Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1917-04-12
W|[UST0N PREPARES TO ANSWER
CALL Of COUNTRY IN WORLD WAR

training and experience he is best
fitted to render.
The first meeting of the Williston
Civilian Auxiliary will be held at the
Armory next Monday night April IS
at 8. P. M. A temporary organiza-
ton will then be perfected and a gen.
eral discussion of the plans and pur-
poses will be carried on. Every man
who wishes to do his bit to help
should attend. Already some IS men,
including many of the younger lead
ing businessmen of the city have en-
rolled and are taking an active in
terest. ..a
Williston and Williams county's
biggest work in the great world strug-
gle is to be the raising Of grain
furnishing bread in fact, during the
war. Located in a wheat raising
state we are called early to the ma
TONS help and steps in several direc-
tions along this line have already been
taken this week.
With the formal declaration by
Congress of state of war with Ger
many, no other factor. in the nation
al situation is Of greater Importance
at this moment than intelligent, pre-
cautionary preparations to secure the
largest possible acreage Of land under
cultivation, and particularly In the
food crops, during the coming sea-
son. War brings with it its drain
on agricultural resources as on no
other industry. The population must
be fed. If, unfortunately, weather
conditions should be unfavorable, and
the yield no better than last years,
the food situation next year will be
so much worse than it is now that
we may we'll take alarm while yet
there is time to provide against the
possibility. North Dakota is by great
odds the largest producer of spring
wheat in the Union, and on North
Dakota must rest considerable por-
tion of the responsibility of feeding
not only its own people, but the pop
ulation Of other states and in assist
ing in provisioning the Nations
armies. Regarding the crop situa-
tion, the following paragraph is quot
ed from the North Dakota Develop
ment League which has completed
an approximate summary:
World Depends on 1917
"The present crop year began with
a large carry-over of all the grains,
but it will end without reserves, and
the whole world will be dependent
upon the crops of 1917. The begin
ming is not good. The Argentine
wheat crop, now harvested, is 80
nearly failure that there will be lit
tie for export, and the corn crop will
be not much better. The Australian
wheat crop, which, like that of Ar
gentine, is harvested in the months
of our winter, is estimated at 139,-
392, 900 bushels, against 187, 1920, 900
last year, but fortunately there is
estimated at 8O,OOO,OOO
bushels. A semi-official report puts
The condition of French winter wheat
at 65 per cent, against "a last year,
and states that owing to lack of fer
tilizer and want of proper prepara-
tion of the soil the yield will be below
normal. The crop of Holland is un-
promising, and of England backward
In the United States there has been
4 shortage of moisture in the prin-
cipal wheat states. The plant is not
known to be injured, and there is
vet time for sufficient moisture to
come, but if it was under a snow
covering, the outcome would be bet
ter assured. A freeze has cut off the
early vegetable crop in the southern
states, which would have soon re-
ieved the present scarcity"
Unusual Features
There are unusual features in the
situation which deserve attention.
High wages in town industries have
oeen drawing men from the farms.
The farmers outlay for seed and all
expenses is, higher, and while high
prices for products are usually ex-
oected to stimulate larger produc-
ion, they may not do so this year.
In ordinary times we can draw on
,ther countries to make up for do
nestle shortage. We have frequent
Y imported potatoes from Europe, !,
md the effects of not being able to
10 so now are apparent 1t is just as
under present conditions
o have reserves of food as reserves
f cartridges. A nation cannot fight
n an empty stomach. When so much
$ dependant upon a good crop, it is
he part Of prudence for the entire
ommunity to concern itself about
he situation from the beginning of
he season. North Dakota must so
oncern itself. AS a unit in the
tate's production scheme this COM
1unity must so concern itself.
Garden production can be greatly
increased if a populat interest is
wakened and systematic efforts are
,ade to place idle lots in 'Williston
nd nearby tracts at the disposal of
eople who are willing to work them.
here are certain common vegetables
'hich make up a large part Of the
Md sunnlv. such as notatoes heans.