The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-09-20
MAY
Be GRANARY Of
BALKAN STATES
War May Bring About Guilt
vation OF Soil Titled By
Ancient Means Only.

lBy Associated Press tr The Banncrl
WASHINGTON Sept. IL Macedon-
ia, as result Of the war. may become
the granary Of the Balkans as it was
III antiquity. Only a part of its soil
has been cultivated in modern times,
and that with very rudimentary
means.
The possibility Of reclaiming the I'M
cultivated areas after the war and
utilizing them for growing wheat and
other cereals has attracted the atten-
with the Allied armies. say Depart
ment of Commerce advices from Sa-
loniki. Greece. The French, especial.
ly, are interested. Z
Many of the soldiers there. of all ma
tionalities represented. plan to estab-
lish themselves there ard take up ar
riculture after the war, reports George
Horton. American consul general at
Saloniki The soldiers have seen how
ii i'' obIi NIid' re-
suits it produces with inadequate
means.
European immigration. it is assert
cd, should not be encouraged until
three problems have been solved
These are how to combat the marsi,
I fever, how to ameliOratc the cond
tons of the inhabitants and better
their homes, and sanitary surround
ings, and to introduce 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,
I the country, which will be benefited
in many ways by the presence of the
Allied armies, will also have the bene.
MT Of efforts now being made to com
bat the fever. A durable and efficient
organization, whose sole duty will be
to solve definitely this problem. is ex.
pected to be the outgrowth of army
organization.
For centuries the Maccdonans have
lived amid insanitary conditions. Am
! eliOration OF this condition must como
/ before the real development of the
| country, The people have laborcd
! with the most primitive tools and have
rarely been sure Of enjoying the fruits
of their toll. Yet they must provide
the main body of labOrers for the cul
tivalion and redemption of Maccdon
/ ia, because thcy are Injured to climat
conditions.
Motor and tractor Implements. max
ing labor easier in the trying climate
also are necessary because they wOult
solve to a large extent the question
OF obtaining sufficient number o.
workers. American tractor imple
ments are already being used SUCCESS
fully by the British ana French an
mes, and recently an American Rec
Cross detachment arrived here will
the purpose of cultivating the eyten
sive plains south of Monastir. Ameri
can farm implements having been in
troduccd, should play an importan
part in the redemption of Macedonia.
Water power is also waiting devel
opment. Mr.. Horton says the princi
pal grain merchants report that tn,
annual crop of cereals of the three vii
aycts or provinces of Monastir, Kos
soyc and Saloniki, in the years pre-
cecdinG 1890, was 100000 to 700 90,
tons, Since then the yield has decreas
cd to 100000 tons, principally becaus,
of insecure conditions and emigration
of workers.
With the modern methods at worl
and with some plains drained, il is es
timated that region should yield n
least 100000 tons of grain, and will
this done Macedonia would turn bacl
to its history and again be "the gran
airy of the Balkans" "