The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-10-19
FARMERS PROFIT
FROM BOND SALE
$500 00o, 900 OF LIBERTY LOAN
WILL BUY FooDsTUFFs
FIRST YEAR.
2.l45.ll7 MEN ARE TO BE FED
Products OF the Soil Must Be Pur
chased In Million Pound Lots
10 For An Indefinite Period.

The importance to the Michigan
farmer of the 100000, 900 Liberty
loan war fund which the government
10 raising is we'll set forth in the state.
ment on eQuipping and feeding our
national army. recently published by
the war department. During the first
year alone the greater part of $780,.
100000 of the fighting fund must be
returned to the farming communities
of the United States.
There are at least 1.645,117 men ia
the army and navy, and the first ma
tional army. If 100000 men are called
in the next draft, as seems probable,
there will be at least 2,145,117 men to
be fed, clothed and equipped.
1t Is estimated that 1t costs 35 cents
a day to feed man in the army and
IL cents in the navy. This would mean
that 1882, 647,230 would have to be
spent for food in one year for the
army and navy, the first draft army,
and the half million who probably will
be called
1t is believed that it costs $50 to
equip a man for the army, and $50 for
the navy. At this rate it would cost
f109,5s7, 900 to equip the forces men.
toned above.
There must also be considered an
item OF $118,625, 900 for feeding horses
and mules In the army. Taking all
these items together, the bill is $780,.
869,230.
prf oh ntatn
men. The British government has
spent $3.50, 100000 for feeding and
clothing these men. That means that
b00.000,000 was expended for 1000.
600 men on the other side. or as much
per man as the United States Is spend.
ing.
Horses and mules accompanying the
American army to Europe must be
provided every year with 100000
tons of hay, 100000 bushels of oats,
100000 bushels Of bran and 100000
tons of straw bedding. In round fig.
ures, this produce will cost the gov.
eminent $4,000 every day, or $118,.
$4,000 every year The farmer is the
one who profits most from this great
expenditure on the part of the govern.
ment Another instance where the
farmer benefits from the war is as fol.
lows. The navy department in the
next twelve months will need canned
vegetables in the following amounts:
Corn, lbs. .................. 100000
Peas, lbs. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 100000
Lima and string beans, lbs. 100000
Tomatoes. beets and spin
ach, lbs. .................1O ,000, 900
Then, too, three-quarters of mil.
lion pounds Of dried apples, two mil
lion pounds of apricots and almost
four million pounds of jams and pre-
serves will be required.
The rationing OF the new army, in
Guiding the men who have been draft
ed, is a stupendous task. There will
be sixteen cantonments, and these
will rejuire annually:
100000 blu. of potatoes,
100000 blu. of onions,
$4,000 gals. of pickles,
10000 gals. OF vinegar,
$4,000 blu. Of navy beans,
10000 blu. of evaporated apples.
$4,000 blu. of evaporated peaches,
16,500,00 lbs. of butter,
100000 lbs. of canned tomatoes.
100000 lbs. of coffee,
100000 lbs. Of sugar.
FAC, 000, 900 lbs. of bread,
ESQ, 000, 900 lbs. beef mutton and pork;
and this does not include tea, milk
and fresh vegetables.
For every man in the trenches, four
keep him supplied with food, clothing
and ammunitions. Not the least i'm
portant Of these four is the farmer.
Remote from the scene Of activity
often uniformed from day to day OF
the movements of our troops-none
the less does the duty rest upon him
OF supplying the soldier with food and
q considerable portion of the raw ma
terial used In his Equipment.
All OF this increased buying is going
TO bring an added income to the small
communities, to the farmers and stock
raisers. Though the activities of the
people of this country are going to be
tudu tuOSC tiiiCo VI pChSC,
there will be no lull. On the contrary
there will be more work to do than
there are men and women left on this
side of the Atlantic to do it. To sup
ply our own army and navy with food
and equipment, and to furnish our al
lies with the wherewithal to continue
the struggle. is task that requires
the unceasing energy OF every Ameri-
can.
Since so large part Of the money
raised by the Liberty Loan will be
spent with the farmer, 1t is not only a
patriotic duty but good business
proposition for him to invest In gov
eminent bonds. The increased In
come from larger profits should be
invested in the safest and best pos.
eible way.