The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-11-23
POTATO FLOUR IS
BECOMING POPULAR
GREAT POSSIBILITIES OF PROFIT
FOR POTATO GROWERS BY
IT'S GENERAL USE

MILWAUKEE,, Wis.-The manufac-
ture of potato flour, a new industry in
the United States which promises ire
mendous development in the next few
years, was fully exploited at the Wis
consin Potato exposition which opened
here Nov 20, for four-day period.
The Potato Association of America,
which is backed by the United States
government in the development of the
new industry. held convention during
the show at which Lou d. Sweet. presi-
dent of the association and leading
figure in the United States Food admin
stration, and Major S. C. Prescott, chief
of the dehydration division. bureau of
chemistry, department of agriculture,
told in addresses the possibilities Of
potato flour
potato flour said Major Prescott,
''is destined to become one of the staple
food products of the country. 1t will
open new markets for the farmer.
Bakers and housewives all over the ma
ton are rapidly becoming familiar with
its virtues. Capitalists are awakening to
the possibilities of its manufacture II
expect to see in a few years potato flour
mills in every big potato growing district
mills now are to wheat growers, be-
1ieve potato flour mills will be to potato
growers in very short time The new
industry promises to revolutionze the
nations agricultural situation"
The manufacture of potato flour in
the United States is a war-created in
dustry. Only eight mills so far are in
operation The largest is at Idaho Falls,
Idaho. A number of companies recently
have been organized to build more mills.
The United States government is now
operating its own sweet potato flour
mill at Greenville, S. c.
Congress- few months ago appro-
priated S250000 for experiments in the
.dehydration of vegetables and the manu-
facture of potato flour Mr. Sweet and
Major Prescott have charge of these ex-
periments. Because of the shortage of
ships, reduction to its smallest bulk and
weight of food sent overseas to the sol
diers became a vital necessity. Deny
or one-thrd of their original An army
of 100000 men requires 225,OOO,OOO
pounds of potatoes every six months
Dehydrated, the potatoes are reduced to
81 100000 pounds.
potato flour on large scale, not only
curing the war, but in the postwar
period when quantities of wheat must be
shipped abroad to keep half of Europe \
from starving, became evident to the l
government The esteem in which the K
Germans hold potato flour as a national e
food supply is proved by the fact that
before the war; that country had 400 y
Mills and now has $500. Tmportations Il
If potato flour into the United States
rom Germany and Holland amounted
before the war to more than half a mil
ion dollars This supply has been abso-
utely shut off by the war
The annual potato crop Of the United e
states is around 400000000 bushels. .
government statistics show that of this, :
t least 100000 bushels are lost This a
vastage is due to the culls, rotting and u
reezing of potatoes in shipment and the Y Y
ack of nearby markets. Millions of y
ushels of potatoes were left rotting on M
re ground this year in many parts of =;
1e country because no margin of profit -,
,ould have been left to the farmer after =
aying the expense of long shipments. .
1aho farmers especially lost heavily. D
he new potato flour mill at Idaho !.
alls changed the whole potato situation R
the state by opening up profitable m
ome market. ey
Potato flour lends itself to many new
Id attractive receipts for the home w
Bile The value of the addition of po- "a
to flour to wheat flour for making al
cad is becoming recognized, not only of