Evening star., 1915-07-03
Commerce Department Gives
the Export of Foodstuffs
as Principal Factor.
TASK OF THIS COUNTRY
IN FEEDING THE WORLD
Wheat Leads in Products Sent
Abroad-Figures Reported for
Past Eleven Months.

In the billion-dollar foreign trade
balance of the United States for the
last eleven months the principal factor
was the export Of foodstuffs valued at
S1c4. 900, according to statistics of
the Department of Commerce.
The share of the United States in
feeding the world. a task vastly in
creased by the European war. is seen
in the enormous increase in the value
OF foodstuff exports, compared with the
figures for the same eleven months a
year ago. when the total was but SAB.
900, 600
Wheat formed the biggest item in
foodstuffs sent abroad. In all. 24s.576,-
zoo bushels were exported. an increase
of 1s4,00o.00o bushels. 1t was valued
AT s31s,s61,oo0, showing an increase
over the previous year of $239,13S, 900.
Oats valued at 51.669.o0O were ship
ped, an increase of almost $4,000 600
bushels
Next Largest Increase.
Flour showed the next largest in
crease, with a value of SSI,S50,O0o or
S37.63s,000 more than the previous pc
riod. Almost 100000 more barrels
We're sent this year. the total being
l5.077,0 900.
Corn exports were valued at $s4.542.-
900. an increase of s2s.551 900. There
were 43..1S,00O bushels exported. an in
crease of about 35.o0O.000..
Almost so5.ooo.oco pounds of bacon
were shipped. an increase of 1872 600, 600
pounds. 1t was valued at Sal, ,2s4, 900,
or an increase of s17.02S.OOO.
There was big increase in beef ship
ments Fresh beef exports were 121,-
10 oil of
1l6.000.00O pounds; canned beef. 65.-
3o9.000 pounds. an increase of 6l,O00,-
900; picked beef. 2s.6 900, an increase
of 100000 Value of beef exported
was: Fresh beef. 15.363.000, an increase
of S14.S52.000: canned beef. S10.70s.000,
an increase of s10.2S4, 900. and picked
beef. $3.004,000. an increase Of $Ss3.000
Ham and shoulders exported weighed
900. an increase of s1.734,00O Lard ex-
ports amounted to 441,702 900 pounds
valued al s4S.s17 200. The increase was
small.
Cotton Products.
Exports of cottonseed oil. extensively
used as a foodstun. amounted to $1s.-
100000. an increase of $6.643.00o.
Cotton exports were S.103.0s7 bales,
or 7Ss,394 bales less than the previous
year. but their value. 33so.37o.0eo.
showed decrease of $231.355.oo0.
A statement on the meat and dairy
products trade issued by the Depart
ment of Commerce said:
Imports of meat and dairy products
into the United States in the ten
months preceding May 1 last were
three times the value of those for
like period two years ago and seven
times those of the entire nscal year
1905. This movement first assumed
large proportions in the fiscal year
1914, following the transfer Of meats
TO the free list. Very recent months.
however, have reversed the upward
trend. since February. March and April
show much smaller imports than In
those months of last year, or when
compared with earlier months of the
current fiscal year.
April Imports Value, $3s, 600, 900.
in the ten months ending with April
imports of meat and dairy products
aggregated s3s.oo0.ooo in value. meats
representing two-thirds of the total.
In 1914 the same months gave a
total of s2s.ooo.o0o. and in 1928.
s12ooo.o0o. Prior to 1910 the total
never reached ten million. having been
s5.250.oo0 in 1905 and 100000 in 1895
"Our IMPORTS of meats are mainly
supplied by Argentina. Ten months Of
the fiscal year just closed brought 112,-
900. 900 pounds of fresh beef and veal
from Argentina and from 100000 to
100000 pounds each from Canada.
Uruguay. Australia and the United
Kingdom.
The United States still exports far
more meats than IL imports. for al
though there have been record break
ing arrivals in the last two years. ex-
ports have been even larger Returns
for ten months indicate that the value
of meat and dairy products exported
this year will once more attain the
5000. .0O0. 900 level that marked the dec
ade prior to 1909.
that while the imports have consisted
chiefly of beef and mutton in the pri-
mary stages of preparation. the exports
have included considerable quantities
of bacon. hams. lard. canned and pre-
served meats. and other meat products
in a more or less advanced state.
Large Movement of Beef.
I'm fresh beef there is now a large
movement both into and out of the
country. The large outward move
ment. however. Is development OF
recent months. More than 25,ooo,ooo
pounds of fresh beef were exported in
April and more than a hundred million
pounds in the period from August l.
1914, when the European war began
TO the end of April, 1915; while the
aggregate for the three-year period
ending June 80. 1914. was only $4,000, ,00C
pounds.
1T is also apparent that the United
States pays less for the meats 1t buys
than IL receives for those 1t sells In
April We imported $500 200 pounds OF
fresh beef. valued at e% cents Der
pound Z. o. b. countries of origin. In
the same month we exported 25..
100000 pounds, valued at IL cents Der
pound at the domestic ports of ship
nent. For the ten months ending with
April. 1915. the imports and exports
were 1S5. 900. 900 and l02, ,00o, 900 pounds
respectively. valued at sA cents Del
mound for the imports and 12h cent,