Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1914-10-16
GOLDENCHANCENOW
COMMERCE WITH
COUNTRIES ABROAD FORCES
US TO GET BUSY.
WE COULD BE INDEPENDENT
Government Makes investigation Int
Resources Which Heretofore Have
Been imported and Finds We
Can Produce Anything.

AS an incident to the interruption in
our commercial relations abroad the
bureau of foreign and domestic COM
merce has been making an investiga-
ton into the resources of this coun-
try, particularly as relates to the abil-
ity to supply productions of which we
have been extensive importers. The
results serve to not only substantiate
the oft-reiterated claim that the Unit
ed States occupies an unique position
among the nations of the world, in
that it is self-supoprting and indie
pendent, but that there are possibili-
ties for the development of industries
for producing the materials which we
have hitherto drawn from the outside
world along comprehensive lines.
Can Supply Our Needs.
The peculiarly fortunate position of
the United States in it's ability to sup
ply its own needs is clearly seen from
a survey of it's production and relative
contributions of food, clothing and
shelter. 1t is found, for example, that
the people of the United States may
be fed readily by home-produced food
stuffs, our vast area of more than 81
100000 square miles representing ev-
cry variety of climate and production
and being nearly equal in extent to
all Europe, which has a population
five times that of this country.
Slow to Scientific Farm.
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, therefor, be expected
to increase greatly with more atten-
ton to improved methods of culture.
Nevertheless, our country already pro-
duces over 2,5OO,O0O,0O0 bushels of
corn, or two-thirds of the worlds sup
ply. This years wheat crop is esti-
mated at the high-record figure of
911, 100000 bushels, about 20 per cent
of the world harvest. The United
States also produces annually over
1000, 100000 bushels of oats, or pne-
fourth of the world yield, and 197,000,-
900 gallons of cotton-seed oil, repre-
senting most of the annual output OF
this article, whose food value as a sab
stitute for olive oil is becoming more
and more recognized.
Half Worlds Cotton.
Fifteen per cent of the worlds cat
tie are on American farms, the mum
Der in this country being 59,000,000, OF
twice as many as in Argentine or Eu
ropean Russia, and half the number
in India. Our country also has 60,
600, 900 swine, 5O,OOO,O0O sheep and "a,
100000 horses. We import, however
5000, 900 pounds of sugar, chief,
Cuban, or one and one-half times thu
amount produced in continental Unit
ed States and it's island territories.
In clothing material the Unite'
States is also favored, producing an
nually over 100000 bales of cotton
representing over one-half of tn
worlds supply. OF wool we produc
800, 100000 pounds a year, home re
quirements being supplemented b
23S, 0OO,0 900 pounds of foreign wool an
S34, 00O,0 900 worth of imported woole
{ goods.
We Lead in Minerals.
} In the mineral kingdom the pre-em
2 nent position of the United States
unquestioned. We produce, for exam
I pie, 34,OOO,O00 short tons of coal, 4
: per cent of the worlds output; 23s
+, 100000 barrels of petroleum, TIVE
! thirds of the worlds total, and $1,000
: 900 tons of iron ore, out of worl
: total of 132,OO0,OOO. One-half of tn
q worlds copper is taken from America
a mines, which turned out 1,250,0C
l. pounds in 1912.
I. OF the worlds output of SAGE, 100000
g worth of gold, the United States pr
= duced about 20 per cent, being excee
l. ed only by South Africa. About
per cent of the worlds silver and
per cent of its lead are produced
this country.
u Our Manufacturers First.
In the value of manufactures Il
n United States leads the world, thoue
e. the product of American factories
t. chiefly consumed at home. OF the So
It 7O0,OOO,OOO worth of manufactures pr
1t duced in the United States in 49,
n only about 5 per cent were sold to &c
+ eign countries, the world market f
e iron and steel products, cotton good
y chemicals and other important pro
ucts of industry being thus far large
O. held by England, Germany and 9th
European nations.
r, Bombs Fall at Paris.
Y d. o. Il cnn1.o Of hnral