The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-06-05

Pio hioy iuiiy uHueTStaHQ the Sltua
tion as regarding the necessity of saw.
ing wheat, even to abstaining from
the use of wheat and wheat products
until the next harvest, Mr.. Hoover
makes frank and full statement in
his telegram to the State Food Ad-
ministration, in which it is shown
that there is not enough wheat today
to supply even One-third of the nor
NAL American consumption, not al
lowing one grain for Europe.
Mr.. Hoovers telegram to William
Elliott is as follows
"The food administration est-
mate of the position on the first OF
June indicates a total available sup
ply until the new harvest, including
the grain which will be available
from the farms in country and ter
minal elevators and mill elevators,
of about fifty-six million bushels. OF
this, thirty million bushels must be
exported before new wheat is avail
able for export if we are to maintain
the absolutely necessary shipments to
our army and Allies. That leaves
about twenty-six million bushels for
domestic consumption for the next
two months.
Normal American consumption is
something over forty million bushels
a month SO that the most liberal
consumption at home would be only
one-third of normal
I'm addition to the wheat on the
farms AID in elevators there is al
ways an indeterminate further
amount In transit and in dealers
hands and this can never be reckon
ed In with the -four available for use
for export and use at home.
AS a matter of fact, this stock is
not actually available since these
supplies must remain constantly in
How; they remain a permanent stock
the removal of which would later
cause a period of acute shortage in
distribution before new wheat would
be available.
There is further an inclination to
include new crop prospects with
present conditions which has led to
confusion. The harvest will not be
generally available in flour until
middle August or early September.
although in the extreme South it will
be somewhat earlier.
"At meeting of the Federal Food
Administrators at Washington Thurs
day, representing all forty-eight
States, it was the unanimous view
that even If the harvest does prove
abundant, it will be the first duty of
the American people to place every
grain they can save into storage as
against possible bad years ahead. In
consequence, there should be no an
ticipation of unlimited wheat bread
until the war is over.
Some of the most inconvenient
restrictions can no doubt be modified
with the arrival of a large harvest.
but If we are honest with ourselves
we will maintain restrictions requir-
ing the use of some substitutes, both
domestic and commercial; we will!
continue the requirement of high
milling extraction and the elimina-
ton of the non essential use Of and
waste of flour and bread.
1T is worth remembering that the
famine in Egypt eight thousand years
ago was saved by a little govern.
mental foresight and it does not re-
quire any illuminating dream to on
ticipate that so long as the war lasts
with its increasing drafts for soldiers
and munition workers, the world will
steadily produce less food. If we are
wise, great harvest will mean the
willing building up of great national
reserves"