The Benson signal., 1918-04-06
SHOE PRICES GUT
IN TWO COUNTRIES
ENGLAND AND ITALY BENEFIT
BY STANDAR RDiZATlCN AND
CONTROL OF PROFITS.
GOODS ARE ALL OF LEATHER
Agricultural Department Estimates
Show Range of War Emergency
Work-Vast Amount Of Food Sent
by America to Allies.

(From the Committee on Public Informa-
tion)
Washington.-There has already
been drop in the prices charged by
retailers for footwear in England in
view of the governments action in
placing on the market standardized
shoes made at controlled rates of
profit, according to a report to the
United States department of COM
merce.
At recent exhibition OF wartime"
boots 80 samples were shown, ranging
from heavy boots for carriers and la
borers to shoes for ordinary street use,
and children's shoes. Prices range
from $2O6 to $6.3S a pair. The
shoes are made entirely of leather and
the retailers price is stamped on the
sole.
Italian shoe factories are manufac-
turing standardized shoes, using leath-
er furnished by the government, which
cantrOlS the system of sales to the
public.
In England the manufacture Of
standard cloth for mems suits has
made rapid progress, "a patterns being
included in the first goods shown. AS
now planned, provision is made for
100000 to 100000 suits ready for de-
livery from June to August. The pro-
ject may later include production of
certain classes Of cloth for WOman'S
wear.
OF the total of nearly $20,000,000
asked for war emergency activities by
the department Of agriculture 1t is
proposed to use $S,OOO,OO0 for the pur-
chase and sale of seed to farmers for
cash at cost; $6100,OOO for the devel-
opment of the cooperative agricultural
extension work in cooperation with
the state agricultural colleges; 81, ,269,-
655 for combating animal diseases,
stimulating the production Of live
stock, and encouraging the conscrva-
tion and utilization Of meat, poultry,
dairy and other animal products;
$911 300 for the prevention, control,
and eradication of insects and plant
diseases, and the conservation and
utilization of plant products; $685.
959 for extending and enlarging the
market news service of the bureau OF
markets, preventing waste OF food IN
storage, in transit or held for sale, CIV
ing advice concerning the market
movement or distribution of perish
able products, making inspections and
certifcations regarding the condition
of perishable agricultural products,
and gathering information in connec-
tion with the demand for and the pro-
duction, supply, distribution and ut1h-
zation of food; and $1,OSO,98O for
dealing with the farm-labor problem,
enlarging the international work Of
the department, printing and distribut-
ing emergency leaflets, posters and
other publications, and extending the
work Of the bureau of chemistry, the
bureau of entomology, and the bureau
of biological survey.
Statistics compiled by the food ad-
ministration show that the grand total
of all food exported to the four allies
the United Kingdom, France, Italy
and Russia-from July 1, 1914, to
January /, 1918, would furnish COM
plete yearly rations for 57,1OO,933
adult persons, with surplus of pro-
tein capable of supplying this portion
of the diet for 22,194,57O additional
men.
Since the beginning Of the war the
United States has averaged to supply
the allies with food enough each year
to support 16,314,552 persons, and
with an excess of both protein and
fats sufficient for several millions
more.
The total exports Of wheat and
wheat flour to the three principal al
lies, Russia getting but very small
per cent Of the whole, were equlva-
lent to about 384,OOOOOO bushels, or an
average of about 100000 bushels a
year. Of this total amount the United
Kingdom got 145,348O0O bushels OF
wheat and $4,000 barrels of wheat
-four; France got 79,79S,0O0 bushels
of wheat and 5,462.OOO barrels OF
wheat flour; Italy S7,136,O00 bushels of
wheat and 1,S95,O0O barrels of wheat
flour. Russia received only 10000
bushels of wheat and $4,000 barrels of
wheat flour.
The toal exports Of pork products
were nearly 2,0OO,OO0,00O pounds,
yearly average of about 57O,OOO,OOO
pounds. The total sugar exports were
over 2,269 100000 pounds, a yearly
average of about 64S,O00OO0. Of corn
there was exported 23,332,0 900 bushels;
oats, 207981, 600; rye, 3,407,OO
Reports based on figures from the
department of agricultural show that
January l, 1918, the number of meat
animals in the United States was
greater by more than 100000 head
than it was January l, 1917. The num-
Der of inspections for slaughter indl-
cate a decrease in consumption.
The summary shows the total num-
ber of cattle in the United States jan
uary l. 1918, was 66,S30,OOO, an in
crease of 1,247O0O head over the same