The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-08-24
Statement Issued By Food
Administration Today
FIGURES ARE GIVEN OUT
Consumption Must Be. Radically
Cut Down BY People of
This Country
Especial to Free Press
From MONDAYS Daily.

tSpeClal TO fTe6 HTGSS.J
From Mondays Daily.
Washington, August 20.-The fooC
administration today issued the fol-
lowing statement:
A total decrease of lie, 005,0 900 in the
worlds meat producing animals Is
shown in a comparison of present with
pre-war conditions. While the in
CREASE of cattle in the United States
was 100000 during this period, the
total world decrease was 2S,0S0, 900
Sheep decreased 5000 900 in the Unit
ed States, and 54,500,O0O in the world
Hogs increased 6,275,000 in the United
States, but decreased 32,425,OoO in the
world supply.
The demands made by war on the
American meat supply is further
shown in the growth of our meat ex-
ports for the year ending June 80, 1916
which were 1889, 193, 900 pounds as
compared with 93,S48,000 pounds fol-
three-year pre-war average. These
exports have chiefly gone to our allies,
whose capital stock of animals has de-
creased by 100000 heads.
Although the European countries
have drastically reduced meat con-
sumption among non-war workers, this
saving has been overcome by the
greatly increased demands to supply
men in the armies and shops, and the
women who have taken up physical
labor This demand has been so great
that Europe has been eating into its
herds at an alarming rate, and this
condition will continue to grow worse
each day as the war progresses. This
is a problem that America must meet,
not only during the war, but after it
has ended.
World Was Strained to Supply.
Owing to the ascending standard of
living, the world was already strained
to supply enough animal products to
meet the demand before the war be-
gan. The war has injected into an al
ready difficult situation number of
vicious conditions which. are jeopardiz-
ing the ultimate animal products sup
ply of the world. The production of
fodder in Europe has been diminished
by the diversion of productive labor to
war, and it's import has been curtailed
by shortage in shipping and by the iso-
lation of markets by belligerent lines.
From these causes not only are the
actual numbers of animals decreasing
in Europe, but the average weight and
the annual output of dairy products
per animal are decreasing.
The men in the armies, the men en-
gagged in the shops, and the millions
of women forced to physical labor.
have required a greatly increased
supply of animal products. Millions of
individuals to whom fresh meat twice
a week was a>luxuryJ are now, by
necessity of their extreme physical
labor, eating it twice daily. The sup
ply of wool and leather has decreased
in period when there are additional
demands, for the extra amount of
normal clothing required for the SOL
diers must be met. All European
countries have drastically reduced the
consumption of meat and clothing
among the non-war workers to point
that would seem impossible to the
American people, but despite this, the
actual meat, fat. wool and leather
consumption in the allied countries has
increased as result of the war. I'm
der the pressure Of these forces, Eu-
rope has been eating into its herds and
focks, and thus is burning the candle
at both ends.
Vicious Forces Give Impetus.
These vicious forces accumulate i'm
petus as the war goes on, for with a
diminished herd and thus diminished
production and continuous demand,
the inroads en- the herds grow IN
volume.
The problem facing the American
people is not only one of supplying the
immediate demand of the allies, but
one which is more far-reaching in it's
future significance. AS the war goes
on there will be a constant lessening
Of the capital stock of food animals OF
the world. Among our weStern>alli
the demand outruns further every day
the decreasing production, and as
shipping becomes further shortened
by continued submarine destruction,
less tonnage can be devoted to fod-
der, and further reduction of the herds
must ensue. These destructive forces
have given rise to reactions in many
directions. The worlds supply of meat
and dairy products, of animal fats and
industrial fats, wool and hides, are all
involved not only now, but for far into
the future.
The immediate problem is to fur
nish increased meat supplies to the
allies to maintain them during the war.
An important factor contributing to
the present situation lies in the dis
turbance to, the worlds trade by de-
struction of shipping 4 resulting in
throwing a larger burden on North
America, the nearest market. Ship
ments from the Australasian, South
American and from the continental
countries into the allied countries
have been interfered with. Their con-
tributions must be replaced by in
creased shipments from North Amer
lea.
Growth Of Meat Exports.
The growth Of American meat ex-
ports since the war began, most OF
which have been supplies to allied ma
tons, is revealed by the following
: figures:
Three-year pre-war average, 49S,-
S4S,OOO lbs.
Year ending June 80. 1916, 1,339.193,-
600 lbs.
The impact of European demand
upon our animal products will be
maintained for long period of years
after peace. We can contemplate