New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-14
INDIAN CORN IN EUROPE.
SECRETARY RUsK's WORK ON IT'S BEHALF
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CEREAL TO THE GER.
MANs-coRN FOR RUsgA.
my TELEGRAPH TO TIE 1KIpuSEl

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CEREAL TO THE GER.
MANs-coRN FOR .RUsHA.
my TELEGRAPH TO TIE 1KIBuNKl
Washington, Dec. 13.-In talking recently OF his
work In behalf OF Indian corn In Europe Secretary
Rusk said
have got the report OF my special agent out OF the
printers hands. This report his work up to the
lst OF october last. great deal OF important work.
however has been done since that time for agent
has had the cordial support Of Minister Germany
ana the German Government The subject OF Ameri
can maize and Its use human food has been widely
discussed In Germany. Moreover. interesting lectures
on the subject have been given by members OF some
OF the learned societies, OF whom is official Of
mgh standing In the employ OF the Government.
Colonel Murphy had n number OF leaves baked, con-
sistng OF cornmeal and ryemeal in equal parts.
suppose you know that the lower classes In that
country rye bread almost entirely, and this mixed
bread is not only cheaper, but 1t has been found by
all those who have tried 1t to be palatabe than
bread made of rye only.
This is highly important matter 10 the Germans,
owing to the fact that their entire supply of Russian
rye. OF which They have hitherto imported large
quantities yearly. has been cut off by the Russian
Government prohibiting the export of cereals from that
country. The price OF rye is accordingly, undeC-
stand. extremely high. This mixed bread has been
submitted by our agent to committee who reported
favosably for its Army ration Its use for
this purpose alone would a market for large
quantity Of co-nmeal, suppose the daily rsions of
bread for the German Army cannot be much less than
100000 loaves."
In reply to ma inquiry based on an Associated Press
dispatch regarding the receipt by the Rev. Mr.. Francis
pastor of the Anglo-American Church in st. Peters
burg, Of a quantity Of cornmeal with instructions
how to It, the Secretary said that he understood
Colonel Murphy had sent 200 pounds Of cornmeal TO
Mr. francis with instructions how to it in making
mi Nadl liam
which he saw in some American paper suggesting the
propriety Of Americans contributing literally for aid
Of sufferers in the famine districts in Russia and urging
that large Gift be made in the form OF Indian corn
"You know" added the Secretary, that some
thing Of this kind was done for the Irish during
the famine Of 194s-40 In Ireland, and although at
that time, for want of sufficient instruction TO the
use Of cornmeal much of it was wasted, neverthe
less enough persons learned how TO use 1t and
found it so palatable that more American corn is
used to this day as human food IN Ireland than in
all other parts OF Europe. have not seen the
newspaper paragraph referred TO myself, nor do
know of any movement actually undertaken for
the purpose OF supplying the Russian authorities with
q liberal donation OF American corn for their famine
stricken people, but do not hesitate TO say as an
Individual and the result Of my experience IN the
effort TO introduce our to Europeans for human
food, that should be glad 10 see such movement
While it is true that Russia usually produces a
surplus of wheat and rye. there are always likely
10 be years IKE the present one OF shortage III one
or the other both these crops, and am sure that
in such u case the Russians would rather depend
upon the products of this country than upon those
OF other countries, their trade relations with which
might at any time be interrupted by political conf
plicatons. In the absence OF Congressional legsla
ton il Is Of course not within the functions OF this
Department 10 undertake the Initiative In move
ment of this character that Is matter for public
spirited citizens and such organizations rs boards
Of trade and produce exchanges and Others ISereste
in the extension of market, in all directions.
All that ] can say for my part. officially, is that
were such movement undertaken should be glad 10
afford those i'm charge Of il all the Information which
we hive gathered for the purpose of carrying on our
corn work in Europe, which would Doubtless enable
them TO accompany their gift with such instructions
TO the Russian authorities would secure the profit
able rse of all the cornmeal which fmght be sent 10
Them