The Washington herald., 1917-11-13
EXPERTS DIFFER
ON FOOD SUPPLY
Holland Finds Divergent
Opinions, but Grains and
Vegetables Plentiful.

Richard II. Edmonds, of Baltimore,
insists that the food supply is not
SUFFICIENT and that there Is grievous
danger of continued and in fact in
creased shortage in meat products.
In New York City the newly crei
ated market commission has begun
preparations for the purchase of food
and fuel and the selling Of these
commodities at reduced cost to the
public. But II will take some time
to discover what the exact situation
, is and what must be done by the
market commission IL the situation
IL to be relieved.
For instance, the market depart
ment proposes to make a study of
wholesale and retail prices of essen
tIal commodities and the relation of
these prices to the factors OF dis
.tribution and trade. Some weeks if
not months will be required IN order
satisfactorily to complete this study.
Soaring Prices Forecast.
Meanwhile, what are the citizens
to do?
But the fact that the city authori-
ties have begun preparation Is of
itself regarded as sufficient proof that
there Is some danger of food and fuel
shortage. as well as the possibility
IL not probability of continued in
crease in prices of commodities, un-
less the city of New York takes over
the entire business Of buying and SELL
ing food and fuel commodities.
The monthly bulletin Of the National
City Bank speaks with great encour-
sgement of what is regarded as the
most vital factor in the economic sit
uation-namely, food supplies. These
supplies the bulletin states, have been
greatly improved by the certainty that
we are to have a much larger amount
of corn than has ever been harvested
before in the United States.
So far as grain and vegetables are
concerned. the United states has, the
bulletin asserts, abundance of them,
with the exception OF wheat, the con-
servation of which Is especially de-
sired by the Federal authorities so
that we may be able to furnish the
allies all that is needed.
People Saving wheat.
The evidences are plentiful that the
people of the United States as a
whole are beginning cheerfully to
cut down their wheat consumption
and will continue to do so until the
harvest of next year is garnered. The
Washington estimate is that there
will be a 10 per cent reduction in the
use of wheat in the United States and
IL this expectation is realized there
will be a surplus of nearly 100000
bushels available for export.
While urging conservation of food
although constantly informing the
people they are not expected to re-
duce the amount OF food necessary
to maintain health and strength, the
government is also contemplating
with satisfaction the probability OF a
very great increase in the production
OF ceTals OF all kinds next year.
II weather conditions prove favor
able, there Is no doubt that the farm
srs can harvest a billion bushels of
Wheat and some of the experts are
confident that, leaving out climatical
contingencies, the harvest of Indian
corn next summer will be consider
ably in excess of 2,5I@.n0O. bushels.
In all departments of agriculture the
government and the local authorities
are seeking to secure a great speeding
up Of production.
Sees Great Shortage.
On the other hand Mr.. Edmons as
serts that it is a serious mistake on
the part of the Washington authOri-
ties to announce that our country is
blessed with an abundance OF food
stufTs, for, as a matter of fact. ac-
cording to Mr.. Edmonds, there is
really n great shortage of food in
comparison with the past and in view
Of the dependence of the allies upon
tho United States for food.
For instance. the wheat belts of the
United States yielded this year 1JO,
10000 bushels less than the average
Of the last five years. The harvest
was 5000 900 bushels short of the crop
OF 1901, although at that time the pop
ulation was 100000 less than 1t is
today. A pad and pencil utilized by
competent actuary would show that
the people of the United States need
rs, ,0OO, 900 bushels nf wheat more than
they needed in 1901, but instead of
that the crop is $500. 800 bushels short.
In making his estimate of the rela-
zion of the harvests to the needs of
The people. the late James ]. Hill al
ways asserted that the farmers
should produce each year increased
crops proportionate to the increase in
the population of the United States.
But. according to Mr.. Edmonds, the
yield Of corn and wheat this year is
far below the proportionate relation
to the increased population.
Meat Production slumps.
The wheat and corn harvest in 1916
and 1917 was nearly 5OO,OOO.OOO bushels
short Of the total production of the
two preceding years.
Then again there IS the case OF
meat. The falling off In the number
of sheep is alarming. In the United
states in 1917 there We're nearly 16,-
10000 less sheep than pastured
throughout the country in the year
i9o3- We are steadily losing beef cat
lie, and the Department Of Agricul-
ture on September 1 reported that
there were $4,000 less swine than
was the case the year before.
Whichever view be correct, whether
hat taken by Mr.. Edmonds or that
reflected by the recent publication of
he National City Bank bulletin, one
imperative need Is recognized-namely,
hat the harvest of next summer of
I 'ood products and the output of meat
must be so greatly increased as to
make 1t possible to report in the fall
II next year that the increase has
been proportionate to the increase of
population and has been sufficient to
'urnish the surplus food which the