Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-11-10

not go on wasting fosdstuffs as we
have done in the past We have reach
cd point long fcreseen by all
thoughtful observers, of gradually
decreasing supply Of foodstuffs, which
could only be met by more conserva-
ton in the use og food in order to pre-
vent exorbitant prices. and this en-
tirely without regard 70 the existence
of the war. This condition was in evil
dence long before the war.
There are many reasons for the sit
nation which we row face. one, and
fundamental one, is the change that
has been going on for the last so
years in the shifting Of population
from the country to the cities; a
change so momentous that its import
ance should have been recognized
long ago by all students of food sup
ply and general economies.
IN 1880 this country had total
population in round figures Of $4,000
600. Of this number 100000 lived
in towns and cities, and S5,S00,000 in
the country. In 1910 we had $4,000
600 in the cities and 49,300,000 in the
countrv. In that time urban popula-
ton almost trebled, while country
population gained only about 40 per
cent.
IN 1850 PCS per cent of our popu-
lation live in cities and 70.5 per cent
in the country. In 1910 urban popu-
lation was 46.3 per cent and rural
53.7 per cent. Expressed in gross
figures we had in 1910 nearly 2S,000,-
600 more people living in the cities
chan in 1880; while we had only IA
OO0 900 more living in the country in
1910 than in 1880. The most striking
change took place between 1900 and
1910. and the amazing advance in city
population, made at that time still
goes on. Between 1900 and 1910 city
population increased nearly 10000
coo, and country population only A.
200 000
With this enormous relative de
crease in country population, which
produces the foodstuffs. and the
enormous increase in city population,
which consumes the foods.uffs, we can
readily understand the gradual de-
cline in food production in proportion
to population.
The nation must face the issue, and
we must learn food conservation to
a greater extent than we have ever
known it in the past, because. war or
no war, we cannot waste food as in
former years; and at this time with
the call Of the Allies for food it is SUI
premely important that we should
conserve food to the utmost extent
of our ability, and that at the same
time every effort which farmers, bust
ness and national and state govern
ments in combination can make should
be put forth to increase the food pro-
duction of the coming year.
Industrial development, which has
brought about the great increase in
city population, has been due largely
to the marvellous results of power ma
chinery. In the factory and on the
street power machinery, with all that
it means in better streets and homes
better facilities for getting around,
better facilities for doing business,
has aided city growth In the cOun-
try animal power and manual labor
still predominant, and the country has,
to a large extent, been without the
great benefits which the city has had
in the utilization of power machinery.
Country life has been hampered by
intolerably bad roads. which have
been a strong factor in driving people
from the country to the cities Farm
in Operations have been hampered.
as compared with industrial develop
ment, because while the latter had
power machinery the former did not.
We must look to the development of
machine power on the farm in the
shape of tractors and TO good roads,
which viii lessen the cost of farming
operations, as vital factors in bring
ing about a larger production Of
foodstuffs in proportion to the num-
Der engaged in farming than at pres
ent. Otherwise we shall have con
tinued advance in foodstuffs to the
point where living in the city will
become so burdensomely heavy that
the population Will be forced back
from the city to the country by the
swing of the pendulum reversing the
movement which has gone on for 80
years from the country to the city