The Sentinel=record., 1914-08-14
AMERICA IS THE STOREHOUSE
Our Crops Will Be In Great Demand by Countries Engaged in War and the Problem Is the Shipment Of Grain Cargoes.

or the European war upon agriculture in the United States was discussed today for the first time by Secretary Houston, who pointed out that the United States was practically the only large food producing country undisturbed
 If Germany and Austria cannot control the high seas" he said, 'it will be very difficult for food sup plies from this country to reach them. This would not have a very serious effect on our exports, be cause very small proportion is taken by these countries. Of the wheat and flour exported in l913-- about 140,000,C90 bushels--only 12,- 000,000 went to Germany and Au- stria. If they were to control the high seas it would seriously inter fere with the marketing of the greater part of the foodstuffs we export.
 'lf, on the other hand, England. France and Russia control the hign seas, We should be able to market in the near future without great diff culty the great mass of our export able food products. Even if they cannot control the seas they are going to take every sort of reason able risk to get supplies, and on ac- count of their extensive shore lines and large shipping facilities they doubtless owuld secure a very con siderable part of what they need"
 Secretary Houston pointed out that cotton, corn, wheat and meat pro- ducts constituted the largest propor- ton of agricultural exports. He sad that his departments statistics of production and exports of corn showed a decrease of over 600, 900, ,0G0 bushels in 1913 and 1912. and added, it does not seem to me likely that we are going to have very large amount of corn to export"
 Importation of corn the past year exceeded exports hy nearly 2.000. .000 bushels, and with the crop for the present year 00.G00e coo bushels less than that of 1912, MT. Houston thinks it probable that this country could consume it all without much reduction in price, if any. The de- 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 ot which there is some shortage now estimated at ap- proximately 3OO,0OO,000 bushels. This shortage may be further increased by destruction of the crops, fai.uce tO harvest them through the diver sion of laborers in the army. Al these factors will tend to increase the demand abroad for American wheat and strengthen prices. If there is an increased foreign de- mand for wheat We can certain y supply it, but can they get it?
 "omitting the ships plying 10 the Orient and to the south. and taking into account only the ships that clear for Europe from the United States, we know that in 1912 the tonnage of merchant vessels was tons, 2,900000 tons belonged to neu- trai countries and 10, 500 900 to Eng land, France or Russia. Only $500 600 belong to Germany and Austria.
 If these countries want foodstuffs from this country Jand this is one oe the few counties from which they can get them because it is one of the few large food producing countries al present undisturbed) they will not depend exclusively upon shipping customarily clearing from this coun- try. They will regard food just as much a military necessity as arms or ammunition, and they will be just as desirous of getting it.
 Armies fight on their bellies '1he total merchant tonnage of the world is 45,S00,000 of which IT,. 371 ,000 belongs to neutral countries and 23,029,000 to England, France and Russia, leaving 5,500,0 GOO in round numbers belonging to Germany and Austria. England alone does about 90 per cent of the carrying trade. "lf congress takes advantage promptly of the present situation and enacts legislation for the en- 1 largement of the merchant marine through the American flag, not only would great temporary relief be af- forded but permanent advance would be made.
 'The greatest problem" said the secretary, "is the cotton situation. Many factories in France are in the war zone. Russia will be affected, and If England can get the cotton and market II there ls no anecial