Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-17
URGES U. S. TO STUDY
PRODUCTION OF FOOD
Question of Feeding Is Most
Serious Problem Before Coun-
try, Says Manufacturers
Record
NO RELIEF FOR YEARS
Famine Conditions May Come, Pub
lication Declares-Denies EN-
barge Is Feasible

Giving warning that the country must
lock carefully TO tho production OF food
stuffs In the next year, the Mnnufacturera'
Record Of the current issue declares that
probably tho most vital material question
before the people today is the supply for the
next two or three years.
The suggestion Of an embargo on food
stuns' II declares. might as we'll be dis
missed from all consideration. Even II Il
were feasible from every other point Of
View, and II Is not, lt Ia not conceivable
that tho farmers OF the country would per-
nit Congress TO pass bill which would
deprive them Of the right to foreign mar
ket for their products.
Moreover, IL would be unjust TO the pro-
ducers. The farmers have not been over
prosperous as compared with other Glasses
AT times they have passed through long
periods OF depression In the price OF cotton
and grain. They are Justly entitled from
cvery legal and ethical point OF view 70 get
the most out OF what they are now produo-
ing
Tho grain crop OF the present year was
J, 100 100000 bushels smaller than the crop
OF the preceding year The total wheat
production OF this year Is estimated by the
Government at 607b7T, 900 bushels ns COM
pared with 1,0ll,b05 900 bushels in 1915 n
decline Of 40i,ooO,O00. or forty per cent
Moreover. the average weight of this crop
is less than that OF last year TO the extont
Of 81 pounds per measured bushel. which
II is estimated makes a further reduction of
6O.O0000O bushels giving us, therefore, n
net crop, measured by pounds. OF 5I7, 200, 900
bushels. as against 1.o1l 100000 bushels
last year"
According TO tho publication, the wheat
crop of Canada is offciRlly estimated at
i59. .123, 900 bushels as compared with s7O.-
5OS,OOO bushels In 1915, and owing TO the
inability to thresh this grain promptly, be-
cause of the scarcity Of labor, n consider
able part of that may be lost.
Before tho next grain crop is produced
the country, In all probability, will be
swept absolutely bare of wheat and corn
and other grains" the facturers' Rec
ord says. I'VE shall therefore, Eo into
the next crop season under conditions that
would guarantee high prices. even II we
could be absolutely sure that the crop of
l9l7 would exceed the unprecedented yield
of 1915.
III however. through the failure of the
farmers to SOW and plant for very big
acreage In grain, or H. by reason of un-
favorable weather conditions such as we
had this year, we should in 1917 have
another short crop. the country would face
what virtually might be called n food fam
me, which could not be relieved TO the ex-
tent OF bringing prices back to normal
cond:dons Tor several years to come.
This situation has n vital relation to the
nations welfare. All the denunciatIon of
high prices of foodstuns due TO a mis-.
understanding of these conditions by those
who see only the cost OF living advancing
without nppreciating the phenomenal CON.
ditions compelling this advance, WIN be
without avail In changing the economic
uevelopments which are responsible foA
these prices. 40
The danger is so serious that everv
banker and every business man ought n
cooperate with the farmers not only In
encouraging them TO produce foodstufrs brt
IN aiding them financially wherever it may
be needed to mako possible for them 10
cultivate grains and produce live stock"