The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-14
HOUSTON DISCUSSES THE EFFECT IF WAR UPON AGRICULTURE IN UNITED STATES
Ii Triple Entente Controls Seas Market for Amer ican F0odstuffs Will
 Be Enormous

of the European wnr upon agriculture in the United states ysns discussed to. day for the first time by Secretar, Houston. who pointed out thnt the Uni. ted States was practically the onI, large producing country undisturbed.
 'If Germany and Austria cannot contro the high seas.'' he said. it will be yer, difficult for food supplies from this coun. try to reach them. This would not have a very serious effect on our exports, be- cause a very small proportion is taken by these countries. Of the wheat and flour exported in 1913, about 1do,eo0.oo0 bushels, only 100000 went to Germany and Aus ti'ia. If they were to control the high seas, it would seriously interfere with the marketing of the greater part of the food siuns we export.
 If, on the other hand, England France and Russia control the high seas We should be able to market in the near future without great difficulty the great mass of our exportable food products
 Even if they cannot control the seas they are going to take every sort of req sonable risk to get supplies, and on ac. count of their extensive lines and large shipping facilities, they would doubtless secure a very considerable part of what they need'
 Secretary Houston pointed out that cot ton, corn, wheat and meat products con stituted the largest proportion of agri- cultural exports. He said that his depart ment's statistics of production and ex. ports of corn showed a decrease of ovel 60o.ooo,ooo bushels in 1913 and 1912, and added: Tt does not seem to me likel, that We are going to have a very large amount of corn to export"
 Importation Exceeds Exportation
 lmportation of corn the past year ex. ceeded exports by nearly 100000 bushels and with Sthe crop for the present yeai 5oo,0o0,oeo bushels less than that of 1872 MT. Houston thinks it probable that this country could consume it all without s>'N'Nei'tf mand from abroad for corn for food is expected to help to maintain the present prices
 This season, said the secretary. "has been unfavorable for crops in Europe as a result of which there undoubtedly is some shortage, now estimated at approxi. mately 300,0u0,000 bushels This shortag, may be further increased by destruction of the crops or failure to harvest then fbrnuoh .li l,t tl,. army 4 Il these factors. will tend to in crease the demand abroad for American wheat and strengthen prices If there i. an increased foreign demand for wheaj we can certainly supply it, but can they set it?
 "Omittihg the ships plying to tn, Orient and to the south, and taking into account only the ships snat clear for Flu rope from the United States we know that in 1912 the tonnage of merchant yes sels was 17,727,00o tons. Of that 17,eoO00 tons, 2,9o0,00o tons belong to neutral coun trie and 10s00.000 to England, France ano Russia. Only $500, COG be,ong to German, and Austria.
 Food a Military Necessity
 If these countries want foodstuff: from this country (and this is one O. the few countries from which they car get them, because it is one of the few large food producing countries al pres ent undisturbed), they will not depend exclusively upon shipping customaril, clearing from this country. They Wil regard feed just as much militar, necessity arms or ammunition ant they Will be just as desirous of get ting it. Armies fight on their bellies' The total merchant tonnage of tn, world is. 45,S00 000 of which 17,371 .00l belongs to neutral countries and 23 029,000 to England, France and Russia leaving 5,500.000 in round numbers be longing to Germany and Austria. Eng land alone does about 50 per cent O the carrying trade. --
 If Congress takes advantage prompt ly of the presnt situation and enact legislation for the enlargement of tn. merchant marines under the American flag, not only would great temporar, relief be afforded. but & permanent ad vance would be made.
 The greatest problem,' said the Sec retary is the cotton situation. Man! factories in France are in the war zone Russia will be affected, and if Englan, can get the cotton and market it ther Is no special reason why she should no continue her manufacturing on a con siderable scale. do not see how an, disturbance will come to the Enslisl manufacturers as far as labor is con cerncd. The neutral countries. Italy Japan, Spain and the United States. wil seek to increase output and find large amounts.
 Making every allowance. it .seem likely there will be difficultystin dis posing of at least from 3.O00,000 t, 4.000. 900 bales of cotton. Probably con siderable local relief can be afforde, Ahe producers of cotton. It remains t. be considered whether the government through the treasury, acting under tn Aldrich- Vreeland act. or whether tn federal reserve board. can furnish re lief If they can do so. adequate busi ness arrangements can be made"