The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-01-04
BUTTER MARKET
IS T0PSY-TURVY.
As a Result Of the European
War Declares the National
Geographic Society.

WOrluS Dutter market, one OI tHe
youngest OF the great international
markets, has been turned topsy-turvy
by the European conflict" begins
bulletin issued today by the National
Geographic Society, which sketches
one Of the interesting phases OF econ
omic chaos brought about by the new
war geography. ut remained to
most recent times to bring butter and
other perishable goods into channels
of international trade. The develop
ment of modern technique, especially
that of refrigeration and the indus
trialization of cities, regions and OF
whole countries are the causes that
have operated to make butter one OF
the important commodities OF world
commerce. Before the war, European
butter dishes were filled with the
products of Siberia. Argentine, Aus
tralia and New Zealand. 1t Is esti-
mated that more than 6OO.OOO,oOo
pounds of butter were sold In inter-
national trade every year.
To-day. however. all channels OF
the butter trade have been disorgan-
lied 1t Is reported that one OF the
most serious shortages in the Cen
trail Powers Is that Of fat and oils.
America, Siberia and Western Russia
supplied the Germans with butter In
normal times, but these sources have
been largely dried up by the war.
Germany, itself, produced considera-
BILE OF its home supply. and, since
the outbreak OF hostlities, has en-
deavored to increase Its production,
In the last year, 1t produced 96O,o00,-
900 pounds of butter, and imported
about 10000, 900 pounds. 1t con-
sumes, normally, 1,070,OOO,0Oo
pounds year.
Little Denmark possesses the
greatest butter export and, In sense
owes this distinction to the powerful
competition of Amerluan grains In
the seventies, which forced the Danes
to turn from bread production and TO
concentrate their efforts upon the
production of butter for the bread
Denmark exports more than lSO,ooo'-
900 pounds of butter yearly, and It's
fancy buffers are the finest made. 1t,
also, acts as middleman for great
quantities of Finnish and Russian
butter. The small northern Kingdom
has sold increasing quantities OF but
ter. cream and milk in the German
market since the outbreak Of the
war. =,
GAS an immediate result of the 81
berian railway, Russia took an as
founding stride in the production OF
butter, siberia's production OF this
commodity becoming in a short time
more important than its production
of furs and gold. Russia became one
of the first butter-selling countries
in the world Special butter trains
became a significant feature OF Rus
sian railroadlng, and Windau, Petro-
grad and Riga became butter ports OF
renown. AT the time
Of the wars outbreak Russia was
selling 100000 pounds of but
ter in the worlds market. Of which
Germany was taking 60,OOO,OOo
hounds. The Russian production has
since. according to reports, been
turned almost entirely into the army
kitchens.
"The third greatest butter dealer
in the worlds market was far-away
Australia, the country with the great
est butter per capita consumption.
Australia sold 94.o00,O00 pounds OF
butter yearly, most OF which was dis
posed of in the London market. Hol-
land dealt strongly in butter, selling
yearly some 5S,O00,0O0 pounds, and
more than half of this turned over
into Germany. Sweden and Finland
we're other important butter-sellers,
while France, though 1t sold very Ut
tie butter, true to its nature, sold
that little as a rich luxury to the
discriminating palaces Of London's
West End. Canada, Australian
gary. Argentina and the United States
COMPLETED the list Of exporting coun-
tries.
england led all purchasers of
butter, taking such enormous guam
titles as to consume two-thirds of all
the products brought into interna-
tional trade. During recent years,
England has purchased regularly
more than 40o,0O0.0O0 pounds OF
butter per annum. Denmark, Siberia,
sweden, Australia, New Zealand,
France and North and South Ameri-
m have all contributed the butter for
England's bread. Denmark, today, Is
selling heavily of its butter to En-
gland. The Siberian source has
been stopped up by the war and the
sales of many Of the northern coun-