The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-15
WHEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS


 Wheat and meat products constitut ed, with cotton, the leading export commodities upon which the United States relied for maintaining large trade with Europe and other parts af the world Yet it WaS observed that from year to year in the early years of the twentieth century our exports of meat products were rapidly de' creasing; Furthermore the farmers in the southwest were advised that thee was more money in raising grain than in producing cattle, so they under took to cut up the great cattle ranches into comparatively small farms.
 Had it not been for the increase in our exports of manufactured commo- dities, especially electrical apparatus, oil, railroad equipment and Iron and steel products, our foreign trade would have been seriously impaired. The statement was frequently made that the growth of population in the United States was relatively more rapid than the increase in meat production.
 WITHIN FOUR YEARS
 Today the government reports make it clear that it was not because of inability to cultivate all the wheat we needed with enough left over for export, and also to maintain and even increase our markets abroad for meat products that the falling off in produc- ton occurred. For now there is every promise, if favorable climatic condi- tions continue, of harvest of wheat in 1919 considerably in excess ol 1 POO. 900. ooO. Mir. Hill used to say that the American farmers ought easily to raise wheat sufficient for harvest of a billion bushels. lie believed that there is good wheat land in plenty stiA awaiting cultivation. although some reclamation and increased transporta- tion facilities might be needed to make it available. Furthermore, he urged the farmers to undertake stock raising upon a very large scale and spent no small amount of his own money in securing the facilities by which that could be done. Were MT. Hill now alive he would rejoice when reading 1 the reports from Washington which | tell of the amazing increase in th9 i production of wheat and of meat pro | ducts which has taken place since the l European war began. Of course, I great part of this increase is due to i the fact that Europe and especially 1 our allies turned to us for food prod ! ucts after the war began. But V e l were able to meet this sudden and vast demand. Much of the increase now promised for this year in wheat IS 1 traceable to the certainty which the l IdrfneTS possess lHdl tHTy Wili ioSoi' . s2l26 a bushel for wheat delivered at Chicago.
 l And then again the unparalleled de- mand for meat products which came | from our allies, and also from the government. so that our own soldiers could be properly fed, together with 1 the high price which these meat pro- ducts commanded, lead 10 such inten- sive effort and to such skillful man | ma nnESihla for the United States to export meat products in the year 1918 which, were of the money value of billion dollars.
 Undoubtedly the year 1919 will equal, | possibly surpass, this record, because underfed Europe will for many months be dependent upon the United States 1 to supply the deficiency in meat. 1 Over two billion dollars!
 The farmers of the United States if weather conditions continue favorable | will receive for the wheat which they | will harvest this year considerably In excess of $2.000o00, 900. Of course from this large sum must be subtracted the expense in wages, overhead charges I interest and taxes which the farmers are obliged to meet. Yet 1t is believed that the wheat farmers of the United States will receive net considerably ii l excess of s1 000. 900 900 for their wheat
 Tn one of the addresses delivered by Mir Hill about 12 years ago he stated that he believed the American farmers and stock raisers should be able to produce new wealth, each year in the aggregate $15, 5,000, 100000. It is likely that this year more than s15,00000 vii represent new wealth taken from the soil and from the cattle fields, because something in excess of sg,000. 900, 900 is to be received for wheat alone. Ths other grain crops combined with tho hay crop should increase this amour by perhaps much as $2,000, ,OO.0Ct more. There will be disappointment i our exports of beef products in 191! s1,000, 100000 and this in addition ' the home consumption of beef. Th' cotton harvests should yield many hun reds of millions more of new wealth rh refore it is not estimating to' highly to predict new wealth takei ftori he soil and the cattle ranche
 ;evs of s15.000,000 in the yea
 his experience, all of it con
 to four years or five, including
 makes it evident that the re
 sprces of the United States so ia as od products and cotton are con sertei are ample and will long b. aue'e not only for your own peopl ou, for meeting the demands whicl wili oe made upon us by other nation for these commodities
 Y ny persons have wondered wh thsro is a tendency towards highe prizes for securities which is demon sfyated by the course of The securitfe mar iet But those who are competen Co give an agricultural and meat pro duciion is in the year 1919 to mak a nsw record and that upon produc siUw of this kind prosperity Is in grea
 nea sure,