The Teton peak. [volume] (St. Anthony, Idaho) 1899-1904, 1904-09-29
WHAT IS TO BE WILL BE
Growth of the Asiatic Demand for
Products of the United States.

The Asiactic nations have lived upon
rice-stating things in general way
and the Teutonic races have for some
generations lived upon flour. 1t has
become standard within the last year or
two. that at least one of the Asactic
nations has come to live upon -four
Those desperate little fighters. the Jap
anese, have taken to hard tack. as did
our own American fighters during the
Civil War; as part of their subsistence,
and the same regard as to whatever is
made from our wheat has already ex-
tended, in measure. to the more vast
Aslatic empire of China. That clever
correspondent, William f. Curtis, speak
ing of the extent to which our -four is
already used by Japan, says:
While the imports Of -four within the
last year or so have been much greater
than ever before on account Of the prepa-
rations Tor war, nevertheless there is rea-
son TO expect continued expansion Of the
beginning to use wheat flour for various
purposes, Nearly everv household is now
using 1t to make the little cakes and sweet
eral times a day in large quantities.
still larger amount Of a cheaper quality is
used FOR paste by the manufacturers OF
screens, umbrellas fans and other articles
Of that kind. Since the war began hard
bread has been introduced into the army as
an alternate ration with rice. The soldiers
relish the, variety; bareback is easy to
handle and carry, the nutritive value Of a
pound OF flour is equal to that Of a pound
of rice, and 1t costs less. The Japanese
export their best rice to France England
and China, where it brings big prices being
of the very highest grade. They import
vast quantities Of cheaper rice for the con
sumption of the coolies and the laboring
class from Korea, Burmah China, Singa.
pore and other parts of the East Indies.
1t is entirely practicable to substitute
cheap brands Of -four for this low-grade
the soldiers come home with their appe-
titles for bareback and wheat bread.
Could there be. under any circum-
stances or conditions, expressed vaster
idea of the enormous trade relations that
must henceforth exist between America
and the Asatc countries. America
produces bread. The Asiatics have learn
ed to eat bread with the rest of the
world. We are going to supply them
with it. We have to ship it across the
Pacific Ocean over the commercial path
way which we have made and beneath
which underlies our cable system. There
is nothing in the world that can stop
the Asiatic demand for the wheat prod
ucts of the United States, and the wheat
products of the United States have made
this country, to great extent, the ire
mendous power it is.
They talk about imperialism" There
Is no "Imperialism!' This continent is
producing what the rest of the world
needs. and the inhabitants of this con-
tinent, under the rule Of Republican adj
ministration, associated with other intel
ligent governments on either side, pro-
pose to supply Asia with these prod
| ucts that Asia needs. The fact that
the United States has completed its
pathway across the vast ocean and ha a
its intermediate stations, and its possess
sions close to the Asiatic coasts, is but
an incident of events which are part
OF the industrial history of the world.
Does anyone imagine that the present
majority Of the American people are 60
Ing to neglect their ostensible duty. not
merely to themselves but to another nor
ton of the human race? They will
hardly do it.
This is but talking of the products Of
tho wheat fields that Asia now demands.
1t has nothing to do with iron and steel
and the thousand and one other prod.
ucts Of all our fields and all our facto.
rles which they will otherwise demand.
This is but referring to the simple IF.
falr OF one single product, but It II
enough to afford an illustration.
And yet they talk about Imperial.