Mexico Missouri message., 1917-08-30


and the West Indies. This field has
since the war increased its 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-
ducNd 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 80 pounds per
person per annum and is just double
the French consumption.
Vegetables.
We have this year a most abundant
crop of vegetables for our use as re-
suit of a patriotic endeavor almost
universal throughout the country. Our
| potato harvest alone promises an in
crease from 2S5,OOO,OO0 bushels last
year to over 40O,0O0,000 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 cent
above what II was last year, and the
commercial crop of sweet corn for
canning purposes is estimated to be
from 20 to 80 per cent above that of
last year. The commercial crop of
tomatoes for canning purposes will
probably be somewhere between 10
and 20 per cent above what 1t 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 varie-
ties are now not used for human food,
but are thrown away or used for ferti-
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 varie-
ties. with proper preservation by
ST ing and sailing and by establish
Ing 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.
It feeds itself. Every fish eaten is
that much gained in solving the pres
ent problem of living. The products
of the land alG conserved by eating
those of the sea.
Our Duty.
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 proper use of our food
r supply In order that we may furnish
our allies with the sinews with which
they may fight our battles, but 1t 1:
an act of humanity towards fellow
= |
By the diversion of millions of meI
, from production to war, by the occu
patton of land by armies, by the iso
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 ovel
= 5O000O000 bushels of grain, but the!
. are thrown upon US for much larger
/. proportion of their normal imports for
: merly obtained from other markets.
: They have reduced consumption a
r every point, but men in the trenches
: men in the shops, and the millions o.
1 women placed at physical labor re
q quire more food than during peace
. times, and the incidence of their savini
. and any shortage which they may SUI
fer, falls first upon women and chill
S dren. If this privation becomes to-
n great their peoples cannot be main
v tanned constant in the war, and we viii
!. be left alone to fight the battle o
= democracy with Germany.
+ The problem of food conservation 1
I. one of many compilations. We cannot
G and we do not wish, with our free in
v situations and our large resources o
= food, to initiate Europe in its policeu
|. rationiug, but we must voluntarily an
a inteligently assume the responsibility
h before us as one in which everyOn
II has a direct and unacceptable interest
; We must increase our export of food
Il to the allies, and in the circumstance
q of our shipping situation, these export
q must be of the most concentrate
foods. These are wheat, -four, beef
!, pork and dairy products. We have 9th
y err foods in great abundance which W
} can use instead of these commoditie:
Z and we can prevent wastes in thou
- sand directions. We must guard tn
drainage of exports from the Unite
N ....trlt, stlInInl