The morning call., 1893-05-14
THE FOOD MOVEMENT ToEuRopE.

The summary statement of the exports
OF the United States for the first three
quarters of the fiscal year 1928 reveals
the fact that our exports of breadstuffs
during that period show falling off as
compared with the same period of 1891
81 of something like S75.CO0GOO. From
March 81 the cOmparat tive decrease has
amounted to over $l2,000,00 so that the
total decrease for the ten months has been
nearly $4,000 900. The decline has been
chiefly in wheat. There was decrease of
SI5,OOO,Oo0 in our corn eXpOrts-mainly in
those to Great Britain. Germany and the
minor countries of Europe. But France
TOOK 34000,000 less wheat than in 1891
", Great Britain sS.0OO000 less and the
minor countries $4,000 less. In the case
OF France the diminution may be ascribed
10 the new tariff, which was intended to be.
and Is proving prohibitory of imports of
american wheat. In the case Of the other
countries the phenomenon must be as
eGlbed to other causes. 1t may be noted
that there IS no decrease, but actually an
increase, in the exports of wheaton -four,
though there were no imports of American
Hour into France. Other countries in
creased their consumption.
This tiuctuation in the breadstuffs move
ment must be understood as reaction from
The unusually large grain export of 1891.
". and nothing more. 1t is beroming more
ana more apparent daily that the agricul-
tural interest of Western Europe is de-
cllning, and that that section of the world
Is becoming more and more dependent on
foreign ports for its food supply. a late
report of the British Commissioners of IT.
land Revenue gives an appalling picture
OF the condition of the British farmer. 1t
states the gross annual revenue of the
leading agricultural districts fell off in the
decade 1S8Q-1S90 no less sum than $780,
100000. Sir James Card, going over the
same ground, found that the owners OF
| farm land lost 30 per cent of their income,
| the tenant farmers 60 per cent Of theirs and
the farm laborers 10 per cent His con-
| illusions may be summed up in the SEN
tence that in England wheat farming has
| ceased TO pay. When this occurs land re-
verts to its original use aud is converted
into pasture, and that seems to be the des-
| tiny Of much CT the farm lana in England.
a similar tendency in France is noted.
! In the northwestern departments-in Nor
mandy and Brittany-there has been 10
money for years in growing wheat. The
| yield per acre has fallen TO nine bushels.
! Under these c rcumstances laud--not as
| good as our land. but still fair lands being
| devoted TO pasture, and is yielding cheese
| and butter where it used to yield grain.
Under these circumstances il seems
! pretty clear that Europe cannot willingly
for any length of time reduce lis consump-
! lion of American breadstutfs. Il seems
much less likely that we can continue 20
| feed the Europeans as literally as we have
| been doing. During the ten years 1892,
| our average annual wheat exports were
| 5000, 600 bushels; the years 1888 and 1892,
| in the latter Of which we exported 16l,-
100000 bushels, being exceptional. During
| the same ten years our wheat crOp aver
| aged 462, OO0,0 bushels, Of which on the
average we shipped q per cent to foreign
countries. If the average of the next ten
years approximates to that of the last ten
years, it is at least doubtful whether we
can afford to spare p per cent of it to the
foreigner. Consumers are increasing too
fast in this country. In 1892 we consumed
in the whole United States and kept on
hand for seed $50 600 COO bushels of wheat.
something over six bushels per head. At
this rate our consumption ia 1900 will be
something like 43O UO0.00O bushels and
after supplying the nearby countries
which depend upon US. and China, there
will not be much left for Europe.
1t has not been found in The past that it
was particularly profitable to grow cereal
food for other nations to consume. Such
traffic generates a temporary life at the
cost of ultimate prosperity, as the history
| of Egypt and Mesopotamia shows A
| country should grow enough to feed its
own people. When 1t does more than that
| &c fad al
ton, and ii may be impoyerishng its own
soil for the benefit of the foreigner. There
are perhaps children now born who viii
| live to talk of the American breadstuffs
export to Europe as "Reminiscences Of the