Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-08-19
washington SAYS
WAR WON DIMINISH
FOOD SUPPLYOFU us.
AM Rise in Food Prices Win Not
Be Justified.
DEALERS TAKE ADVANTAGE
officials at the Capital Declare That
Owners Of Stores VIII Use War
az Excuse to Increase
Cost of Living.

Washington. Aug. I3-The Euro
pean war and the consequent cutting
down of imports will not diminish to
an appreciable extent the supply of
foods In the United States. and any
raising Of prices will not be justified.
government officials announced. In
creases in food prices are looked for
by officials OF the various depart
ments at Washington. but they say
this will be because dealers will take
advantage OF the war situation to
make larger profits.
Charles j. Brand, chief OF the. ONCE
OF markets of the department of
agriculture. stated that the depart
ment has been advised that food
prices throughout the United States
are rapidly rising. He added:
Taking Advantage Of Situation.
Naturally. the dealers are taking
advantage of the situation of high ex-
element and tension to carry up
prices. The first impulse is to be-
lieve that such a situation really ex-
lists. Upon examination of the figures,
however. we find that the United
States is well supplied with food.
Furthermore an account OF the en-
barge on shipments for export to the
coast laid by the railroads and the
shortage of ships to transport our
bread and butter beyond the seas.
we need have no fear of anything like
famine even though the producers and
dealers wish to create such an i'm
preston"
Meat and dairy products constitute
some Of the principal foods. -he Uni
ted States annually has on hand 81
521.s5s.450 worth of these foods.
American imports of meat ar ] dairy
products amount to only S12,016,000 a
year. so small fraction that its alb
sence would scarcely be felt. officials
say.
The other great food staple is
wheat. Compared to the annual do
nestle supply OF $5SS, 100000 this
country imports only about $6,447, 900
worth annually. This import figure
includes such foreign manufactured
breadstuifs as macaroni. spaghetti and
vermicelli
Coffee Is imported.
The per capita consumption of cof-
fee In the United States is 9 pounds
per year. and Of tea / pound. This
practically is all imported. 7 though
the tea and coffee producing nations
are not now directly involved In the
war, the interruption to shipping is
expected to raise the prices on these
commodities to a considerable extent.
The United States imports $135, 604.-
421 worth OF tea and coffee each year.
Silk is another import which will
be affected largely. especially manu-
featured silk. In fact the American
supply OF silk cloth, thread and vari-
GUS special fabrics, is expected to be
almost entirely cut OF. Importations
OF raw silk and silk in a semi-manu-
featured state. great quantities of
which are used in connection with
electrical work, will not be greatly de-
layed, IL is believed here. American
silk 'importations amount annually to
ST. 70S. 900.
As practically all of the sugar i'm
ported by the United States comes d.
rectly from Hawaii and Porto Rico.
both American dominions, that class
of imports is not expected to be af.
fected except in so far as lack OF
ship bottoms be concerned
II is expected by officials that the
ship of the coastwise trade will be
able to handle all this traffic how
ever.
The recent development Of the wine
Industry in the middle western states
and In California has removed the
United States from a position of de
tendency upon imports Of spirits
And although the per capita consump
ton of beer in the United States is %
gallons annually. stha domestic pro
ducers can supply the demand. The
annual domestic production OF wines
spirits and brews amount to s2.214.
6S3. 900, while the country imports
but SIS. 433. 900 worth.
| The fact that the annual American
production of s34.02s,597 worth oil
| wool far exceeds imports it is consid
cred reassurring by the government of
ficials.