The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-04-19
THE DEMAND FOR FOODSTUFFS.

According to the Banner, the
Louisville (Ky.) Journal said fifty
years ago:
"Many of our late private letters
from the South express the opinion
that the cultivation of cotton is OF
secondary importance. The writer's
very sensibly conclude that the true
policy, in the present revolutionary
conditions Of affairs, is to devote
their greater energies to the produc-
ton of corn, wheat, potatoes, hogs,
etc. >. A corn crop is sure, and it,
at least, affords a living. Had there
been more corn planted last year
there would have been good deal
less restitution. among the Southern
people"
The above is an excerpt from a
clipping that appeared in the Banner
of April 6. 1867. That was just
about the time of the beginning of
the reconstruction period. 1t was, Of
course, highly important that the
South produce lots of food and feed
stuff during that day, but it is not of
less Importance to-day. In fact, the
demand is more urgent. There are
now more people in the South to be
fed, there are many more people in
the cities and towns of the South who
must have food from our farms, and
there is our duty toward those with
whom the United States has aligned
itself in the European War. Surely
we must help feed those who are
fighting the nation that is making
war on this country.
We of the South have been for
years purchasing from other sections
many Of the things necessary to sus-
tain life in man and beast, but the
day for that (for the presently has
passed. These other sections that
have heretofore been glad to offer
US their surplus Of farm and ranch
products cannot now do so, for it
must flow to the nations now this
country's allies, previously impover-
ishcd in this particular and 100 busy
with the game of war to give atten-
ton to their fields that might be cul-
tivated.
Do you realize to what extent the
war in Europe has drained the re-
sources of this country, Fortunately
we have at hand some figures that
were published in the Banner two
years ago that will throw light on the
subject, though all figures havs
greatly expanded since that time
The war began during August, 1914
And Europe in the eight months end
ing March /, 1915, as compared will
the eight months ending March l
1914, increased her demand for corr
from 100000 to 100000 bushels
her demand for wheat from II, 200,
GOO to 132,000,0GO bushels, and hel
demand for beef, fresh and canned
from eo,ooo,oo0 to 1O5,0OO,0O
pounds, hut decreased her demand TO,
cotton from 7,381.257 to 5,607, 22t
bales. Or, to view it little differ
emily, during the latter eight month
she increased her payments for foos
stuffs from s132, 100000. to 1888,
Co0,00G and decreased her cxpendi
lures for cotton from $498,0OO, OO(
to s243,O00,0o0. That's almost treb
ling the food bill and more than re
ducirg her cotton bill by half. An,
these figures are two years old, too
Doesn't that clearly show, reader
where the food stuff of this countr,
is going, and must go? Also, doe
it not furnish biz argument for tn
reduction of cotton acreage in tn
South and an increased acreage de
voted to those things that are neces
sary to sustain life in struggling
fighting armies?