The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-05-23
THE FOOD SITUATION IN EUROPE.

SuImISed that When the time comes 10 Will be
shown that Brewster has been crazy for years.
TIE FOOD SITUATION IN EUROPE,
Mr.. J. F. Potter, United States Consul at
Crefeld, Prussia, IN a late communication to
the State Department, sets forth in lively
oolors the prospective extension Of American
commerce in certain portions of Europe, par
tlculary American food products. Mr..
Potter attaches to his report map, showing
the railroad and steamboat routes, and the
principal ports OF entry in Western Europe
which can be conveniently reached by
American steamships in from eight to fifteen
days. That part of the map inclosed in q
band OF red lines shows the [ nited Kingdom
and belt of the Continent, every part OF
which can be readily reached over estab-
lished lines OF railroads within eight
hours from ports of entry accessible to
the largest class OF steamships The
continental area marked upon the map re-
ferred to is embraced within line COM
mencing at Bayonne, on the Bay of Biscay,
and running along the Spanish frontier to
Perpignen; thence direct to CIermont and
BOurges; thence by Auxerre to the German
frontier, near Metz; thence to Landau, Frank
fort-on-the-M Main and Leipsic, striking the
Baltic Sea at Goldberg; viz, about one-half Of
Germany, all Holland and Belgium, three
fourths of France, together with the British
Isles. Mr. Potter estimates the population of
England and the belt of the continent referred
to at about 1O2 600, and the territorial area at
100000 square miles, or less than
the area of California and Texas. This dis
trict is particularly referred to- because it
can be easily supplied with the food products
of the United States. The subject has great
importance, because Europe can no longer
feed her population, and because the annual
deficit in food products is rapidly and stead
lily increasing, and because 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
overworked farm lands must every year be
recuperatea with fertilizers, and the material
needed for this purpose is scarce, and now so
expensive that the peasant farmer, after a
hard years work, finds it difficult to gather
from the soil new dollar for the old one he
mas planted in it." Mr.. Potter shows that
while population is steadily increasing in
Europe, no increase In arabic lands is pos
sible; and hence European statesmen are
confronted with the fact that the food pro-
ducing capacity of most of the European
countries has reached its limits, and to make
matters still worse, it is proposed to
withdraw lands from cultivation and devote
them to forests, as a means of preventing de-
vastating floods. Mr.. Potter estimates that
the grain crop Of Europe for the current year
1885 will fall below the demand for home
consumption by more than 55O,OOO,OOO
bushels. AS next year the popula-
lion will besome millions greater, the
deficiency will be correspondingly
augmented, and thus things must go forward
from bad TO worse continually as the years
roll on. ''If," Gays Mr. Potter, according to
estimates, the grain crop of the present year
falls $50 000,0 600 bushels below the annual
consumption, with corresponding deficiency
IN the meat supply, what is likely to be the
rate OF increase in future demands from
foreign sources. and where is the supply TO
come from" After showing that Russia and
Hungary are now the main sources OF CONT
mental grain supply, the conclusion is arrived
ct that the chief reliancs of Europe