The Washington times., 1915-01-18
BREAD FAMINE HERE
IMPOSSIBLE, He SAYS
Future Orders From Americans
Would Prevent It, Says
Statjstician Estabrook.

"A bread famine in the United states
- almost an economic impossibility.
oven though increased exports OF
wheat to Europe seem to threaten the
domestic supply. This was the declara-
ton today of DR.. l.. M. Esta brook,
statistician Of the Department Of Agri-
culture.
DR.. Estabrook asserted that future
orders OF American millers and bakers.
which are being placed constantly
throughout the year. will insure for
the United states an adequate supply
Of nour, even though exports send
wheat prices up to the tabled 81 q
bushel mark.
1--WE have figured out" he said. that
thu United States normally has be-
tween 2s0,ooo.o oOo and so0.oo0.0oo bushels
Of wheat for export. The bumper
wheat crop Of the United States which
was practically 900, ,000. 900 bushels, has
had the effect Of slightly raising this
export maximum, thereby allowing the
United States to export larger amount
than usual.
Americans Buying Now.
S Nevertheless, the American miller
and the American baker have an equal
chance with European buyers. and 1t Is
only reasonable to assume that they
are taking steps, in view Of the recent
heavy exports. to Safeguard the domes-
Ito reserve from which they must draw
!, their supply.
these millers and bakers have placed
orders for immediate and future de-
livery all through tho fall and winter.
They have already stored millions of
bushels In elevators which will never
see Europe. The phesent holders OF
grain have received orders for future de-
livery Of wheat to these American miH-
ers at prices based on the market value
Of wheat at the time Of delivery. This
wheat. therefore. whether delivered in
FeSruary tns or March: rxt % c1in.
At the time Of delivery.
Seller Has No Preference.
when wheat Is being sold the seller,
collectively speaking. has no preference
concerning the buyer, just SO long as the
buyer is willing to meet the market
price. The American miller, therefore.
is meeting the European buyer on even
terms, and can command his own sup
ply Of wheat just as readily as the
European buyer demands his export
supply, and more. readily, perhaps. than
the European buyer can demand more
than the safe export maximum.
THE only possible way for the -four
supply Of the United States to be cur.
tailed Is through a theoretical and eco
nomcally impossible situation, whereby
all or practically all Of the men who
control the grain. would enter into q
conspiracy to sell American wheat only
for export. Such a situation Is not onl,
lA, h,,k ~k ko,,1l ~
attempted. Congress would step in ant
"rhe present condition Of drawing OF
a previous years harvest OF wheat csr
In May. we will have a new crop. or
our hands. and the supply Is bound tt
run ahead Of the demand. 1t must no.
be conceded for an instant that Eu
ropes wheat crop is being curtailed
Europe Is already raising more whea
annually, In spite of the war. than /,
needed for the consumption Of the pro
ducing countries.
Contracts Are Check.
1T is therefore not difficult to SCI
where the contracts Of American millerl
and bakers already placed with holders
of grain for immediate and future de
livery. act as an automatic check upol
any untrammeled and uncontrolled
stream OF export traoe W Lurope. IL
easier to supply a Chicago wheat mar
kst with wheat at $3.50, than an Eu
ropean market at the same price.
IN addition, our millers and baker
can meet any European price that ma.
obtain After all, the price paid TO
wheat by the miller Is only paid by tn
miller as he acts in the capacity o
agent for the people. II flour gets to-
hIkh for the further manufacture Of s
cent bread. the millers and bakers max
the people pay the higher price by tn
simple expedient Of adding to the pric
of the loaf"