The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-27
CORN KITCHENS Foa GERMANY
Consul Harris Important suggesticn
to American Exporters.

Consul Harris Inz portaHt Suggestion
to American Exporters.
". w. Harris, United States Consul at
Mannheim, Germany submits report 10
the State Department concerning the corn
imported by Germany and the uses TO
which it is put Consul Harris says:
Germany imported last year 1.3S4 81
metric tons q metric ton equals 220f-G
pOunds} of corn, against I,626595 tons IN
1889 BY Tor the greater part Of this
comes frCsl the United States. although
the imports from the Argentine Republic
and other countries form an aggregate
of some Importance. This cereal is des-
tined TO become an important article of
food in Germany. as well as in other
portions Of Europe, and our people can
90 much 10 aid in its Introduction That
the Germans are not welded TO rye bread
and 70 wheat bread is to be seen in the
great favor with which oatmeal and rice
are received The introduction OF oatmeal
IL matter Of recent date but il is al
ready looked upon as a necessity. in spite
of the fact that but a single brand is
obtainabIe in most places
The average German is certainly pre-
JUDGED against corn as an article of food
except for cattle and swine: but that this
prejudice can be overcome there is little
doubt lie has no hesitaucy i'll using
c0rnstarch. nor does ne object TO beet su-
gar although beets form an important
article Of food for cows: and If he can
be shown that corn property ground and
prepared makes paiatable. wholesome
and cheap article of food, his opposition
VIE. in my judgment. disappear
I believe that a plan involving some Of
the features Of the corn kitchen at the
Paris Exposition would be the most fea-
sibIe one TO faniIiarize the German peo-
pie with the value Of corn as an article
of food Under competent direction
kitchens could be conducted at q com
paratively small expense IN the larger
German cities IN the kitchens. corr
prepa red in various ways could be served
free or at a nominal cost Special after
Moons and evenings could also be devoted
to pupils from the cooking schools. 10
grocers and supply houses. TO house
wives, and others
In connection with t-= kitchen am ole
facilities should be afforded FOR showing,
by charts and otherwise. the value cf the
grain as a food product. its consumption
in other places, the cost Of production,
statistics of corn-producing States sam
Pies Of the g. ain. Illustrations of the ma
chinerH and implements used IN its cuI-
tuTe and preparation. etc
AS q necessary coroIIary to the above,
an abundant supply Of corn and meal and
other preparations Of corn Should be
placed in store al important shipping
points. as Hamburg. Mannheim. &C. from
which dealers could be promptly sup
piled
such an enterprise would need Efficient
mana cement y large number e. assist
ants would not be necessary, though they
should be chosen with great care i IS
probable that young men and young Nc
men could b. secured from SOM Of our
colleges who. at little more than TIE act
uaI expense OF travelling. WOuld De glau Ui
the opportunity to render assistance as
il would be an eEceilellS chance IT itleIn
10 learn the language ITd The CUSTOMS OF
the people
dent Americans who. Il solicited N2}4d
be able to make valuable Suggestions / ne
United States COnSUls. 80 ilr as possible,
would doubtless aid IN =ssEtlttS the con
sent of local authorities Tor r.l'. establish
TnenU of the enterprise ana IN tsrOIslnS
Many of the large manufacturing con-
i Germs in this consular district are pr0Vid-
ing kitchens in which their employees OF
both sexes are provided with meals at low
prices | believe some of these manutac-
Tlsrars would take a personal interest II
matter Of this kind and would perhaps
lend the project substantial aid gen
tleman living II TINS city ana at the uett
of one of the largest manufacturing Is
. LdDtISnTNFELS OF It's KIM IN E4uEtE- cAS
AT Paris several months during the expo
sitIon. He told me recently that the corr
kitchen had interested him greatly and
that he had visited il often and had been
much surprised at the variety OF corn
dishes served there
While in 1899. nearly per cent. and IN
1900 more than per cent. Of all the corr
imported by Germany came TO Aanohelrl,
an American residing here for many years
past told me recently that he had never
been able to buy any corn meal in this
cir of IFrf ants he
had used il in his family. but had il sent
from England: and that the local mills TO
which he had applied were not equipped
Tor grindiT Z corn meal
Il am told that the kitchen idea was
tried here some years ago by parties in
Producing substitute for coffee. and that
il led to enormous sales OT the prOdl-Ct-
In addition TO the corn received at
Mannheim yearly, more than % per cent
of all the wheat imported by Germany
during each OF the last two years came
10 this city. besides vast quantities Of
rye. oats. and barley From this. il
would appear that Mannheim offers Spe-
ciaI advantage as a centre of diStribu-
ton for corn as well as for other Ameri-
can products.
While the agrarians are viewing with
alarm the adoption Of our oatmeal and
other food products, and are striving for
an Increase OF the tariff on grain, there is.
as is well known a strong feelins in
favor of the cheapeuing of food products
in Germany. his feeling can be best
described by quoting from q petition at
present circulating in this city against an
Increase of the tariff on grain. II is ad-
dressed to the Reichstas. and has the
approval of the Mannheim press. 1t
states, among other things.
- The greatly predOminating majority
of the German people. the millions OF
German lahorers, mechanics. Office en-
ployes. merchants, and husbaudmen have
the deepest interest that the cost of the
neCeSSaTies of Subsistence shall not be in
creased by measure which can profit
only a small number of well-to-do land
proprietOrS. and must bring with it the
Sreat disadvantage of endangerinS our
export trade and impairing our CONNER