The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-04-06

The decrease in corn, oats and barley
was also very heavy; While the po-
tato crop was the shortest Tor many
years. The aggregate decrease Ill
grain and the other food crops last
year amounted to 1,313,OO0,0VO Oh Dus-
nels o. an aggregate OF 13 ousheIS
per CAPITA for every man, woman anu
child in the United States. Tne 1ull
force of this can be better understood
when il is remembered that the Ell
tire consumption of wheat for 1904
in this country averages only about
five bushels per capita. The country
is therefore entering the new crop
season more nearly bare of foodstuhs
than for many years. The stock OF
grain on the farms is now 1OO,0Oo'-
600 bushels less than it was at thls
time last year. We are, therefore,
practically facing famine condltlons
for food; certainly famine prices.
.'Eyen if the European war should
end during the present year-ai-
though ] have no anticipation or thls
food prices would keep on adVanc-
ing. because many European coun-
tries are even now so near starvation
basis that a cessation Of W YOU'D
Immediately create an ur. e edent-
cd demand for all foodstufs. It is
entirely possible to raise more cot
ton than the world would neeo our
ing the next crop year, suposang tne
war continues II months longer; pdt
if is not possible to raise too mucn
food. Indeed, it is not possible 70
raise enough. I look for a contlh-
ued advance in grain, provisions anu
other food supplies to such an ex-
tent that q year hence we shall LOOK
back and think Of present prices as
being very low by comparison. Inc
outlook for the wheat crop is not at
all satisfactory and we are in dan
ger of very small yield.
"The supply of live stock is scarce
ly equal to what it was ten years ago.
Increased by 100000 and the great
demand, at high wages, for mechan-
les and day laborers has resulted IN
a larger consumption Of meats than
SSN
ever before.
"These facts are of vital IN
terest to the South. Unless this Sec
ton raises an abundant supply or
food for man and beast it will sufer
disastrously. 1t will be almost a
crime for any farmer in the Soutn
not to raise at least enough 1000
supplies for his own family. Every
banker, merchant and manufacturer
il the South should cooperate with !
the farmer in bringing about more
attention to the production of food
stuffs this summer and fall Every
family in town or village IN the
South, having a back yard, shoulo
raise as many vegetables as possible.
Even if it should cost them as much
to raise them as to buy them. Inls
would leave a larger supply for those
who have no back yards to cultivate.
.sIn a material way no greater ca
lamity can come on country than |
lack of foodstuffs and the consequent
exorbitant prices. Under such con-
ditions the drain on the individual
and the community lessons vitality
yiriltv and business efficiency. The
rich man who does not feel the cost
of high priced food is therefore as
directly interested because OF MS
interest in the community's prosperity
as the poor man because of the 1ooo
supply. These facts are OF such
supreme Importance thai they should
be emphasized in every public gath
erins. through every newspaper anc
through every governmental lnnu-
ence. Indeed, they are so important
that the ministe" of the gospel would
not 90 al..iss if he repeatedly en-
phasized these truths and their bear
ing upon the welfare of the country.
the poorer people and the men OF fix-
ed income will have to face very
menacing condition in this food short
age
Looked at from the broad view
point of the nations welfare, it also
becomes supremely important that
we should increase our production
of fooistuffs. We are entering upon