The Butte daily post., 1917-04-19
We MUST GROW
BIC GRAIN CROPS
National City Bank of New
York Calls Attention to
Situation.

Local banks today received a bulletin
from the National City bank of New
York in which the necessity for a larg-
er crop acreage is set out In the
course OF this statement the New York
bank says:
"All of Europe-neutral as well as
warning countries-has been placed
upon food rations to exc out supplies
until the new crop is harvested This
country entered the present crop year
last July with 164,000,000 bushels of
wheat carried over from the crop of
1915, and in 1916 produced 4S2, 600 GOO
bushels of winter wheat and 15sO00,-
600 Of spring wheat; total supply, S04,-
100000. This year there will be prac-
ucally no wheat carried over and the
governments estimate upon the win
ter crop forecasts a yield OF only 430,-
100000. on this basis the spring wheat
crop must be 214,0000, 900 bushels larg-
er than last year in order to give us a
wheat supply equal to what we will eN-
port and consume in the crop year now
closing. This is an alarming outlook
The spring wheat crop is VIGOROUSLY
subject to weather conditions. More
spring wheat should be sown, but il is
doubtful if the wheat shortage can be
made up. Other food crops must be
grown to meet the deficiency.
This country is now at war, and
our allies, Belgium. Great Britain,
France and Italy, are dependent upon
us for food. They will have no re-
serves and must have more from us in
the coming year than in the past. or
they will not be able to feed all their
people. Added to the appeals of
starving humanity will be military rea-
sons making It impossible for us TO put
an embargo upon the expectation OF
food. We must divide what we grow
this year with these countries and with
the neutral countries Holland, Den |
mark, Norway Sweden, Switzerland |
and Spain-whlch are not self sustain
ing in grain supplies And not only |
must we supply enough to keep these |
peoples from starving, but enough TO I
cover the heavy losses at sea which re-
suit from submarine warfare. If we 4
grow no more food than we did last (
year-and so far the outlook is for less .
there is danger of 4 food situation .
such as the world in modern times has I
not dreamed of No other country has |
Nit RESOURCES IN ldlu ana population TO n
meet this emergency but the United /
States. There is no business upon |
which all other business depends as |
upon this of growing a big crop in /
America this year. And the work must |
be started Immediately. There is no
time to wait on organization from out
side The emergency can be met only Il
by spontaneous action i'm every state. /
county and school district. forming /
local organizations.
Picture in your mind what condi-
tions will be in our own cities next 1
winter and Of the effect upon all in
dustry, If food supplies are scarcer and 1
dearer than they are now, II must be
impressed upon everybody that no 4
wage advances or regulation of prices
can add one bushel Of wheat or po-
tatoes to the supply after the growing
season is over
The country is aroused but mere
alarm viii not accomplish results /
There must be organized personal /
work headed in every locality 10y men /
Of force and influence"