Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-08-24

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-
duced 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 2S5OOO,OOO bushels last
year to over 40OOOO,OOO 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 it 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 it was last
year. There is an increase in the acre
age of late onions of about "a 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 a 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
smoking 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.
1t feeds itself. Every fish eaten is
that much gained in solving the pres
ent problem of living. The products
of the land are conserved by eating
those of the sea.
Our Duty.
1 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 a proper use of our food
supply in order that we may furnish
our allies with the sinews with which
they may fight our battles, but it is
an act Of humanity towards fellow
men, women and children.
By the diversion of millions of mer
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
500,000,000 bushels of grain, but they
are thrown upon us for much larger
proportion of their normal imports for
merly obtained from other markets.
They have reduced consumption a
every point, but men in the trenches
men in the shops, and the millions O
women placed at physical labor re
quire more food than during peac
times, and the incidence of theirsSavini
and any shortage which they may SUI
fer, falls first upon women and chill
, dren. If this privation becomes to-
great, their peoples cannot be main
: tanned constant in the war, and we vii
be left alone to fight the battle O
democracy with Germany.
+ The problem of food conservation i
one of many compilations. We canno
) and we do not wish, with our free IL
|
: food, to initiate Europe in its police
rationing, but we must voluntarily an
4 intelligently assume the responsibilit
! before us as one in which everyon
| has direct and inescapable interes
: We must increase our export of food
4 to the allies, and in the circumstance
o of our shipping situation, these export
2f 30
foods. These are wheat, -four, bee
!, pork and dairy products. We have otl
= er foods in great abundance which W
} can use instead of these cOmmoditie
. and we can prevent wastes in a tho
. sand directions. We must guard tt
drainage of exports from the Unite
70 States, that we retain proper supp
q for our own country, and we mu
30 adopt such measures as will amelio
y ate, so far as may be, the price cond
}. tions of our less fortunate. We migl
F. so drain the supplies from the COUNT
n to Europe as by the high prices th'
E would follow to force our people
f. shorten their consumption. This ope
If alton of normal economic force
n would starve that element of the col
r. munity to whom we owe the most pr
J. lection. We must try to impose Il
d burden equally upon all.
Action Must Be Voluntary.
'e There is no royal road to food co
ID servation. We can only accOmpIi
y this by the voluntary action of G
lie whole people, each element in propC
p ton to its means. 1t is a matter
ID equality of burden; matter of mi
I'd ute saving and substitution at eve
10 point in the 100000 kitchens, on t
al 20,000000 dinner tables and in the
IS 100000 manufacturing, wholesale al
retail establishments of the countl
e. The task is thus in it's essence the dai
es individual service of all the peop
lie Every group can substitute and ev
is authority on foot troubles and the
mechanical correction, says not O.
adult in 100 has feet that are COZ
pletely free from defects. He has ma
eff | ctr Of &In Il