The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-06-27
Secretary Wallace
z Continued from Page One)

broader market to a large number OF
our agricultural producers, particular
ly those who primarily supply our
domestic requirements. 1t increases by
about so per cent the food consumption
Of the needy families who are par
ticipating in the program. This in
creased consumption is largely in the
field of diary and poultry products,
fruits and vegetables, and meats. The
Increased consumption of these health
giving foods adds to our farm income,
to better health, and to a kind of
farming which conserves our soil re-
sources. Persons participating in the
stamp plan have an average of seven
and one-half cent to spread for each
meal in place of the, five cents. meal
which they formely spent. They get
their surplus foods at the corner
grocery store. .s,., ~
Cup to May 1, 1910, expenditures
for surplus foods with blue stamps is
sued by the Department had a value
of approximately $10,400,O00. Obvious
ly, there has been very little effect
upon farm income thus far, because Of
the cautious manner in which the pro-
gram has been expanded. The butter
expenditures totaled nearly $2,000,00O.
Participating families bought about
81 100000 worth of eggs. Approx
mately $1,700,O00 was used for flour,
corn meal and rice. Vegetable expendi-
lures amounted to about $7OO,OCO.
Purchases of fresh and dried fruits
had value of more than $1,7O0,OOO.
Approximately $2,5O0,00 worth of
pork and pork lard has been purchased.
These total expenditures would not
have been made in the absence Of the
stamp program.
"In the local areas now in operation
under the stamp plan approximately
5000 people are benefting directly
through increased and improved diets.
During March and April about $780,
0CO per month of added food value was
| placed on their family dinner tables.
Nearly a thousand communities
have applied for the stamp plan. Within
the next few months, it is anticipated
| that the food stamp program will be
extended, to total of about 1875 areas
possibly $50 areas if smaller towns are
this expansion will result in additional
selected. 1t is our expectation that
purchases of surplus foods through
blue stamps alone, ranging from ST.
100000 to $9,0OO,000 per month, and
will directly benefit about 100000
consumers. Preliminary studies, based
on experience thus far, seem to indi-
cate that program of the size now
contemplated would offer to farmers a
much wider market for their surplus
products during the coming fiscal year
In the case Of butter, there should be
an increase in consumption of about
56,000,0 600 pounds. 1t also should mean
an increase in consumption of about
IS, ,000, 600 dozens of eggs and approx.
mately 1S0,000,O00 pounds of pork
products. Such an increase in the
sale of pork products amount
ing to some $25,OO0,O0O, woule
be Of considerable help to farmers
in the corn belt. Depending upor
the commodities on the list, there
is potential additional market for ap
proximately $40,OO0,OO0 worth o1
fruits and vegetables and other sur
plus agricultural products produced il
the different parts of the country un
der program Of the size contem
plated.
"These are the estimates for nev
purchases which seem likely through
the issuance of blue stamps alone
They do not take into account in
creased purchases Of surplus foods b!
families who are not receiving public
assistance. The food trades, however
in many cases, are moving more thai
a dollars worth of surplus foods fo
every government dollar spent to re
deem blue stamps. BY utilizing tn,
normal channels of trade, the tax
payer gets more effective accom-
plishment with any given amount o.
money than would otherwise be tn
case.
"Therc is one very important agri
cultural aspect of the stamp plal
| WHICH SIloulu IeCelNc lllOTc cIIlpildSlS
BY making the blue stamp good onl.
for the twelve or fifteen surplus com
modites which are i'm the worst price
position from farmers point of view
an extraordinarily high consumption
of these products is brought about
considering the income of the families
using the stamps. This would not b'
the case if the blue stamps were goo,
for all of the several hundred items il
a grocey store.
"a leading poultry publication, fo
example, recently made survey o
egg consumption under the stamp plan
in Springfield, Illinois. 1t found by spo
checking that the consumption of eggs
among families using the stamps, in
creased $50 per cent after the pro
gram was inaugurated, which is abou
the same percentage indicated by ou
own studies. Such an astounding resul
is possible because the blue stamps
narrow purchases to the relatively few
surplus products which are most bur
densome from a farmers standpoint
Those using the stamps, however, hav'
much more adequate and mucl