Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-22
Emphasizes Importance Of His
Position in World, Says
Gilbert McCIurg.
CONFLICT HAS DOOMED
INDUSTRY IN THE U. S.
America, in Large Part, Feeding Eu-
rope-Exports Cause High Food
Prices Here.

The boom given the farming industry
In the United States by the European
war, analysis of the vast exports
of foodstuffs today and the opportunity
which is offered here to enter upon
agricultural pursuits are discussed by
Gilbert McClurg, Colorado state COM
missioner to the Panama-Pacific ex-
position, in an interesting article pub
lished today in the New York Sun. Mr..
McClurg says, in part:
THE European war emphasizes the
fact that man cannot live long with
out cultivating the soil. and the war
has seemingly narrowed down to the
question whether the English blockade
will starve out the Germans or the
German submarine may stop the i'm
portation of food and war supplies to
the allies.
ment Of Agriculture said last week
that at the present time the farmers
part in international commerce ap-
proximates $4,000. 100000 annually So.
days, there is no doubt that agricuI-
ture is not only the biggest business
but it is the real employer of the
world. And of this big international
queen; wool and hides stand for the
crown prince: coffee and sugar for the
princess: while lesser titled members
of the international agricultural fam
ter, tea, rye. oats-in preferential or
der as established by commercial ex-
change.
America Feeding the War.
America, in large part. is feeding
the war. which means a great part of
Europe. Secretary of Commerce Red
field has issued from Washington a
bulletin showing the enormous gains
in food exports since the European war
began. In 1914 the value Of bread
United States was about $8.000,000
whereas in March of the present year
this had grown in value to nearly $780,
100000. In the eleven months ended
June 1. 1915, the vlaue of our bread
stuffs exports was $529,S3s,753. more
than three and one-half times greater
than for this period the year before.
Our exports of meat and dairy prod
creased from s122.991.077 to s173,464,-
5SS. In grain exports the most as
founding increase is noted Europe
preferred to grind her own wheat rath-
er than to purchase our flour. For the
eleven months ended June 1, 1915, as
compared with the preceding period.
the value Of corn exports. Increased
creased from s641, $50 to s51. 669.9s5. or
500 per cent, and wheat ran up from
$50, S23.041 to ss1s.961.546. an increase
of nearly 400 per cent Canned beef
expectations show another tremendous
increase from s424.375 for the period
to $40. 70S,547 for the 1915 period. and
our fresh beef exports grew in the
We exported to Europe during the
eleven months ended June l foodstuffs
valued at $724.000.000.
Explains High Food Prices.
''These figures may explain why the
market basket at home scars high,
buoyed by the war eagles wings. We
have had to import meat and dairy
products into the United States during
the past year Of three times the value
Of the preceding year and seven times
greater than in 1905.
Beef raising in Europe is at low
ebb, and the soldiers are getting their
food in tins. Germany recently ordered
the slaughtering of pigs, not molly that
meat may be supplied to her people, but
primarily to conserve for human food
that the swine otherwise would con-
sumo. Europe has bought little cotton
during the past six months, to the vital
regret of our southern states, which
believe, however. that the demand for
cotton will be great when this cruel
war is over
ing these immense quantities of food
supplies the London Board of Trade an
nounces that from the beginning Of
the war the general increase in food
prices in average households through
out Great Britain is estimated at IS
per cent. and that from best figures
obtainable the food prices throughout
Germany are now about 65 per cent
greater than in July. 1914 the great
est rise being for meat and the least
for cereals and potatoes Similar condi-
tions prevail in Vienna.
Startling Increase Shown.