The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-09-24
MEXICAN CROPS
ARE ABUNDANT
And They viii Make 1t UnneC.
eSsary to Import Food
StuffS for the People.

MEXICo CITY. Sept. 23.-The pro-
duction OF fOod-stuffs in Mexico for the
current year has obviated any chance
Of shortage, according to the depart
ment Of agriculture. The crops are
said to be not only sufficient to pre-
vent famine, but will make Mexico
practically Independent of importa-
ton of food-stuifs from other coun-
tries, although a certain amount OF
corn and flour will continue to be i'm
ported into the northern states from
the United States because of superior
facilities for transportation to those
localities.
The crops, it is admitted, will hot
reach normal production, but will be
sufficient to allow certain amount of
expectation. The question of food sup
ply is one OF distribution rather than
production, and it will be necessary
TO transport to the more barren states
products from those localities where
normal or nearly normal crops pre-
undoubtedly died Of starvation in the
capital last year, this was due not to
shortage of food, but to the impossible
ity of adequately transporting what
was available.
Regular Train Service.
Within the last few months, accord
ing to the department officials, means
of transportation have increased many
fold. Regular train service has been
resumed not only with the United
States border but between interior
points and railroads. which have been
idle for an extended period have re-
sumed operation.
The corn crop, the great Mexican
food staple. will be good in all por-
tons Of the ernublic except Zacate-
cas-, Durango, Chihuahua and San Luis
Potosi In each of those states dis
turbed conditions have not only pre-
vented planting, but have left the
farmers with an inadequate supply OF
seed corn. In other states the corn
crop has been excellent. The agri-
cultural departments also expects TO
add to the available supply large
amount of old corn hitherto held for
arge price advances.
Bean Crop Is Good.
The bean crop. according to depart.
mental reports, while not a bumper
one, will be sufficient TO permit the
expectation Of old beans, the embargo
on foreign sale of which recently was
removed by a decree Of the first chief.
In connection with the bean crop, Off
Gals Of the department declare that
the shortage of crops in Durango is
due solely to the speculative opera
tons Of Pancho Villa In the last two
years. When the Constitutionalist
movement took form in 1913, the rich
farmers abandoned their ranches and
fed to Mexico City. The poor people
who had worked on these properties,
however. proceeded to raise tremen-
dous crop Of beans which were stored
throughout the state. Villa, It Is said,
found this supply and shipped 1t to
the United States for sale leaving only
mated that he shipped over 100000
bushels of beans and officials say the
state has never recovered from the
scarcity which resulted.
Cotton Crop Smaller.
The production of cotton, 1t is ad-
mitted by the department OF agricul-
ture, will fall fifty per cent below
normal, but reports from the Laguna
district as to the amount OF water now
in the streams, which in some seasons
are entirely dry, indicates a full crop
next year.
There is a great need among the
farmers for new parts OF the more
simple types OF agricultural machin-
cry and the department of agriculture
now is preparing a plan whereby such
supplies as pillow points and other ma
chinery parts will be bought in large
quantities by the government and sold
at cost to the small farmers.
Efforts already are being made by
the government to establish a system
of farm loans. In Colima commits
sion has been appointed TO disburse
100000 pesos provided by the govern
ment among the more needy small
farmers of the states. Similar organi-
cations are being formed in other parts
Of the republic.