The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-22
U. S. FOOD SUPPLY
What the Country Raises for Every
Man, Woman and Child in
Its Borders.
Struggle Between Ohio and Iowa in
the Egg Industry Won by
the Latter.
\ The Journal Bureau, Room IS, Post Build-

From The Journal Bureau, Room IS, Post Build
ing, Washington. .-.F. EE..t
Washington, April 22.-In round num-
bers. every man. woman and child in the
United States is entitled, thru the bounty
of providence and the energy of the
American people. to the following food
supply during the year: S. :.
Thirty-tive bushels of corn, 121s BUSH
els of oats, S& bushels of wheat, ia
bushels of barley, ll-5 bushel of buck
wheat. 3.29 pounds of rice, $50 bushels
of potatoes, 654 pounds Of sugar. half a
gallon of syrup. one fifth of bushel Of
beans, half a bushel Of sweet potatoes,
three-fourths OF a COW, four-fifths of
fat hog. half a sheep 2.75 bushels of
orchard fruits, a fifth of { bushel of
onions, $3.50 worth of garden truck,
cents worth of nuts II cents worth of
semi-tropical fruits. one-fifth Of calf,
One-third of a spring lamb. II dozen
eggs, three and a third fowls, four-fifths
Of a pound of honey, 1886 pounds of
fish, 2:35 pounds of oysters. one-half
pound of shellfsh 96 gallons of milk 1872
pounds of butter. Sh pounds of cheese,
PA pounds of milk. 1917 pounds Of but
ter, S1s pounds Of cheese. 2I pounds of
condensed milk and ne-sixth Of .bushel
of peanuts.
Years ago nearly every American fam
lily was a food producer as we'll as con-
sumer. The conditions = are constantly
changing, the numbers of food consum-
ers becoming relatively greater than pro-
ducers. In the fifty years between 1880
1900 the ratio of growth of population
was 3.2S, while the ratio of increased pro-
ductlon OF corn, barley, wheat oats, po-
tatoes molasSes, has been greater. The
production Of sugar, sweet potatoes, rice,
beans, cattle, mich cows, sheep and
swine has increased in less ratio than
population. For commodities like sugar,
coffee, tea, chocolate. rice, fruits. fish, oil.
salt. spices, farnaceaous products and
liquors the United States has to go
abroad, though most of these things are
produced within the borders of the coun-
try. and the entire supply of certain items
could be produced at home.
The Worlds Granary.
OF the solid stuff that keeps the world
alive the United States is the granary and
packing-house Of the world. But. as
shrewdly remarked by Professor Bodgett
Of the agricultural department. who com
piled the figures showing the relations
OF population and food products in the
United States. the world is not far re-
moved a any time from dependence upon
the last harvest. A lean year is sorely
felt. no matter how many fat ones have
preceded it.
production of corn. with nearly 4OOO0O-
600 bushels in 1900. She also leads in
oats Minnesota raises the most wheat
California the most barley. Louisiana the
most rice. Michigan the most peas and
beans New York the most potatoes
North Carolina the most sweet potatoe
Louisiana the most cane sugar Califor-
mia the most beet sugar New York the
most onions, Virginia. the most peanuts
New York. Pennsylvania and Ohio are
the leaders in apple production. each pro-
duclng more than 10000. 900 bushels in
1899. Pennsylvania raised more cherries
than any other state, and California more
peaches than all the other states com
bined. California also leads in pears. and
AZ for prunes, she turns out more than
all the rest of the United States. The
same state produces practically all the
apricots. Maryland leads off with straw
berries, New York with raspberries
Illinois with blackberries. New York with
currants. Massachusetts with cranberries
and Indiana proudly takes the pie for
gooseberries. California is at the head
or ape-producing states, and also fur
n1shes most of the oranges, lines, grape
fruit, guaves, lemons, olives. figs, citron,
almonds. and English walnuts. Florida
produces the most pineapples and cocoa
nuts. Texas yields more than Half the
pecan crop. AS for market gardening.
density of population and transportation
facilities make New York and New Jer-
sey the leaders.
The Cattle States.
Texas has vastly more cattle than any
other state, her figures for 1900 reaching
nearly 10,000,00O. But she has fewer per
square miles than dozen other states
The old states, indeed hold their own in
the number of cattle per square miles.
Nevada has more cattle per capita than
ha1
states are able to give away great num-
bers. New York has been in the lead
for a number of years In the number of
mich cows, with Iowa and Illinois next
The big corn states have also the largest
number of swine Iowa being first, Illinois
next. and Missouri, Nebraska, Indiana and
Kansas following. In the older states
there has been great decline in the num-
Der of hogs. and also in the states south
OF the Ohio river. All the states along
the west bank Of the Mississippi river
show enormous gains.
Montana is, the biggest sheep-raising
state. and New Mexico is next Twelve
states raise more than 100000 sheep
each-Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico
Ohio Utah. Idaho, Oregon, California,
Michigan, Texas Colorado and Indiana
Iowa Throws Eggs.
Iowa, besides furnishing two cabinet
ministers. narrowly escapes the further
honor of furnishing IO0, ,O0O, 900 dozen eggs
to the world in the last year they were
counted. The exact number was 99621,-
920 dozens. AS Professor Blodgett
sapiently observes in his interesting re-
port 1.-The eggs in common use are most
ly those Of the common hen He speaks
of guinea keats" speckled turkey eggs,
blush duck eggs, ETC., but comes back
with strong reliance on the productive
capacity Of the common hen" The state,
next Ito Iowa In egg productiveness is
Ohio, which also rivals the prairie state
in political fruitfulness. For two decades
indeed, when Ohio was the whole thing"
politically, she led all other states in egg
production; but with the waning Of her
political prestige came a falling off in
the capacity Of her. hens, 50 that in 1900
Iowa sprang to the front in statesman
ship and eggs. This fruitful theme is not