Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-06-15
European Demand for Bread -stuffs.
FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN TRADE

European Demand for Bread-stuffs.
FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN TRADE.
In report to the Department of State
under date of Crefeld, Prussia, March
10th, United States Consul J. J. Potter.
presents some interesting statements bear
ing upon the future of tie European de-
mand for the products Of American agri-
culture. Taking together with Great
Britain that portion of Continental
Europe which can be readily reached
over established lines of railroads within
eight hours from ports of entry accessible
to the largest class of steamships, MIR.
Potter proceeds as follows
From data and careful estimates the
population of England and this belt of the
Continent, which is about eight hours
wide, is about 1902 900 600, or about twice
hat of tie United States. The territorial
,rea containing this dense population is
bout 400 COO square miles, or considerably
-ss ttl III that of the States of California
nd Texas This district has been deslg-
lated upon the map for the purpose of
moving that. with suitable preparations
y
ion contained in it conld be conveniently
urplied with great variety of perishable
supplies. including imported fresh meats
slaughtered and put on board in America.
There are, ut course. other overpOpulated
portions of the Continent, not less DEEPEN
dent for food supply. Indeed. the aver
age annual production for the last decade
of years exhibits the fact, which cannot
longer be questioned, that from her own
resources Europe is no longer able to feed
her population, and the annual dtf1cit in
food products IS rapidly and steadily In
creasing. Science, under the guidance of
able and practical minds, has reached the
limit of its power IN forcing from the soil.
the sea and the stream their utmost yield
in behalf of human necessities. The over
work of farm lands must every year ba
recuperated with fertilizers, and the mate
rial needed for this purpose is scarce, and
now so expensive that tie peasant farmer,
after Year. g hard work, finds it difficult
to gather from the soil new dollar for
the old one he has planted in it. While
the population of England and the CONT
nent, with the exception of France, is in
creasng at the rate of about II PER cent.
annually, there is no increase Of ara BILE
acres. The capacity for producing food
has. therefore, reached its limit III most
OF tue European States. In fact as
means of modifying the dangers arising
from foods and hail. il is said to be in
mplation to absorb into forest growth
a portion of the soil now devoted to the
production of food.
The grain crop of Europe for the year
1888, it is estimated, will fall short of the
demand for home consumption by more
than $50 900 600 bushels. Next year the
surplus population will be some millions
nd hn l..an
products will be cOrrespaudlngly augm6n-
ted. and thus will the diffe. ence between
consumption and demand continue to
widen as the years roll Cd. So n as food
supply is concerned, the thickly populated
area of Europe appears to be Living from
hand to mouth ;" and in each year, be-
fore the beginning of a new harvest, it is
is not probable that there is in the coun-
try supply of breadstuffs which would
meet the demands for home consumption
for period of thirty days. The deficiency
in the meat supply can be measured by
that of breadstuffs and grain. Any
disturbance of the elements, therefore,
which produces season of unusual rain,
cold or heat, aud which feducnS the crops
below an average yield, is now justly a
source of anxiety, if not of alarm, to
European statesmen, who measure the fu-
ture by the lessons of the past and the
! standard facts of the present day. When
| viewed with prospect of possible war be-
| tween European States they assume a
| still more serious aspect. and [ have rea-
! son. to believe that the reports of the able
boards of commerce in some parts of the
continent have presented facts and figures
and drawn conclusions therefr0m, Which
the highest governmental authorities have
not deemed as proper information to be laid
hofOro "a htio of
cial organizations have been actually sup
pressed because insisting upon the priv llege
of reporting and publishing facts and con-
illusions drawn therefromi.
If, according to estimates, the grain
! crop Of the present year falls so 600 600
bushels below the annual consumption,
with corresponding deficiency in the
meat supply, what is likely to be tba rate
of increase in future demands from for
eign sources, and where is the supply to
come from
Hungary and Russia are the main
sources of continental grain supply. When
plus, it finds a ready market among her
near neighbors who receive 1t by means.
silly, of inland transportlon. The cost
of freights from Russian ports to England,
France. and Belgium, Holland and parts
of Germany. is quite as high as that di-
rect from the United States. In this re-
spect Russia possesses no advantage over
other sources of foreign supply, while her
system of agriculture is SO far inferior TO
that of the United States as to be hardly
sOrthy of comparison. The unfetyered
mind of American inventors and mechan-
ica has furnished appliances for cultiva-
ting the soil ana gathering its products so
farin advance bf those of Russia. or any
other country that can produce food in ex
cess of bone coEsumptibn, as to place the
question of competition with the United
States in agricultural productions outside
the pale of consideration. And when the
facilities of transportation from the great
food producing districts of the United
States 70 tidewa5er are considered. the
difference In 'the cost Of Geesn transporta-
ton between America and Russians ports
TO the densely populated districts of Wes-
tern Europe would be in favor of the
American exporters The marshaing of
these facts in cne's mind. followed by a
little thought, will soon force the conclu-
sion That the redundant population of
Europe must rely upon the United States
for its future enormous demands for the
necessities of life.
The administrator of David Frazier, a
colored barber OF r chmond. has recovered
I.<,tH e. \