New Britain herald., 1917-03-03
NO FOOD SHORTAGE SAYS sEC'Y HOUSTON
Head of Dept. of Agriculture
 Warns Against Alarm

Washington, March 3-Greater food crops and the practice of house. hold economies are urged by Secre- tary of Agriculture Houston as meas ures to help reduce the cost of liv- ing. American families. he estimat- ed in statement on the food situa- tion, wasted in their kitchens annually more than $700,000,0OO worth of edi- bles.
 There was nothing in the situation to justify hysteria. however, he said, because there was no real shortage Of food in this country. MT. Houston emphasized the importance of the food cost investigation directed by President Wilson, and held out hope that increased acreages this year might insure greater food supplies, The wheat and potato crops, he said, were unusually short last year, but nevertheless there would be enough to supply very nearly normal needs.
 The food problem cannd be solved, in the secretary's opinion, through price fixing by the federal or state governments. but by Intelligent plan ming and constructive action in con- junction with the operation of normal forces" Urging full inquiry into the causes of advancing prices. he said: "A full and satisfactory explanation of prevailing prices is not possible ori the basis of existing 7 knowledge. Where the food supply is located. who owns 1t, what may be the difficulties of securing it. whether the local mar ket conditions are due to car short age, whether there is artificial manip- ulation or control, no one can state with certainty. It is essential that we have the facts, not only because of the light they might throw on present conditions. but also because they are prerequisite for the working out of system of marketing. The investiga- tion directed by the President ought to give the federal trade commission and the department of agriculture the necessary funds"
 Waste i'm Kitchen.
 Limitation of waste in the kitchen, Secretary Houston pointed out. would do much toward affording partial and immediate relief from oppressive prices.
 "As a nation,', he added, I've seem to have disdain of 'economizing. Of course the waste in families of very limited means is slight, but in fam lilies of moderate and ample means is considerable. Even if the estimate of $7OO, 900, 900 waste in the country, as prepared by our experts. is cut in half it would still leave an enormous waste"
 Prices must be maintained at a cer- tain level or farmers would not in- crease their output, MT. Houston said. and either the government or the community must guarantee reason- able price.
 ''rhoses who are urging that the farmers be induced greatly to increase their acreage beyond that which their own Judgment indicates he said, know very little about the psychology of farmers or about the fundamental necessities of the situation.
 There is no need of alarm over re- ports of a food shortage. the secre- tary believes. because CT bps generally. with the exception of sjfain and po- tatoes. were as large or larger thar the five-year average.
 'It is evident" Secretary Houston continued. "that the public has failed to look at all facts involved. es- pecially in the case of wheat. Ap- parently 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 164,O00.000 bushels or more.
 Explains Export Situation.
 "Furthermore, the public's atten- ton has been fixed on the large ex- ports of the two years immediately following the outbreak of the war, The exports of wheat in normal times are approximately 105 100000 bush els. The year preceding the war the exports were 145,O0O,OOO. In 1914-15 they w1re 322,0O0,00O, and in 1915-16, 243, ,O66, 900. Looking only at tho crop of 64O.OOO, ,0OO bushels and hav- ing in mind the possibilities of eN- ports as suggested by the figure of 332,OOO,00O for 1914-15, the public apprehended there would be a lack of bread. Dealers and others became unduly excited.
 "The total available supply, in- cluding both tho crop and carry-over. So4so09,O 900 bushels part of which. 1t should bessaid was; not suitable for milling purpose
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