The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-06-18

ment established during the past
two years-the OPA, the WPB,
the OFF, ect.-some of the old
favorities which became famous
under the New Deal are now van
ishing. The house of represen-
tatives has voted against the con-
tinuation of the CCC (Civilian
Conservation corps), the Presi-
dent himself has asked for maj
or reduction in the size OF the
WPA Works Progress admins,
tration) and the NYA (Natlonai
Youth administrator a favorlte
of Mrs. Roosevelt's, may be cur
tailed.
All of these groups were es-
4ablished originally because OF the
unemployment situation Inc
reason for their existance has now
pretty well disappeared in view
of the labor shortage in many m
dustries and on farms. The NYA
NAV be continued to the extent
that it trains young men for skill
ed war production jobs, but it
looks as though the CCC, when
at one time had 100000 men IN
its camps, will be closed up en-
tirely. Investigation shows that
many of the CCC camps are IN
areas where men are urgently
needed for farm work, so the men
who will be dismissed from these
camps will be urged to 60 to work
on the farms.
During the past year the depart
ment of agriculture has been ur-
cling farmers to increase their
production of food in order to
have enough supplies to feed the
United Nations as well as our
own nation. The farmers have
responded admirably-but to the
extent that with many farm boys
having joined the armed forces
the problem of harvesting and
caring for crops has become a
major one. Young women and
school boys and girls have been
urged to volunteer their services
to prevent any food from going
to waste.
Recently a new committee cal
led the Wartime Food committee
was named by Donald Nelson
chairman of the War Production
board, to handle the gigantic pro
blem of determining the food
needs of the United Nations and
seeing to it that those needs are
met to the full extent of our FAC
ilities. The committee has asked
for reports from other countries
on their needs and is also sur
veying the situation here.
Secretary of Agriculture Wick
ard, who is head of the new COM
mittee, is not yet ready to say
whether or not we will be res
tricted on the purchase of some
domestic food items, but he made
it clear that the armed forces OF
all United Nations will be given
precedence over civilians.
In spite of the greatly increas-
ed need for food from the farms
of this nation, one of the major
problems appears to be storage
and processing, rather than pro-
duction. All indications are that
this years crops will be the great
est in history.
But the committee faces prob
lens like these:
This years crop of wheat, cou-
pied with present SURPRISES, IS ex-
pected to give us a two-years
supply. Storage facilities cannot
be ready to hold all OF the
wheat and much of it may con-
sequently have to be piled on the
ground. Should the committee
ask farmers to reduce their &C
reage when they do their fall SOW
ing or should we attempt to store
up still greater supplies for the
future?
Another problem is the record
hog crop to be marketed next
winter. Meat packing facilities
do not seem to be great enough
to handle the expected crop.
Should new packing facilities be
rushed through, should the mark
citing period be heightened or
what other plan can be worked
out to see that there is no waste?
Then there is the problem of the
greatly increased production of
soy beans and peanuts, requested
so that oil could be obtained from
them to take the place OF oils
which we formerly imported and
we can't get at present. There IS a
definite shortage of processing eq-
uipment to get oil from tAese
crops. New facilities probably
can't be provided in time. Can
present processing equipment be
speeded up to carry the whole
load?