Herald's history series: War Ration Books distributed; war effort calls for pulpwood

By Rose Hooper

In Jackson County in August of that year, the famous Hamburg cabbage crop came in, bringing 62 cents per 100. Amazingly, just a year later, the Hamburg crop brought $2.50 per 100 in the field. It was estimated the crop would average 7 tons per acre, with 1,000 acres planted in cabbage.

"The county needs to produce more milk," according to ads in the August 1943 Herald. Pet Dairy Products offered a 25 cents per 100 gallon bonus, which meant $3 per 100 gallons. "Get your cows producing now," ads beckoned, since "fighters on all fronts need lots of milk."

Wood was also need for the war effort, according to "Cut Wood for Victory" ads.

"Chestnut extract wood is needed to beat the enemy in this war. Tanning extract manufactured from chestnut wood is 100 percent essential to war effort and placed on the critical materials list by the war department.

"Foreign tanning materials are virtually cut off from the United States because of Hitler's submarine warfare. Shoe manufacturers are now dependent on tanning materials from chestnut wood made from our native hills.

"It is important that our soldiers have shoes. Support the war effort by cutting chestnut extract wood at home. Thirteen million cords of pulpwood are needed this year."

Editor's note: This is the weekly installment of a review of our back issues as The Sylva Herald and Ruralite celebrates its 75th anniversary throughout 2001.

Back to Archive: 04/05/01.