The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-12-23
UNCLE SAM FACING FOOD BAT

JINGLE SAM FACING FOOD BAT
TIE
VIII the United States eventually
find itself face TO face with starvation.
and il so, when? These two cues
Itions, fantastic and impossible as they
may seem TO the average citizen, are
nevertheless of such real import that
they are rapidly involving the country
in the greatest struggle In its history
the battle for food.
The mere fact that this fight Is be-
ing waged practically without the
knowledge OF the average citizen,
and that those who talk glibly OF the
high cost Of living laugh at the posi-
bility of eventual starvation. ana
point TO this years bumper crops as
an Indication of security, does not
change the issue. A very few figures
must convince the most skepticai-
These figures show that while the
population has practically doubled n
the last thirty years, the rural popuia-
ton and the persons engaged IN agri-
culture has been rapidly decreasing.
Add to this the facts that for years
/ the Weld of staple crops per acre has
shown little or no increase and that
| we are rapidly approaching the time
when there will be no more uncultl-
waited land available for the produc-
tion of food stuffs and the battle for
food assumes a very much greater
significance,
With these facts in mind the outlook
at first glance would seem dark, but
the battle is by no means hopeless
Other countries have confronted
similar situation and come out with
flying colors, notably Germany. In
deed it is the opinion of authorities
here this this country is now facing
I the same condition which Germany
recognized fifty years ago when star
vation seemed imminent If home pro-
! duction we're TO be depended on and
for that reason particular interest is
being taken in the methods by which
Il Germany has solved this problem and
has increased the yields OF her acres
until they are practically double those
which this country secures. In ac-
i yancing in quarter of century
from point where home produced
foods were insufficient for her needs
TO that which she now occupies as
probably the foremost agricultural ma
ton in the world, Germany has relied
chiefly upon the cultivation OF the
sugar beet. Investigation had shown
that this crop when property cult
waited greatly increased the yield Of
ialI others grown in rotation with it be
sides having in itself a cash value
q far higher than most others. Bearins
this in mind Germany proceeded to en-
courage its cultivation by bountiei
and protective duties with the result
that that country now no only export!
$50, 900 900 worth of sugar annual,
but has doubled and trebled he
yields in other crops to point 10
Iper cent in advance of the Unite'
States. With this example in viey
then Uncle Sam is battling with goo
r chances for victory
The army npon which the burdel
. OF attack must fall is a mighty on
numbering not only all TIE farmer
but recruits OF every age and walk o
!. life. Already the campaign is OF
+ ganized and under way along natio
{ wide lines. Youngsters not yet |
3 their teens are vieing with girls I
qualify for the ranks of the army {
the American system of agriculture
education which must fight the battl
for food And a wonderful system
is. calculated 20 produce an arm
:, which can achieve victory IL anythin
= can. It is trained by institutions {
various classes which taken togethe
: provide all grades of agriculture
education from graduate courses lea
ing to the Doctors degree to elemen
lie airy courses in kindergartens and DI
10 mary schools. It has taken time an
Ie a pressing realization Of our diminis
W ing food supplies to bring about tn
n system: indeed the first Gradua
n School Of Agriculture dates back on
81 to 1902. There are now, however.
the country 81 agricultural college
organized under the acts Of congre
te OF 1892 and 1890 in which more thu
Is 5000 900 is invested. In nearly 9
So Of these institutions the college courI
o. in agriculture extends over four
IT. more years and below them instru