The weekly soliphone., 1917-08-23
SHORTAGE OF
MEATS ACUTE
Food Administrator Hoover Writes
Interestingly of International
Conditions

Washington, Aug. 20.--The Foot
, Administration today issued thu
following statement:
A total decrease of 115.005, 200
in the worlds meat producing ami
| mails is shown in a. comparison o.
present with pre-war conditions
While the increase of cattle in the
United States was 100000 during
this period, the total world de.
crease was 2S,0sO.0OO. Sheep de-
creased 100000 in the United
States, and 54,5OO.0OO in the world
Hogs increased G,275,000 in the
United States, but decreased 3d.
425,000 in the world supply.
The demands made by war on
the American meat supply is fur
Their shown in the growth of our
meat exports for the year ending
June 80, 1916, which were 1899
10000 pounds as compared with
493,S4S,000 pounds for Swear
pre-war average. These exports
have chiefly gone to our allies,
whose capital stock of animals has
decreased by 33,000,O00 heads,
Although the European countries
have drastically reduced meat con
sumption among non-war workers,
this saving has been overcome by
the greatly increased demands to
supply men in the armies and
shops, and the women who have
taken up physical labor. This de-
mand has been SO great that Europe
has been eating into its herds at
an alarming rate, mad this condi-
ton will continue to grow worse
each day as the war progresses.
This is problem that America
must meet. not only during the
war. but after it has ended.
Owing to the ascending standard
of living. the world was already
strained to supply enough animal
products to meet the demand before
the war began The war has in
jected into an already difficult sit
uation a number of vicious condi-
tons which are jeopardizing the
ultimate animal products supply of
the world. The production of
fodder in Europe has been diminish
ed by the diversion of productive
labor to war, and it's import has
been curtailed by shortage in ship
ping and by the isolation of mar
kets by bclligcrent lines. From
these causes not only are the actual
numbers of animals decreasing il,
Europe. but the aveage weight and
the annual output of dairy products
per animal are decreasing.
The men in the armies, the men
engaged in the shops, and the mil
lions Of women forced to physical
labor, have required greatly in
creased supply of animal products.
Millions of individuals to whom
fresh meat twice week was a
luxury. are now, by necessity OF
their extreme physical labor. eating
it twice daily. The supply of wool
and leather has decreased in a per-
iod when there are additional de-
mands, for the extra amount OF
normal clothing required for the
soldiers must be met. All Euro
pean countries have drastically re-
duced the consumption Of meat and
clothing among the non-war work
ers to point that would seem i'm
possible to the American people,
but despite this, the actual meat,
fat, wool, and leather consumption
in the allied countries has increas-
ed as result of the war. Under
the pressure of these forces. Europe
has been eating into its herds and
flocks, and thus is burning the can
die at both ends.
These vicious forces accumulate
impetus as the war goes on, for
with a diminished herd and thus
a diminished production and a
continuous demand, the inroads on
the herds. grow in volume.
The problem facing the American
people is not only one Of supplying
the immediate demand of the al
lies, but one which is more far
reaching in it's future significance
AS the war goes on there will be
a constant lessening of the capital
stock of food animals of the world
Among our western allies, the de-
mand outruns further every day the
decreasing production, and as ship.
ping becomes further shortened by
continued submarine destruction
less tonnage can be devoted to fod
der and further reduction of the
herds must cnsue. These dcstruc
tive forces have given rise to re-
actions in many directions. The
worlds supply of meat and dairy