The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-05-08

be compelled to import food products, especially wheat At that time Mir Hill
 was persuaded that with proper coop { eration and with the adoption of some of the methods which have made the
 large corporation practicable and sue
 cessful, the farmers of the United States
 could so greatly increase their harvests'
 as to eliminate any danger of food short
 age, and of the necessity of importing
 wheat and other food products of the
 United States, in addition to cotton and
 hay, should bring the farmers at least
 $15.000 GOO, 900 year.
 WHAT THE WAR TEACHES
 MT. Hill spoke in time of peace and
 when he had the normal growth of the
 population of the United States solely
 in mind. He was confident that our
 farmers could raise an ample supply of
 food products and have in addition a
 large surplus for export. He looked for a great increase in our export of wheat to China. Now, the war with the cen tral powers of Europe has created condition which vividly recalls MT Hilrs prediction Instead of 25 or 30 years hence, we are today in a situation sim liar to that which MT. Hill graphically portrayed But he, like the others who have given close study to this subject, was persuaded that the United States had the resources in land, in labor and to a considerable extent in transporta- ton, which would be needed if the farm CTS were to produce and send to the market the amount of crops which he be- ] lieved to be possible
 George W. Perkins, who has been giving l deep study to the food problem, especially l as its solution affects New York city and New York state, said this morning that there are three factors which it is neces- ] sary to secure and utilize, if we are to escape not only serious food shortage for ourselves, but are also able to provide | our allies with food. One of these factors IS transportation.
 But Mir Perkins evidently is inclined to | think that the coordination of the rail- | roads, and the utilization of the canals and the waterways, will do much to re- ieve any embarrassment which might be occasioned otherwise by transportation | Another factor is labor, and l in MT. Perllinss view, farm labor, espe- ! CldlAy COIuptlcIl ldiiil ldDOl, 10 4NAeS eAS essential for the successful conduct of the 1 war as the raising and equipping of ar mics, if not more essential than that. | The third factor is the elimination of waste. That does not mean parsimony. | but real economy. The labor can be se- cured, but it will require the co-opera- ton and perhaps the power of the fed eral government to obtain it. It will De more difficult to establish standard rules of h ,fDIar cta 0D n ha pi-I mated.
 AN ENCOURAGING SIGN
 That the peopIe are pegInning to realize the necessity of providing ample food supplies and of utilizing all opportunl- ties for procuring them, has been With in two or three weeks made evident by an object lesson which has been taught n New York city. In April the mayors food commission, of which MT Perkins $ chairman, caused obe prepared a little pamphlet, really not much more han a folder, in which were set down jules simple and easy to understand. whereby backyards and small garden olots could be utilized. Since the folder vas printed, 2G0000 copies have been asked Or and obtained by people living in New ork and in the vicinity of the city. So great has been the demand for this leaf ct that it was necessary to print a new supply. Of itself, the demand for the hose who live in New York city and in he vicinity are in this important subject, md it is believed that neighboring small gardens and back yards will contribute greatly to the supply of food, principally small vegetables.
 There is danger of starvation or famine, and those who are best informed Ire convinced that we should speedily be able to aid England in meeting fod ne- sessities of her own as well as those of ler allies It is thought that one of the great lessons of the war will be that aught by cooperation, coordination, md the cultivation of the soil to the highest degree of productiveness.
 BANK FRS AND THE WAR
 A report reached the city that the vice president of one of the largest of Boston ,anks has entered active service in the var giving up his high-salaried office to