Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1918-11-14

iIdUSuL VIII d p6CuIidI S151AiAA
Just ahead Of the German drive on the
| west front came the Z. S. Food Ad-
ninistration's warning on March "a
that wheat stocks Of the nation are
| low 1t appealed to every citizen TO
cut his consumption OF wheat flour by
| 0ne-half and TO limit himself TO not
| more than six pounds OF flour every
80 days.
Public eating places and clubs were
put under more stringent regulations
| than ever before Retailers were re-
| Quested to cut down the volume OF
their sales of wheat -four. Bakers were
| told to reduce the size OF Victory
Bread loaves. Manufacturers using
wheat products for non-foOd purposes
| were ordered to cease the practice.
In all, the Food Administration ask
ed the American people to limit their
eating of wheat products from now
until harvest to a maximum of p ,o0o,-
900 bushels per month.
This appeal came somewhat as a
shock, and with it realization OF the
grim developments of the war 1t was
known that we had fulfilled our orig
inal promise to the Allies, having eX-
ported by the end Of March 95,0OJ.oO0
bushels Of wheat. To extract so large
a quantity from the nations 1871 crop
was an almost phenomenal undertak-
ing, made possible only by the general
cooperation Of the American public.
1t was thought by officials that the full
fllment of this obligation would re-
iieve American citizens from further
stringent conservation practices; as
the amount exported was calculated to
De sufficient to bridge the Allies over
to the movement of the South Ameri-
can crop.
Change in Allies Shipping Plans
The Allies had depended on secur-
ing great supplies from South Ameri-
Ca. They had purchased enormous
quantities of wheat in Argentina where
there is an available, exportable sur
plus of 1873 100000 bushels. If they
could got that wheat across the water
their bread problem would be solved.
But there are not enough ships to go
around just now. Every available yes
sci is pressed into service, carrying
men, munitions. food and war sup
plies The service of ship is limited
by the distance it traverses and it will
require more than twice the ship ton
mage to move wheat from the Argen-
tina than from our Atlantic ports.
If North America could not furnish
the wheat the Allies cause would be
handicapped to the extent that it
would require ships to be withdrawn
from their present assignments.
Fighting the war resolves itself in no
slight degree upon time, distance and
ships. The tragic ship shortage is re-
fected in recent orders cutting down
American imports
HON Much Wheat Is In Sight?
Lifting the curtain on the food sup
ply disclosed the fact that on March
/, the stocks of wheat on farms
amounted to approximately Iii, 272,.
900 bushels. From this about 33, 120,
900 bushels must be set aside for seed
ing Of spring wheat leaving an avail
able balance for marketing in farmers
hands of 7S,152,000 bushels. On the
same date the stocks Of wheat in com
mercial hands were $685., 200 bushels
This gave a total supply Of wheat
available for food purposes Of 147,8 45,
600 bushels.
Flour stocks at mills totaled 10,202,-
900 bushels. In addition there was d
visible supply of flour at terminal ele
vators of 18,364,500 bushels. This gave
total of wheat and flour stocks on
March 1, of 176, All, 500 bushels. From
this supply the United States must
feed itself and share with the Allies
4 who require of US 100000 bushels
o between March !, and harvest. Dur
ing the same period this nation nor
mally consumes 200 ,000000 bushels OF
1 | wheat.
To send to the Allies their require
ments is viewed as a military necess
ity at Washington This will leave
, available for home consumption 101,
r Ali, 800 bushels, or about one-half OF
t what is normally used.
S Difficulties of Shipping Increase.
t With shipping then the limiting fac
\ tor, it falls upon the American people
to choose whether they will require
allied ships to move wheat from South
American ports at the expense of the
needed movement of troops, munitions
: and necessaries, thus endangering the
S military program, or to release ships
= by reducing our own consumption OF
wheat. The Food Administration off
Gals believe that this cut will be
brought about by voluntary action
r of the people supplemented by a strict
. control of the distributing agencies.
There is plentiful supply of wheat
in Australia. The better part of two
crops is banked UP and storage is be
coming a serious problem in the Aus
tralian commonwealth. Their export
able surplus is estimated at 100000,
900 bushels, but it is not thought thai
more than 100000 bushels of this car
be moved from Australia to the United
States, as sailing vessels are about the
only available transports that can be
in the MORNING