The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1919-04-25
ALREADY SKY High
and MAY GO Higher
Europe's Demand For Food
%, May Boost Prices
Yet Higher

Washington. April 22.--Inquiry
today developed that after July 1
there will be no governmental agency
empowered to regulate the flow Of
foodstuffs. other than wheat and
wheat products, out of the United
States.
The control which has been exer-
cised by the War Trade Board
through license restrictions Is being
steadily lifted and the board will
cease to function June 80. Congress
provided no funds for it's operation
during the ensuing fiscal year.
Unless some check on exports is
provided before this condition obtains
Il is feared here the demand from
Europe will cause a drain on the
available stocks in this country that
not only may increase prices but
bring about storage in America.
Ine United States Grain Corpara-
ton, which has been designated by
President Wilson to carry out the
government wheat guarantee, has full
authority to regulate wheat exports
and imports and no difficulty in this
connection is anticipated. A yield of
more than a million bushels of wheat
is forecast by the Department of Ag-
riculture and the normal consumption
in the United States Is 65O,OOO,OOO
bushels
It is significant in this connection.
however, to note that Julius II.
Barnes. head of the grain corporation.
announces that he sees little chance
of a return to the five-cent loaf of
bread
Next TO wheat the heaviest Euro
peon demand will he for fats and
other meat products, The United
States now has a comfortable surplus
OF these foodstuiIs, but 1t Is not eX-
pected that Europe can be supplied
with all she wants Without reducing
the home supply beloN normal cen
sumption.
p No one I'm official circles would
vouchsafe an opinion today as to
whether or no. the feeding of Ger
many and her allies and the Bolshc-
wiki would r'sult IN the people "
this country being required to pay
higher prices for their food.
At the Department of Agriculture
II was said that the indications wer"
that reasonably high" prices woui!
continue in the United StateJ 3S
result of the European demand II
was also pointed out that the CO ); OF
production had increased enormously
during the war period and that the
farmers must have fair return /!
adequate production is to be obtain
ed.
No Effort To Find Needs.
So far as could be learned no
effort Is being made to ascertain the
actual needs of the home consumers
during the coming year, other than
gathered annually in order to de-
termine what proportion of American
stocks may be released for foreign
consumption without working a hard
ship to the people of this country.
Examination of official reports at
the bureau OF labor statistics Depart
ment of Labor, showed that from
June, 1913 to January 1919, which
includes the period following the
signing of the armistice, foodstuffs
prices in the United States increased
on an average of 10 per cent. The
reduction since the first of the year
has been only 6 per cent, /
The immediate future presents lit
tie prospect of any material reduc-
ton beyond this point, II is thought.
Investigations by the Department
OF Labor, it was further learned to-
day, have shown that instead of keep
ing in front of the advancing cost of
living, wages merely have kept pace.
The nottingham who has laid by
anything as wages have been raised,
1t was stated, have been enabled to
accomplish this only by steady en-
ployment and working overtime. The
regular S-hour day wage just about
covers the cost of food, household
expenses and other necessities.
\