The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-10-02

States to supply the raw materials
necessary to their industries. Inves-
legations in connection with the re-
plies to these inquiries have develop
ed the fact that in many instances ma
terials now imported from abroad are
of class found in this country, the
production of which, however, is still
in the initial stages. This is partic-
ularly true of numerous basic mater
ials used in the chemical industries
which were formerly wasted, but are
now partially utilized.
The peculiarly fortunate position of
the United States in its ability to sup
ply its own needs is clearly seen from
survey of its production and re-
lative contributions to the world of
the great requirements of food, cloth
ing and shelter 1t is found, for ex-
ample, that the people of the United
States may be fed readily by home
produced foodstuffs, our vast area of
more than 100000 square miles re-
presenting every variety of climate
and production and being nearly equal
in extent to all Europe, which has a
population FIVE times that of this coun-
try.
Agriculture in the United States has
not yet reached the stage of scientific
development common to many coun-
tries of Europe, and present domestic
production may, therefore, be expect
ed to increase greatly with more at
tention to improved methods of Gull
ture. Nevertheless, our country al
ready produces over 2,500,000000I
bushels of corn, or two-thirds of the
worlds supply. This years wheat
crop is estimated at the high-record
figure of o1l,000,000 bushels, about 20
per cent fthe world harvest. The
United States also produces annually
over l,000,000,000 bushels of oats, or
one-fourth of the world yield, and 1917,
100000 gallons of cotton-seed oil, re-
presenting most of the annual output
of this article, whose food value as a
substitute for olive oil is becoming
more and more recognized.
Fifteen per cent of the worlds cat
tie are on American farms, the num-
Der in this country being 100000, or
twice as many as in Argentine or
European Russia, and half the number
in India. Our country also has co.,
100000 swine, 100000 sheep and "a,
100000 horses. We import, however,
5,000, 100000 pounds of sugar, chiefly
Cuban, or one and one-half times the
amount produced in continental Unit
ed States and its island territories
In clothing material the United
States is also favored, producing an
nually over 100000 bales of cotton,
representing over one-half of the
worlds supply. Of wool we produce
300,000,000 pounds year, home re-
quirements being supplemented by
238,O00,OO0 pounds of foreign wool
and $34,0OO0OO worth of imported
wooden goods.
In the mineral kingdom the pre-
eminent position of the United States
is unquestioned. We produce, for ex-
ample, 534, 100000 short tons of coal,
40 per cent of the worlds output 238,-
100000 barrels of petroleum, two
thirds of the worlds total, and ST.
100000 tons Of iron ore, out of world
total of l32,000,000. One-half of the
worlds copper is taken from Ameri-
can mines, which turned out l,250,000
pounds in 1912.
OF the worlds output $466,000,000
worth of gold, the United States pro-
duced about 20 per cent, being exceed
| ed only by South Africa. About %
per cent of the worlds silver and 30
per cent of its lead are produced in
this country.
In the value of manufactures the
United States leads the world, though
the product of American factories is
chiefly consumed at home. OF the
$40, 700,000,000 worth of manufactures
produced in the United States in 1909
only about S per cent were sold to
foreign countries, the world market
for iron and steel products, cotton
goods, chemicals and other important
products of industry being thus far
largely hel dby England, Germany
and other European countries.