Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-21
FOOD FAMINE.

The warnings sounded to the people
r. Hill and VIM. c. Brown. both prom
inent in railroad circles and. not given
TO indulgence In dreams and visions but
uscd to dealing I'm cold facts and rcali-
ties. cannot but strike the thoughtful
reader with peculiar force. Mr.. Brown
has recently declared that within 1--WE
years tho United States will be under
the necessity of calling upon other
natf=ps for food. unless there Is an in
crease ~ che production at home by
more rational methods of agriculture.
Ien prominent In business circles In
this country have now. 1t seems, COM
mcnccd to preach the same doctrine
that was urged upon the people Of
Utah by the early Church leaders.
Thoy are telling the Nation of the ne
ccssity of giving more attention 10 the
production of food. and they believe
that unless this advice is needed there
will be scarcity In less than five years.
The idea that famine could threaten
aIl part vi tiic " pS iibi-
ouled a few years ago 1t was thought
that with the modern transportation
facilities there would always be plen-
ty everywhere. But that supposition
must be given up, II seems. II the
United States, the granary of the world
Will have to call upon other nations
for food, where Is the supply to come
from?
In the early days the people OF Utah
were advised to lay up grain 30 as TO
have a quantity on hand always. The
wisdom of this advice can be appreclat-
ed at this time when far-seelrg buel-
ness men are talking a possible i'm
pending famine. The nature of the ad
vice given In the early days here in
Utah on the subject may be judged
from the following extract from cir
cular by tho First Presidency. Issued
in 1877, and signed by Brigham Young.
John w. Young and Daniel H. Wells:
1--WE have repeatedly urged upon the
Saints the great Importance OF laying
up Their grain in store houses. and not
cEAdilS oll cdtu ytai ILL lIle
of their fields. We are deeply i'm
pressed at the present time to again
urge this counsel upon the attention
of all the officers and members of the
Church. II is so important that all
should give heed to II. We should never
be without few years supply of grain
so that II grasshoppers, or drought. or
other visitation should cut off our crop
for one year. OF a succession of years.
we could still live and prosecute our
labors upon the temples and other
works that we have to do. Famines
Will visit the earth. according to the
word OF the Lord. Our own nation will
suffer therefnom, and. knowing these
things as we do. we should prepare for
them. We think the best method of
storing grain, so as to have II keep
sweet and sound for years, Is to put 1t
up in long. narrow boxes which will
hold from fifty to two hundred pounds
each. Many Of the people remember
the boxes which we're made In this City
TO hold flour during the move In 1858.
In these boxes -four has been kept
sweet and wholesome for eighteen
years. The advantage of using such
boxes *. the bulk OF grain Is not suf-
fcient to cause 1t to heat, as they can
be piled up In such a manner that the
aStD can circulate freely around them,
and be free from the rayages of mice"
II there is any foundation for the
warnings sounded by the railroad mag
mates at this time. the advice concern
ing the storage OF grain is as good now
as ever. Incidentally It may be stated
that this circular is dated July IL. 1877.
about six weeks before tho departure
OF the great and honored leader OF the
Utah pioneers.