Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-08-20
aRANARY OF THE BALKANS.
Macedonia to Regain Rank a. produe
ing Nation After War.


Washington. Aug. 1s.-Macedonia. as
result of the war, may become the
granary Of the Balkans as 1t was in
antiquity. Only part of ts>soil has
been cultivated In modern times and
that with very rudinentary means.
The possibility of retaining the un-
cultivated areas after the war and
utilizing them for growing wheat and
other cereals has attracted the atten-
ton Of experts who have gone there
with the allied armies. say department
Of commerce advices from >SaIoniki.
Greece. The French, especially, are in
terested.
Many of the soldiers there, OF all
nationalities represented, plan to es-
tablish themselves there and take up
agriculture after the war. reports
George Horton. American consul gen.
eral at Saloniki. The soldiers have
seen how rich Is the soil and what
wonderful results it produces with in
adequate means.
European immigration, 1t is asserted,
should not be encouraged until three
problems have been solved. These arc
how to combat the marsh fever. how to
ameliorate the conditions Of the in
habitants and better their homes and
sanitary surroundings, and to intro
duce American farm machinery and
other saving devices.
Marsh fever is regarded as having
done as much toward devastating the
country as years OF war. Fortunately,
the country, which will be benefited III
many ways by the presence Of the al
lied armies, will also have the benefit
Of efforts now being made to- combat
the fever. A, durable and efficient or
ganization whose sole duty will be to
solve definitely this problem is ex-
pected to be the outgrowth OF army
organization.
For centuries the Macedonians have
lived amid insanitary conditions NAmel-
before the real development of the
country. The people have labored
With the most primitive tools and have
rarely been sure of enjoying the fruits
OF their tools. Yet they must provide
the main body of laborers Tor the Gull
tivation and redemption Of Macedonia
because they are Injured to climatic
conditions.
Motor and tractor implements max
ing labor easier in the trying climate
also are necessary because they would
solve to large extent the question Of
obtaining, a sufficient number of work
ers. American tractor implements are
already being used successfully Ivy the
British and French armies and recent
ly al American Red Cross detachment
arrived here with the purpose of cul-
tivating The extensive plains south of
Monastir. American farm implements
having been introduced should play an
important part in the redemption of
Macedonia.
= Water power is also waiting de-
Velopment. Mr.. Horton says the prin-
clpal grain merchants report that the
annual crop of cereals DE- the three
vilayets or provinces of Monastir, Kos
sovo and Saloni1ki, in the years pre-
ceeding 1890. was 100000 to zoo, 900
tons. Since then the yield has de,
creased to 100000 tons. principally be-
cause of insecure conditions and emf
grafton of workers.
With the modern methods at work
and with some plains drained, 1t is es-
timated that region should yield. at
least 100000 tons Of grain, and With
this done Macedonia you'd turn back
to its history and agdin be "the gran
airy of the Balkans"