New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-06-29
FOOD CRISIS IN GERMANY.
A DISASTROUS DEFICIT IN BREAD
STUFFS IMPENDING-GREAT AMOUNTS
OF GRAIN REQUIRED.
TRY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuSE.l

of State by Consul General Frank III. Mason at
Berlin. which is of character calculated to con-
vey valuable information to American producers
The unfavorable condition OF the wheat and rye
fields in Germany, as reported by him toward
the end of April. he says. has grown more and
ominous with the advancing season, until
It is now recognized inevitable that the cereal
harvests of 1901 in Prussia will show the largest
and most disastrous deficit that has been re-
corded IN recent years AS measure and an in
dication of the impending disaster there has been
addressed to the Chancellor Count Won Bllow. as
Mnister-President of Prussia. and his colleagues,
the Prussian Ministers of Finance Agriculture and
the Interior. a memorial calling the attention OF
the Royal Government TO the threatened calamity
which overhangs the agricultural population. and
urging that the government adopt and set in mo-
ton certain prescribed measures Of relief. This
remarkable document Is signed by Count Won
Schwerin-Lowitz. president OF the Landesokonomie
Collegum, a permanent commission. which serves
advisory committee agricultural subjects
to the Prussian Government, The memorial has.
therefore. both in respect to its origin and the
ministry which II is addressed. the highest OFF,
cia authority. and has produced deep impress
sion Throughout Germany.
IL appears from this statement that the present
outlook for the Prussian wheat and rye crops Is
much gloomy and omnous than was indi-
Gated by the earlier reports. Not less than 1S5.-
S13 acres, 469 per cent. of the winter wheat
fields have been ploughed up and planted TO spring
crops, while the remaining SO per cent was re-
ported on May Is at average status Of SS.
winch, under the German system of crop notation.
means very short crop Never before since 1893
have any considerable portions of Prussian wheat
fields stood at low a figure at the middle Of
May, and when it is remembered that this now
stands for only half the normal winter wheat area
the remainder being wholly lost-the extent OF
the disaster will be apparent.
From the most careful estimates that can now
be made the winter wheat crop of Prussia. which
was 22i5,5i5 metric tons IN 1900, will this year not
exceed 1.1s2 900 tons leaving deficit Of 1OS3,5l5
tons. which. the memorial points out would
cost s4i So a ton. Si3 1880 replace with i'm
ported grain. Besides this. less than n3 per
cent of the whole area of Prussian rye fields has
been winter killed and ploughed up From careful
reports of the remaining sS7 per cent the crop
of this year will reach at most 100000 tons.
deficit of 73121 tons. compared with the crop Of
1860 an average year. Reckoning the mean price
of rye at s3i 81 ton. there will be further loss
of 1Os,o0O0oo marks (s2i5l4Oo0) TO replace. There
will be. therefore, according to the memorial of
the commission deficit in Prussia alone of 1.76S-
63s tons of bread producing cereal. valued. at the
average prices of last year. at s67 800.
The full force Of these statistics Is more apparent
when the survey is extended to the whole Of Ger
many The entire wheat crop Of the German En-
pire in 1900 was 3,Sils5 metric tons. and of rye
S50Ss tons. total of y ss s24 OF grain which
could be used for bread. Besides this home grown
supply. there was imported. in excess of imports.
s1Ss1i tons OF wheat and s172f2 of rye total
net import of 1sl6.o2s tons. giving an aggregate
consumption or l-V1.s1O tons or the TWO principal
bread producing cereals. Statistics not yet at
hand from which estimate closely what the
wheat and rye crops OF this year in Saxony. Ba-
varia. Wurtemberg Baden and Asace-Lorraine
will yield From all accounts. they will be better
than those of Prussia. but still below the standard
OF average year. so that the requirements OF
the German Empire In respect to foreign grown
breadstuffs will far exceed those OF any recent
year
But. the memorial points out with charac-
pect In Germany has had thus far only slight
effect on the worlds wheat market for the reason
tina; the United States has IS $500 acres OF grow
ing wheat which the estimated yield Of fifteen
bushels an acre will give surplus that will NIL
the German deficit and maintain the general wheat
market on an even keel.
RELIEF MEASURES URGED.
The memorial then proceeds to estimate the addi-
tiouai losses in straw. clover and lucerne-which
two latter crops have suffered almost seriously
as wheat and rye from the long severe. snowless
winter-and from the point OF view OF the ominous
situation thus pictured petitions the PruSsian gov
eminent TO adopt and carry out the following
measures for the relief of the agricultural popuIa-
ton:
To grant an immediate and liberal appropriation
ural societies 70 small farmers for the purchase of
seed grains, forage straw and other necessary
supplies winch have been cut on by the disastrous
To provide for loans Of money to he offered to
farmers at low of interest and long terms
or repayment through the central and local saw
general and liberal reduction OF railway freight
rates ON forage fertilizers seed grains straw and
other litter. fuel and other articles used by agr-
culturists.
Reduction OF railway freight rates on domestic
animals.
Permission s to gather from State forests and
as forage bedding for animals
Postponement of agricultural rents and ditchIng |
require all Srain and produce dealers 10 Pqr-
OF the current year.
, Liberal distribution of rye and bran by produce
dealers at net cost prices needy agrtculturists
Count Won Bilow has called a special meeting
Of the members of the Prussian Bundesrath-not
Including those from the Hanseatfc cities Ham
burg. Bremen and Lubbock whose interests he will |
himself represent-and this assemblage has now
the foregoing memorial somewhat sensationa
discussion is in progress among the more liberal |
newspapers over the conclusions and appeal for |
lighter duties on imported cereals with which
The permnnsn S'Txes his memorial
man, represents naturally, and with great zeal and
who form collectively the AgraTan party which is
cs So From ina and 9EgTeSsye In German pol
The impending disastrous deficit in the wheat and |
, rners is an additional reason why their scanty
narvests should be protected from foreign com
to the stricken Tse sct 4ba
deheit so serious and imminent in German
wheat markets OF other countries. and the c ere
portatons. especially from the United States ars
nus early and authorltativeIy put forward as
man agriculture and viii from present foT sr
point when the rne Contest over that important
n me- treaties come before the Reichstas next
declares in conclusion that to ali ex"ept hp MASON
necessity Of large nome grown supply and the
Is an argument IN favor OF reduced import duties |
-e
LTNCHING ~ GEORGIA.
Georgetown, Ga June "A young negro on John
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