THE WAR GARDEN VICTORIOUS 129 
vegetables as it was desired to can, and the transpor- 
tation committee conveyed these products, in motor- 
cars lent for the purpose, to the schoolhouse cannery, 
where the women of the town did the canning. Thus 
Roselle did with its might what its hands found to do — 
and did it with what was available. 
In similar spirit of determination the women of 
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, secured the use of a church 
kitchen for the summer of 1917 and there began the 
conservation of community surplus. Under the lead- 
ership of Mrs. John G. Reading and Mrs. H. C. 
McCormick, and with the assistance of Mrs. R. F. Allen 
and many other able women, this task so humbly begun 
grew in size and importance until the canning system 
embraced the entire county. In 1918 adequate quar- 
ters were secured in the business district. Here can- 
ning outfits were installed, and the women of the city 
came day after day to put up the surplus from the 
market and the excess products brought in by farmers. 
A substantial fund had been voted by the local Com- 
mittee of Safety to finance this work. Thus the women 
were able to buy whatever products were brought in. 
In seven other districts in the county similar work was 
going on. All the canning centers were run on identical 
lines and all were affiliated with the central cannery at 
Williamsport. In this way scores of women throughout 
the entire county were drawn into the work. Beyond 
any question this conservation movement had much 
to do with the remarkable community spirit exhibited 
throughout the county. 
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