The Tomahawk., 1917-08-30

nearest markets, the United States
and the West Indies. This field has
since the war increased it's production
by 100000 tons per annum. How far
this demand will interfere with the
American supply OF 100000 tons Is
difficult to forecast, first because some
increased supplies may be obtained by
the allies from the East Indies. and.
second. because the allies have re-
duced their consumption to some eX-
tent
In any event, if all the enemies OF
Germany are to be supplied. there
must be economy in consumption
everywhere The normal American
consumption is about 90 pounds per
person per annum and is just double
the French consumption.
Vegetables.
We have this year Il most abundant
crop of vegetables for our use as re-
universal throughout the country, Our
potato harvest alone promises an in
crease from 2S5.OO0,OOO bushels last
year to over 4OO,OOO,CO0 bushels this
year. The other vegetables are like
wise enormously increased through
the planting and extension of millions
of gardens. The sweet potato crop
promises to be from 10 to 20 per cen,
above what it was last year, and the
commercial crop of sweet corn FOR
canning purposes is estimated to DC
from 20 to 80 per cent above that or
last year. The commercial crop OF
tomatoes for canning purposes Will
probably be somewhere between III
and 20 per cent above what it was last
year. There is an increase in the acre
age of late onions of about 81 per cent
over the area harvested in 1916.
Fish and Sea Foods.
The waters Of our coasts and lakes
are enormously rich in food fish and
shell fish. Our streams, too, contribute
great quantity Of fish. Many Varle-
ties are now not used for human food,
but are thrown away or used for fertl-
lizer. Habit has confined our use OF
fish to few varieties, and inadequate
methods of commercial handling have
limited our use Of these largely to only
certain days in the week. with better
marketing facilities, with better under
standing of how to use the most varle-
ties with proper preservation by
s. 'ne and sailing and by establish
in" plants for frozen fish, we can IN
crease greatly our supply and thus re-
lieve largely the pressure due to the
inadequate supply of meat. We only
have to harvest our own fish supply.
1t feeds itself. Every fish eaten is
that much gained in solving the pres
ent problem of living. The products
of the land alN conserved by eating
those of the sea.
Our Duty.
I have endeavored to show in previ-
GUS articles that the world is short OF
food; that Europe is confronted with
the grim specter of starvation unless
from our abundance and our waste we
keep the wolf from the door. Not only
must we have a proper use of our food
supply in order that we may furnish
they may fight our battles, but it IS
an act of humanity towards fellow
men, women and children.
BY the diversion of millions OF men
from production to war, by the occu-
patton of land by armies, by the lso-
lation Of markets, by belligerent lines,
and by the destruction of shipping by
submarines, not only has the home pro-
duction of our allies fallen by over
5OO,OOO,OOO bushels Of grain, but they
are thrown upon us for a much larger
proportion of their normal imports for
merly obtained from other markets.
They have reduced consumption at
every point, but men in the trenches,
men in the shops, and the millions or
women placed at physical labor re-
ouire more food than during peace
times, and the incidence of their saving
and any shortage which they may suf-
fer, falls first upon women and chill
dren. If this privation becomes too
great, their peoples cannot be main
tanned constant in the war, and we will
be left alone to fight the battle Of
democracy with Germany.
The problem Of food conservation Is
one Of many compilations. We cannot,
and we do not wish, with our free in
situations and our large resources OF
food, to initiate Europe in its policed
rationing, but we must voluntarily and
intelligently assume the responsibility
before us as one in which everyone
has a direct and unacceptable interest.
We must increase our export of foods
to the allies, and in the circumstances
of our shipping situation, these exports
must be of the most concentrated
foods. These are wheat, flour, beef,
pork and dairy products. We have 9TH
er foods in great abundance which we
can use instead of these commodities,
and we can prevent wastes in a thou
sand directions. We must guard the
drainage of exports from the United
States, that we retain proper supply
for our own country, and we must
ADOPT such measures as will anchor