East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1917-10-29
Lack of Ships Keeps Aus
tralian Grain From
Reaching Europe.
MEANWHILE ECONOMY
DESIRED IN AMERICA
United States and Canadian
Grain Must Make Up for
Lack at Present.
(Dy Herbert Hoover, United States
food Administrator

The United States Food Administra.
tion is necessarily most deeply con
cerned in the problem of production
our great department of agriculture
has primarily the duty of education
in production, but Il falls upon the
food administration to keep in con
stant touch with the food demands OF
cur own people and the needs the
allies and other nations, and to arrive
at broad conclusions as to what is re-
puired from the American producer
in order to serve these combined in
terests during the war. 1t is this as
Iect OF food supplies that 1 wish to
treat in asking your cooperation in an
effort to increase the live stock of
this country.
A World Viewpoint of Food Produc-
ton.
In considering the production ot
food from the world point OF view.
we can obtain clarity OF vision If we
divide our foodstuffs roughly into
bread grains. meats and fats. and
fodder grains. This classification Is
based less upon chemistry and agricul-
ture than upon the commerce OF food
There are two aspects from which
we can consider this problem: The
irst is the. aspect OF our immediate
necessities as war measure and the
second, the broader aspect of the
world need after peace; for. coudi-
tIons growing out of the war disturb
nnce to production will have the most
material effect on the whole agricul-
ture OF the world for many years sub
sequent to peace.
But in order to arrive at some prop
IN Ev11fr aaHI IN \
problem, we need TO review the pres
ent situation as to world food sup
Tlies and the necessary reactions we
must obtain to remedy the weakness
in this situation.
Tho first commodity for considera-
tion must be wheat-the predominant
bread grain. Our rye takes a very mi
nor part In bread making. for our to-
tai export possibilities are only co.
900, 900 bushels. From European
breadstuff point of view, the other ce-
reals are substitutes to be used in
mixing with wheat. and n certain am.
cunt OF wheat is essential.
Tables I and " give an illuminating
view of the world situation.
Table Wheat situation I'm France
It1ly. the United Kingdom, and Bel
gum: Bushels
Three-year prewar average
imports from United
states ................ 79,426. 900
Three-year prewar average
imports from. Canada. 112 800. 900
Three-year prewar average
imports from elsewhere1 ss. .47s0Oe .
Total ........,. ...... .SNO.SO .ouO .
Average production ......59O, SIS, 600 1
E'timated production for
1917 .....,......l..... 1913, 40, 900 .
1917 deficiency ........., 1876. $3.50 900 /
Total imports required
to maintain normal
consumption ....,.....577TO9,O 600 4
Table IT,--Estimated export sur
plus OF wheat in various countries
from 1917 planting; Bushels.
United States ........... S0,000,0oo
Canada ..I............. 5O,OOO,OOO
Total North American
surplus ......,..... 230.00O,O00
Australia:
Present surplus ...'....12O.0O0. on
New-crop surplus ......120, 600, 600
India:
Present surplus ..... 5O,O00.0O0
New crop surplus ..... 7O,OOO,OOO
ArRentina: Estimated sur
plus from Jan. harvest 10000, ,O0A
Total, other supplies ...540, 100000
rand total ....,....... ..77O,OOO.OON
Enlarged shipping Facilities Could
Relieve Wheat shortage.
There is. therefore. ample promise
of a supply without effort on our
part II shipping were available to
transport It. But the worlds ship
ping is already too short to afford
sufficient tonnage to traverse the
longer routes. and the bulk Of the
lead thus falls upon North America.
The Journey to Australia and India !
requires three times the time Of one /
to North America and thus three |
times as many ships to transport the
same quantity. Furthermore. the /
American route is best protected. /
The problem is thus simply one of :
ships. If ample shipping existed ,
there would be no need for saving or
increased production of wheat on the
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