Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-05-15

Just ahead of the German drive on the
west front came the U. 5. fooo Al
ministrations warning on March "a
that wheat stocks of the nation are
low. 1t appealed to every citizen TO
cut his consumption of wheat hour oy
one-half and to limit himself 10 hoI
more than six pounds OF Hour every
80 days.
Public eating places and clubs were
put under more stringent regulations
than ever before. Retailers were re-
ouested to cut down the volume Oh
their sales of wheat flour. Bakers were
told to reduce the size OF victory
Bread loayes. Manufacturers using
wheat products for non-food purposes
were ordered to cease the practlce.
In all, the Food Administration ASK
ed the American people to limit thelr
eating of wheat products from no"
until harvest to maximum ol Zl'ooo'
900 bushels per month.
This appeal came somewhat as
shock and with it realization OF the
grim developments of the war II was
known that we had fulfilled our orls-
inal promise to the Allies, having eA-
norted by the end of March 95,OOO,OoV
bushels of wheat. To extract so large
q quantity from the nations 1917 crop
was an almost phenomenal underCdh-
ing, made possible only by the general
eo-operation of the American PUBIC.
II was thought by officials that the full
fillment of this obligation would re-
lieve American citizens from turtner
stringent conservation practlces' do
the amount exported was calculated 10
be sufficient to bridge the Allies over
to the movement of the South Amerl-
can crop.
Chance in Allies Shipping Plans.
The Allies had depended on secur-
ing great supplies from South Amerl-
ca They had purchased enormous
quantities of wheat in Argentina where
there is an available, eXportable sur
plus of 1873 100000 bushels. II they
could get that wheat across the water
their bread problem would be SolVeu.
But there are not enough ships 10 go
around just now. Every available yes
sci is pressed into service, carrying
men, munitions, food and war sup
plies. The service of a ship is limited
by the distance it traverses and it Will
require more than twice the ship ton
mage to move wheat from the Argen-
tina than from our Atlantic ports
If North America could not furnish
the wheat the Allies cause would be
handicapped to the extent that II
would require ships to be Withdrawn
from their present assignments.
Fighting the war resolves itself in no
slight degree upon time, distance and
ships. The tragic ship shortage is re-
fected in recent orders cutting down
American imports.
HON Much Wheat Is In Sight?
Lifting the curtain on the food sup
ply disclosed the fact that on March
/, the stocks of wheat on farms
amounted to approximately 111,272,-
600 bushels. From this about $780,
900 bushels must be set aside for seed
| ing of spring wheat, leaving an avail
| able balance for marketing in farmers
hands of 78,152,000 bushels. On the
mercial hands were SO, 900 bushels.
| This gave a total supply of wheat
available for food purposes of 1885,
| 900 bushels.
| Flour stocks at mills totaled 10,202,-
! 900 bushels. In addition there was a
visible supply of flour at terminal ele-
vators of 1864, 500 bushels. This gave
| Of 11-ha CT on
| March l, of 176,411, 800 bushels. From
| this supply the United States must
| feed itself and share with the Allies
who require of us 75,000,0G0 bushels
| between March 1, and harvest. Dur
ing the same period this nation nor
mally consumes 2OQ0o0,OOO bushels OF
| wheat.
To send to the Allies their require
ments is viewed as a military necess
| ity at Washington. This will leave
available for home consumption 101,-
! 411,500 bushels, or about one-half OF
what is normally used.
Difficulties of Shipping Increase.
With shipping then the limiting fac
tor, it falls upon the American people
to choose whether they will require
| allied ships to move wheat from South
American ports at the expense of the
| needed movement of troops, munitions
and necessaries, thus endangering the
military program, or to release ships
by reducing our own consumption O.
wheat. The Food Administration off
Gals believe that this cut will bt
brought about by a voluntary actor
of Inc people supplemented by a stric
control of the distributing agencies.
II There is a plentiful supply of whea
in Australia. The better part of tive
crops is banked UP and storage is be
coming a serious problem in the Aus