The Washington herald., 1919-04-15
RECORD WHEAT
CROP FORECAST
Holland Says Signs Point to
Banner Year for Ameri-
can Staple.

OF the leaders in industry and in
transportation confessed that they
looked with apprehension upon the
agricultural growth of the country
and also upon the maintenance OF our
beef cattle and pork industry. From
England came the warning that the
world was in danger OF a yearly de-
crease in the production OF wheat
James ]. Hill went up and down
along the line OF the Great Northern
Railroad so that he might urge the
farmers to adopt wheat cultivation
upon a large scale and he sought to
bring in competent immigrants who
would take up the rich and virgin
wheat lands Of the Far Northwest
whose excellent quality Mr.. Hills eN-
perts had demonstrated.
John W. Bookwalter. OF Ohio. after
having made prolonged tour
through -the wheat belts predicted
such an increase in population and
falling off in wheat production as
would make it inevitable that the
United States import wheat Howard
Elliott, president OF the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company. urged
larger and larger wheat cultivation
and there were transportation lead
ers in the East who advised a revival
OF the wheat industry in New York
State and in Pennsylvania, even in
Connecticut
Feared Meat Shortage.
About that time the packing indus
try OF the United States was much
concerned lest there be such falins;
or in the production OF beef cattle
and hogs. even sheep. as would make
il necessary for the United States
either 70 import beef CaTcasSss ard
frozen mutton or lamb or else secure
concessions whereby the packers could
take advantage of the rich grass lands
Of Argentina and develop upon them
food animals so that in that way the
United States could get enough OF
these products to lessen the danger Of
impairment OF our meat producing in
dustry.
Wheat and meat products constitut-
cd. with cotton. the leading export
commodities upon which the United
states relied for maintaining large
trade with Europe and other parts OF
the world. Yet it was observed that
from year to year in the early years
Of the twentieth century our exports
OF meat were rapidly increasing. Fur
theTmOre. the farmers in the South
west were .dvised that there was
more money in raising grain than in
producing cattle. so they undertook
TO cut up the great cattle ranches into
comparatively small farms.
Had il not been for the increase in
our exports Of manufactured COM
mOdities, specially electrical appara-
tus. 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 pro-
GuCtiOn.
To-day the government reports make
il clear that il 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 of in pro
dUCtiOn occurred. For now there is
every promise. Z favorable climatic
conditions continue. Of a harvest Of
wheat in 1919 considerably i'm excess
OF lHOO oOO O0bUshels Mr.. Hill used to
say that the American farmers ought
easily to raise wheat sufficient for a
hsrvos, OF I0nr ."HI.urn bushels. lie be-
lieved that th.rn is good wheat land
in Dcuty still awaiting cultivation.
although some reclamation and in
creased transportation 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 Sc
curing the facilities by which that
could be done. Were Mr.. Hill now
alive he would rejoice when read
ing the reports from Washington
which tell Of the amazing increase
in the production of wheat and of
meat products which has taken place
since the European war began. OF
course a.Creat part Of this increase
Is due to the fact that Europe and
especially our allies turned to us
Tor food products after the war
hccan. But we were able to meet
this sudden and vast demand
Much Of the increase now promised
for this year in wheat is traCeabIe
to the certainty which the farm
,rz possess that thCv will receive
y-.-G bu-hel for wheat delivered
at CHICAGO.
Exports Aided Industry.
And then again the unparalleled Dc,
naud for meat products which came
from our allies. and also from the
government, so that our own soldiers
could he properly fed. together will
the high price which these meat prod
uCts commanded. led 10 such intensive
effort and to such skillfUl manage
ment as made il possible for tho
United States to export meat prod
uCts in the year 1915 which were oi
the money value of sl.0OO.OOO.OOO.
Undoubtedly the year 1919 will equal