Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-09-21
MEXICO WILL HAVE
4 LARGE CROP FOOD
STUFFs THIS YEAR

MEXICO CITY, Sept. 21.-The pro-
duction 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 20 be not only sufficient to
prevent famine but will make Mexico
practically Independent of importation
OF food stufis from other countries
although certain amount of corn and
-four will continue to be imported into
the northern states 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 sup
ply is one of distribution rather than
production, and 1t will be necessary to
transport to the more barren states
products from these localities whera
normal or nearly normal crops pre-
vail. 1t is pointed out that while some
undoubtedly died of starvation in the
carital last year, this was due not 10
shortage of food but to the impossible
ity of adequately transporting what
wac available.
Within the last few months, accord
ing to the department officials, means
CT 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 portions
Of the Republic except Zacatecas,
Durango, Chihuahua and San Luis
Potosi. In each of these states dis
turbed conditions have not only pre-
vented planting but have left the farm
ers with an inadequate supply of seed
corn. In the other states the corn
crop has been excellent. The agricul-
tural department also expects to add
to the available supply large amount
of old corn hitherto held for large
price advances.
The bean crop, according to depart
mental reports, while not bumper
one, will be sufficient to permit the
expectation of old beans, the embargo
on the foreign sale of which recently
was removed by decree OF the First
Chief In connection with the ban crop
officials of the department declare that
the shortage of crops in Durango is
due solely to the speculative opera
tions of Pancho Villa in the last two
years. When the Constitutionalist
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 a tre-
mendous crop of beans which were
stored throughout the state. Villa, it
is said found this supply and shipped
it 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 recovered 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 norm
al but reports from the Laguna dis
trict as to teh amount of water now In
the streams which in some seasons are
entirely dry, indicates a full crop next
year.
There is 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 plan whereby such
supplies as plowpoints and other
narte will he hOupht n