelihood of 100000 women and
girls pending fuller supplies of sugar.
have specifically before me the
case of one very large manufacturer
VINO followed this suggestion implicit
~, only to find that over a score of
manufacturers Of imitation goods
srrang up on all sides, supplied the
trade to his great damage and loss,
and we were powerless to give him any
protection in his patriotic action. Sure
| lv, 1t Is better that the conservation of
sugar should be made in the luxury
trades, and that they should have pro
| lection in making it, than that we
should draw upon household supplies.
1.-The regent experience with sugar
| have some further powers in distribu
ton. During the entire recent sugar
shortage the gross supply amounted to
! 50 per cent of normal consumption. vet
| we had sporadic famines and privation
all over the country because no organ
| lied distribution could be effected. The
/ greedy got sugar and others went with
/ out
| - As to conservation measures neces-
/ sary to apply to commodities needed for
! the production and preservation of
foodstutfs, | may cite the case of am
monia, which is critically necessary 10
MAINTAIN our cold storage warehouses;
IN which must repose over 5000. 900. 900
worth of food from time to time. The
| production of ammonia in 1917 was
about l3o,O00000 pounds; of this, the
demands of the army and navy for ex-
! nloslVe purposes are estimated to us
as being l50,00o,000 pounds per annum.
and the amount necessary to maintain
cold storage warehouses is 10000 900
/ pounds per annum.
In other words, there is an ahso-
lutte shortage of 10000, 600 pounds per
annum at the present moment, which
may later on be partially reduced by
increased production. Yet ammonia is
/ being used to a very considerable ex
tent In the maintenance of skating
rlnks, In cold storage for furs, alcoholic
drinks, household ammonia, etc. |
think the war department has recoo.
nzed that the maintenance Of the cold
| storage warehouses is vital to the food
supply of our people, and that they
may, therefore, themselves be obliged
to reduce the amount of explosives
manufactured and thereby POSSIBLY
Jeopardize our military possibilities un-
I'll production can be built up.
Another typical ease of this kind
hes IN the question of tin cans. The
amount Of pig tin produced i'll the world
today Is too little for the total de
mands. We are able to obtain only
a proportion Of the requirements for
manufacturing tin plate. The increased
-'~s~-rr'rrrry rrT~-cor-a1nHrs- for our own
ana the allied armies maintain the sun
pig to the whole Of the tin-containe
user. 1t would seem to effect no great
hardship on the American people if
the use Of tin plate and tin foil in
toilet articles, and for containers for
such other articles which can be estab-
iIshed IN either glass OF paper cartons,
were limited. We are, however. power
less today 70 effect these measures ex-
eept 50 far as they can be done volun-
tarilv.
II feel certain that unless some eff
feetive control Of the matter is taken
that WE will yet be unable to preserve
the very large amount of fruit. veg
etables, and meat which must necessa-
My go into tin containers
4 will not weary YOU with more
than these typical cases which lie out
side of the authorities which YOU pro.
pose should be conferred upon the Pres
1dent Net only do more exist at the
present moment, but as the war goes
on new ones will arise from dav to dav
eve have carried on an extensive
campaign for voluntary conservation
This effort has brought beneficial re
Iults in many directions. through the
me sense of service and self-denia
III our people. The great majority OF
trades cooperate with US in the most
patriotic manner, but the minority, who
VIII not follow, not only prejudice I'll,
patriotic but discourage and undermin.
their efforts The demands, as they
have developed during the last 90 days
.i't Dc4IcNc greater than can bt
borne On a purely voluntary basis.
: Il am perfectly willing to so OF
and make every effort to succeed will
@ Voluntary methods, and, in fact. ia,
+ situation is one of such gravity tina,
we are now sending out further anC
7 further requests for more self denial
Tor more voluntary action among TIL
: srades i'll support of conservation
nope that it will succeed, but | thin
It only right to point out that if i
r shall fail the grave responsibilities
e cannot be left upon my shoulders i
congress should consider that nothini
= further is necessary by way of legis
c lation. Yours faithfully.
; HERBERT HOOVER -
Bakers throughout the nation wer
r notified today by the food administra
t ton that all who used not more thai
I so per cent of wheat -four in their prod
b ucts would be permitted to advertis
the sale of Victory Bread. = Afte
1 March rye flour will be put on tn
+ came basis as wheat flour. Bread mad
g of graham -four or whole wheat ffou