American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-04-05
LOOK FOR WHEATLESS MEALS
SAYS FOOD ADMINISTRATOR
At Meeting Wednesday Afternoon
state Food Administrator Prepared
People for Further Food Saving.

People for Further Food Saving.
The exclusion of all wheat products
from American tables for a period of
thirty to sixty days is probable" said
State Food Administrator Bickneu in
talk at Wagner Hall Wednesday
afternoon. There must be a greater
saving Of wheat until the new crop is
ready he said, in order to supply our
soldiers and our allies. Wheat. meat.
fats and sugar are the things most
easily transported and the things
America is called on to furnish and
must furnish if we win the war. Wheat
constitutes about 70 per cent of the
food Of the French, he said. They use
much less meat and sugar than we
do. One reason for suspending the
meatless days during April was that
we might save on wheat. With plenty
Of meat and potatoes, Americans can
dispense with bread entirely and suf-
fer nothing in health and little in de-
privation. They can use substitutes
for wheat flour, oatmeal, corn meal
and rice flour, which are not suited
to overseas needs, and live just as we'll
and almost as cheaply, as they do
now by using wheat.
Mr.. Bicknell stated that new legis-
lation was planned which would fx a
price on flour substitutes, and bring
them under control of the food ad-
ministratiOn. There had been some
prohteering on the part of food man.
ufacturers, but local dealers he held
without blame. as they did not share
IN the excess profits and were COM
PEELED to sell such substitutes as they
could obtain. With new legislation
the complaint that substitutes were
much more expensive than wheat
would be largely removed
Regarding the price of corn meal
Mr.. Bicknell explained that under ex-
isting conditions the price was not un-
reasonable. Last years corn crop
had to kiln dried before it could be
made into meal, making corn so pre-
pared cost about cents a pound.
There is a larger waste in corn than
III wheat, which materially adds to
the cost of corn meal. One mill in
Idaho, supplying a local trade only.
makes a whole-corn meal, and the
/ products Of this mill are cheaper than
the meals ordinarily sold.
The speaker emphasized the state
ment, however that cost was not the
only factor. The boys in the trenches.
] Cpftipp tQE f,1nptI, ,rl
/ lives every day, are not working for
wages. Many of them left positions
paying from two to five thousand dol
lars year, exchanging ease and com
/ fort for privations and hardships.
When our boys make such sacrifices
we surely should not grumble at pay
ing a little more for our food if nee
essary to help them and our allies.
The food administration has its
troubles along with everyone else.
Everything can not be regulated at
once. Some things are wrong. but
they are not being overlooked and
Will be righted as fast as they can be
reached. The abuses one may COM
nit. however. should not be made an
excuse by others for failing to abide
by the regulations. Nationwide poll
cies can not be made to tit every local
condition. 1t is absolutely necessary
to save wheat Not all can serve at
the front, but all can make sacrifices
to feed those who do serve Obey
every regulation. If wheat products
were excluded from American tables
for thirty or sixty days, such a surplus
would be piled up as to make further
drastic regulations unnecessary
Wheat and wheat products may be
excluded from our tables in the near
4, future. They will not be unless it be-
comes necessary, but the situation is
critical.
Mr. Bicknell explained many food
regulations. White bread was not ia
bOoed he said. All that was neces-
sary was to use more substitutes and
less flour. The substitutes could be
mixed with flour and used in making
bread, or could be used in other forms
to save bread. The purpose of the
regulations was to save flour, and the
methods by which the savings are
made are largely matter for individ-
ais to settle. The use of substitutes
in bread was highly commendable, be-
cause it was an easy. and sure way of
saving flour, but if the substitutes
were used in other forms and less
bread used. the net result would be
the same.