The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1917-03-21

people to the stimulus of high pri-
ces. Before touching upon this par
ticular point further, word should
be said about the estimated food
supply of the countryfor the cur
rent year.
The weather conditions during the
growing season of 1916 were unfav-
orable in many parts Of the world.
They were distinctly unfavorable in
this country. Although there was
large wheat acreage, the weather
conditions were such as to favor the
appearance of the black-rust disease
affecting wheat. The consequence
was that although the acreage was
large the yield was relatively small.
The conditions were not especially
favorable for corn and for some ot-
her important crops. Still the food
output on the whole for the current
year was not so small as to excite a.
larm. The corn crop was 100000
700 bushels, nearly the fve-year av-
rage. The oat crop was above the
year average, the barley very
early the five-year average, rye 49,
10000 more than the five year av-
age, and rice 100000 bushels, Us
gainst 100000 bushels the year
before, and 24,5OO,OOO bushels, the
ve-year average. The production of
afr corn, relatively new crop,
vas 100000 bushels. The produc-
ion of peaches, 100000 bushels,
IT pears 10,400,000 bushels, and of
apples 67,500,000 barrels, represents
approximately the fve-year average
while the estimated production of
oranges was 23,80O,0O0 boxes, or g.
100000 more than that of the pre-
'eding year. The crop of sugar
5eets was one of the largest ever
produced. Meat products likewise
were produced in larger quantities,
the estimated amount for the year
being 22,378,000,O00 pounds, as a.
gainst five-year average of 19,7l2,-
100000 pounds, or 2,OOO,OOO,ooo
pounds greater than the output for
the year 1915. Dairy and poultry
products on the whole showed gain
as indicated in the accompanying
table.
The two food products which re-
veal a marked decrease were wheat
and Irish potatoes. 1t is evident
that the public has failed to look at
all the facts involved, especially in
the case of wheat. The wheat crop
for the current year was reported to
be 640,000,000 bushels as against a
five-year average Of 728,000,00O bu-
shells and the record cropof 1915 of
1,O26,0O0,000 bushels. Apparently
the public has compared the crop of
1916 solely with the record crop of
1915 and failed to take into account
the unusually large carry over from
that year into the present year of
100000 bushels or more. Fur
thermore it's attention has been fixed
on the large exports of the two years
Immediately following the outbreak
OF the war. The exports of wheat
in normal times are approximately
105,o00,00O bushels. The year pre-
ceding the war it was $4,000, 900 bu-
shels.1 In 191415 it was 100000 bu-
sheus, dropping in 1866 to 243,-
100000 bushels. Looking only at the
crop of 640,O00,0OO bushels and hav-
ing in mind the possibilities of ex-
port as suggested by the figure of
332,0o0,o00 for 1914-15, the public
naturally apprehended that there
would be lack of bread. Dealers
and others became unduly excited.
The total available supply, including
both the crop and the carry over, ag-
gregating 804,000,000 bushels-part
of which, it should be said, was not
suitable for milling purposes should
have been considered as we'll as the
relatively small exports for the first
six months Of the current year. Up
to the first of January the exports
were only 100000 bushels, and they
have tended to decrease partly on &C.
count of the disturbed shipping con-
ditions since the first of January.
Our normal domestic needs of wheat
for human food, for seeding purpo-
ses, and for reserve to carry over
into the next year require 0,OO0,-
900 bushels. AS I have stated, the
total years supply is S04, 900, 900 bu~
shells. This would give us an avail
able exportable surplus Of 164,000,-
900 bushels. At the rate of export
since the LIST of July, with the ten
dency to decline recently, we should
have enough wheat in the country
very nearly to supply normal needs.
l am not a prophet and can not
furnish any guaranty for the future.
There are certain thin gs, however. I
do know The farnnors cro1,orrol -