Grand Forks herald., 1916-09-25
FOOD STUFFS
ARE PLENTIFUL
Production Great Enough to
Obviate Shortage, Says
Mexican Officers.

Mexico City. Sept. 5.-(Correspond-
ence of the Associated Press. 1.-THE
production of food stuffs in Mexico
for the current year has obviated any
chance OF shortage, according to the
department Of agriculture. The crops
are said to be not only sufficient to
prevent famine but will make Mexico
practically independent Of Importation
Of food stuffs from other countries.
although certain amount of corn
and flour will continue to be imported
into the northern Netates from the
United States because Of superior
facilities for transportation to those
localities.
The crops, it is admitted, will not
reach normal production but will be
sufficient to allow a certain amount
of expectation. The question of food
supply is one of distribution rather
than production. and it will be neces-
sary to transport to the more barren
states products from those localities
where normal or nearly normal crops
prevail. 1t is pointed out that while
some undoubtedly died of starvation
in the capital last year, this was due
not to shortage of food but to the
impossibility of adequately transport
ing what was available.
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 Unit
ed 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-
tions Of the republic except Zacatecas,
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 the other states the
corn crop has been excellent. The
agricultural department also expects
to add to the available supply a large
amount of old corn hitherto held for
large price advances.
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 the foreign sale Of which recently
was removed by a deere of the first
chief. In connection with the bean
crop, officials of the department de-
clare that the shortage Of crops in
Durango is due solely to the specula-
tive operations of Pancho Villa in the
last two years. When the constitu-
,, tionalist movement took form in 1918,
the rich farmers abandoned their
ranches and fled to Mexico City. The
poor people who had worked on these
properties, however, proceeded to
raise a tremendous crop of beans
, which were stored throughout the
state. Villa, it is said. found this sup
ply and shipped 1t to the United States
for sale leaving not even enough for
seed supply. 1t is estimated he shipped
over 100000 bushels Of beans and
officials say the state never has recov-
cred from the scarcity which resulted
The production Of cotton, it is ad-
mitted by the department Of agricul-
ture, will fall so per cent below nor
NAL but reports from the Laguna dis
trict as to the amount Of water now
In the streams which in some seasons
are entirely dry, indicates 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 plow points and other
machinery narts 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 system
OF farm loans. In Colima commits
sion has been appointed to disburse
100000 pesos provided by the gov
ernment among the more needy small
farmers of the states. Similar organi-
cations are being formed in other
parts Of the republic.