The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1918-06-06
NATIONAL WHEAT. SUPPLY
Important Information for Con-
SumerS

AS recent press dispatches wide
ly circulated through the country
have given the wholly false i'm
preston that there is no longer
need for rigorous conservation of
wheat and flour, the Food Admin
istration declares that every as
pect of the wheat situation both
present and prospective intensifies
the need for the greatest possible
limitation in the American con-
sumption of wheat products. If
present restrictions should be in
the slightest degree relaxed it
would result in serious want tor
the people of Europe before the
new crop cam reach the market
The Food Administrations esti-
mate of the position on the first Of
June, indicates a total available
supply until the new harvest, in
Guiding the grain which will be a.
valuable from the farms in coun-
try and terminal elevators and
mill elevators. Of aboGt fifty-six
million bushels OF. this, thirty
million bushels must be- exported
before the new wheat is available
for export If we are to- maintain
the absolutely necessary ship
mentS to our army and the allies,
that leaves about twenty-six mil
lion bushels Cor domestic con-
sumption for the next two
months.
Normal American consumption
is something over forty million
bushels a month, so that the most
liberal consumption athome would
be only One-third of the. normal.
In addition to the wheat on the
farms and in elevators, thare is al
ways an indeterminate further a.
mount in transit and in dealers
hands, and this can nevee be reck-
oned in the -four available for use
for export and use at heane. AS a
MATTER of facA. this stock is not ac-
tually available, since these sup
plies must remain constantly in
flow; they remain permanent
stock, the removal of which would
later cause 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 har-
vest will not be generally availa-
bic in -four until the middle of
August or early September, al
though in the extreme south it
will be somewhat earlier.
At recent meeting of the Fed
eral Food Administrators in
Washington, representing all for
ty-eight states, it was the unani-
NOUS view that, even if the har-
vest 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 con
sequence, 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 mod
flied with the arrival of large
harvest; but, if we are honest
with ourselves, we will maintain
restrictions requiring the use of
some substitutes both domestic
and commercial we will continue
the requirement of high milling
extraction and the eliminatior of
the non-essentlal use OF, and waste
in -four and bread.
! 1t is worth remembering that
the famine in Egypt eight thous-
md years ago was saved by lit
tie governmental foresight, and it
does not require any Illuminating
dream to anticipate that so long
! as the war lasts with its increas-
ing drafts for soldiers and NUM-
ton workers, the world will stead
lily produce less food. If we are
swise. great harvest will mean
the willing building up of great
national res erv SCRANTON