The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-12-15
STARVATION AFsEAD.l

evu0s 0WVVs PutAtoe0 Anu IpCN*
During the decade from 1899 |,
1908 the land used for producing
these five crops combined decrease,
from lSl,sa1.ooo acres to 147.555,
900 acres, loss d s,766.Ooo acres
or 2.5 per cent. Population durin,
the same period increased I'll PEI
cent. The amount Of improved iant
in TIE United States in 1900 wa,
tl+.tss,0oo acres; III 1910 ii wa,
47s.45e.ooo acres. an Increase 81
L. per cent. The ave crops undo,
dIscassion occupied ss.5 per cent d
the insproved land in 1899 and sos
per cent in 1903.
The area planted to wheat de.
creased from 52,5S9, 900 acres III
1898 to 44.2s2.oo0 acres in. 1903,
d falling on or s.s27. 900 acres Of
ISIS per cent. In 1899 there was
iz.s per cent OF the improved land
OF the country planted to wheat, but
In 1893 the proportion had fallen
to sos per cent. Though the agerc-
gate production was greater in 1903
than In 1899, the per capita produc,
ton Of wheat fell, through the
growth OF population. from ST
bushels in 1899 to IA bushels in
1903.
In 1899 the percentage OF i'm
proved land planted 20 corn was
2s.s; in 1905. it Was /. Is. The per
capita production in 1899 was ss.f
bushels: In 1909 Ii was AFT bushels.
While part OF this decrease was
due TO the poor crop of 1909. popu-
lation advanced much more rapidly
than corn acreage and even under
normal conditions a decrease In per
capita production would have re-
suited.
These figures confirm the oft re-
peated claim that large amount OF
the high cost Of living Is due 10 the
neglect Of agriculture. Unless there
Is turning about In the trend or
migration from country to city. the
American people viii face starvation
~ on distant date. Happily. there
are already signs Of turning and
the ever increasing price Of food
sfufSs in conjunction with the in
creasing attraetiseness OF farming
By reason Of improved methods and
higher standards OF living on the
farm Mill tend 10 stimulate misra-
ton from city TO country from year
10 year. Such q trend i the only
economic salvation Of the country.
show il. the increasing cost
u living In cities tesfsfes'fo it. and
the people Of the whole country are
10 realize Il more AMI
more.
The decrease IN the production Of
wheat and corn Is partially Offset By
the Increase In the production and
consumption Of rice.
The acreage and consumption OF
rice Increased from $4,000 acres
and 100000 bushels leaasI to
re. 2sa. 900 pounds Of cleaned rlcel
IN 1893 % see.oe ares and ze.s4s,-
poe bushels ls7s.4es.oee pounds Of
cleaned riceD In 1909, gain Or 7s.s
pr cent In acres and about IT'S
pr cent II production. In 1899 the
per capita production wss 81 pounds
Df cleaned rsee; In 1903 II was 81
sounds 81 cleaned rice. Noswlth.
Standing the Increase In the amount
81 rice produced In 1893. ~ CON-
pared with 1929. the excess Of
amount Of rice Imported over that
exported also Increased considerably.
me production Of nee In the usiied
States u. hoxever. Increasing much
faster propoTtlonaiIy than the total
popuiatIon. and the domestic pro-
duct now equals nine-tenths Of the
smounf consumed. Tho increase In
Ihe consumption 81 rice is brought
short probably BIZ the high prices of
meats. and the general tendency 40
yard q cereal dl,st
Potatoes aiso show an Increase III
Production and acreage.
TIE AMOUNT Of Land devoted to
he production Of potatoes and sweet
potatoes increased between 1898 and
1893 from s.f7s.eeo acres 10 s.sIe..
Doe acres, : gain Of 80 900 acres. Or
~ per cent. During the same time
ne production increased from 3is.-
sss. 900 bushels TO sss.4fT 900
bushels. = gain Of 1885. 0eel
bushels. o. ~ per cent. Hence the
|ax& .*asx k.mxmmNA4 49, $3.50.