The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1916-08-24
Everything In Way Of Food Is
Produced Here.
EXPERTS FIGURES GIVEN.
Chamber of Commerce Finds That
Country Might Have to Go Short on
Coffee and Tea In Case of Blockade.
but These Are Considered Luxuries.
Production Increasing.

One worry of the fighting nations
need not keep the United States awake
the National Chamber of Commerce
finds.
The report of the chambers commit
tee on statistics and standards. just
published. proves that no matter how
severe a blockade might be drawn
about the country II would be impos,
sible to starve American stomachs into
capitula ton.
| 1t would be necessary to get along
J without importations of coffee. tea and
| cocoa. and these are not extensively
| grown In this country, but all these are
classed by the committee as Injuries.
The most impressive point, the COM
mittee says. Is that while the popula-
| ton of the country has increased 200
per cent in half a century its food pro-
duction has been increasing in that
same period from $50 to 1900 per cent
| in prime commodities.
The most important product-wheat
has increased in production $50 per
cent and corn 270 per cent. The pro
duction of rice shows the greatest In
crease. being 5000 per cent. and barley
comes second. with 1000 per cent Oats
and Irish potatoes have increased in
production i73 per cent and go per
cent respectively.
Wheat Exports Vary.
THE usual argument that we are be
coming a food importing country is
based on the statement that our eX-
ports of foodstuffs are decreasing while
imports are increasing" the report goes
on
"In the case of wheat. the greatest of
all cereals used directly for human
food it will be seen the exports vary
decidedly from year to year, being af-
fected by great number of contribut-
ing causes. but that exports have shown
an apprecia BILE increase during the last
five years. while the imports always
have been and still continue negligi-
BILE quantity
The falling off In exports OF corn Is
due largely to the numerous new uses
found for it at home in ways often not
directly as human food The last two
years show a large increase proportion
ately in imports. principally from the
Argentine.
"These imports were actually in
small volume compared with the pro
duction of any surplus growing corn
state and had small relation to the
the result of decreased domestic pro
duction owing to drought in the two
years In question and consequent nigh
prices"
The importance of luxuries is held to
be entirely question of taste and our
extensive use of them an evidence or
our ability to crafty this taste and not
a matter of necessity. In case of stress
we could well get along without them.
as was generally done in the south dur
ing the civil war. which is different
proposition from not raising enough
wheat for our own use and trying to
get along without that
Rice is not a natural North American
product. being plant of tropical and
subtropical countries. vet while both
importations and expectations have In
creased in about equal proportion pro-
duction has outstripped them both,
Indicating that the largely increased
demand is being met by domestic pro
duction even more than by foreign
importation.
A definite proof of surplus produc-
ton of agricultural products beyond
orr needs. according to the report, Is
the fact that each year we carry from
the former harvest into the succeeding
harvest from 20 to % per cent Of the
yield of the principal cereals
Cane Sugar Booms.
Cane sugar is pointed to as most
remarkable exhibit 1t is largely
tropical and subtropical product and
consequently can be grown only In a
limited area in the United States. Like
wise the production of sugar in this
country has always been complicated
bv the matter of tariff.
Yet DESPITE these facts. according to
tbe report. domestic production in
creased about i,OOO per ceHl aSalhst
about 1000 per cent in imports. Mean
while exports from this country have
increased over 1000 per cent
There is scarcely an agricultural food
product. either primary or secondary,
the production of which has not out
stripped the growth of population in
the last fifteen years. and the real
problem IS not to seek needed supplies
abroad. but to find an adequate and
satisfactory market for the constantly
increasing output"
So far as the money value is con-
cerned. according to the national cham
Der authorities. the expectation In 1914
of pork packing house products alone
was seven times greater than all the
live cattle brought into the country
during that year. OF the S154.Oo0.oOo
of packing house products imported in
1914. only s20.O00.000 was meat in
tended for food. while pork packing
house products exported totaled Slo4.-
GOO. 900 for the same period.