The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-04-15
Declares William Joseph sho-
walter, Writer for National
Geographic Society.
,s.se,A. 70 IN. 1sl.sa.s,

| 'srseiAL TO rrs rsLsssan
WASHINGTON. April 15.-Forcast-
ing condition in the future In which
there will be too many people in the
world for the grain fields and stock
ranges to feed. the question Of pos
sible general shortage in humanity's
market basket supplies has received
more than 100 years OF volumlnous
consideration. Since the outbreak of
the world-war. probabilities OF food
shortages have been discussed more
than ever before. but in respect to
definite and narrow geographical linn
itatlons. William Joseph Showalter,
in careful study Of the worlds food
supply. considering the bulk produced,
its distribution. and the potentialities
for increased production. discounts
present-day fears Of ultimate universal
famine. or the bugaboo theory that n
general under-supply Of foodstuffs is
the menace Of the future, he has the
following to say in study prepared
for the National Geographic Society
at Washington:
MANY men are inclined to sound a
pessimistfc note as to the adequacy
Of the worlds food supply for future
generations, and. like Nautilus hun
dred years ago. are inclined to predict
that the day has at last come when
the human race must cease to expand
its numbers, or else face inevitable
hunger.
Many Months to Feed.
[ "And when we consider how many
| mn he t1,ora a in htu tunr1d IN, faad
and how much food 1t takes to satisfy
them. little room is there to wonder at
this pessimism.
1.-THE earth's population today
reaches a grand total Of about 1.70O,-
100000 souls. II they were all set
down at banquet II would require
sixteen tables reaching around the
globe to seat them. For every ounce
OF food they ate, the dinner-giver
would have to provide $1,000 tons OF
provisions, and if the dinner were no
more than a democratic dollar-a-plate
affair. 1t would cost, In the aggregate.
as much as It costs to run the United
States government year and half.
Expressed in terms OF annual con-
sumption, the worlds market basket
is one that detles portrayal in weight
and size. One is forced to cast around
for new units OF measurement to give
a proper idea OF its proportions. AS
Stunning that the average inhabitant
OF the earth uses two pounds of pro-
visions day, the total for the year
would amount to billion and quar-
ter tons. 1t would require a string Of
cars. carrying thirty tons to the car.
and reaching eight times around the
earth, to haul this material.
1.-THE fact, however, is that the aver
age inhabitant OF the earth probably
uses more than two pounds OF provis-
ions a day. The steerage passengers
on English ships are allowed IL
pounds each day. Even the prisoner
in the average jail gets more than two
pounds; the Russian conscript four
pounds: and the Austrian common SOL
dler two and one-half pounds day.
Big Expense.
"Still another way to get an idea OF
the size Of the worlds food problem
is to assume that the average individ-
lual consumes ten cents worth Of food
daily. On, this basis II would require
the entire national wealth OF the Uni
ted States, the, richest nation of all his
tory. to pay the worlds food hill for
twenty-six months. For every cent
per day per capita that the cost OF liv-
ing increases. more than $4,000 600. 900
is added to the worlds annual market
basket expense.
"But when one considers the possi-
bilities Of future food production, Il
Is difficult to have much faith in the
prophecies. OF pessimism Of these
Notwithstanding successes OF NAL
thus. For instance. IN the United
States we have 925 NM. ono acres of
arabic land only 100000 900 or. which
arc under cultivation. Yet. with less
than half Of our available land utilized
tho United States produces one-s,xth
Of the worlds wheat. seven-ninths OF
its corn. one-fonrth Of its oats. one
eighth Of It's cattle. one-third OF its
hoes. and one-twelfth Of its sheen.
/ Gwen with tho land now under cuI-
tivation. II we produced es much wheat
per acre as England and Germany. we
could supply the world with two-thirds
81 its hogs. and one-twelfth OF its
sheep.
Seven with the land now under Gull
tyation, II we produced as much wheat