South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-10
CONDITIONS MAKE
HEAVY DEMANDS
Many Causes Contribute to
Need for American Wheat
Throughout World.

WASHINGTON. May 81 Dis
turbed conditions in Europe. failure
Of the people in some countries 10
return to farming. hocking Of mil
lions 10 the large cities. reduction
OF crops in India. and the unhtness
for shipment OF much Australian
cheat assure a continued heavy de-
mand for American food products,
and furnish a material reason why
farmers should invest their sur
plus money in Victory Liberty
bonds. says G.. I. Christie. assistant
secretary OF agriculture.
"A study Of European conditions"
said Mr.. Christie, indicates that
there will be need for every pound
OF food hat can be produced on
American farms this year and that
farmers will receive a fair price for
their products.
when the armistice was signed
it was thought that the armies
would be demobilized. and that the
people OF Germany, Austria-Hun-
gary. and the other countries OF
central Europe would return and
take up work in large numbers on
the land. There was every reason to
believe that the peasants would cul-
tivate the soil and produce a large
share OF the needed food for this
C-ming year. In this respect there
has been much disappointment. Due
10 the unsettled conditions and UNI
stable government. the people have
been slow to take up any regular
occupation. In some Of these dis
tricts, where there have been many
large land holdings. the people are
demanding hat these be broken up
into smaller tracts ard distributed.
Many thousands OF peasants are
leaving the country. where
they have been producing live stock,
and are now coming down into the
valley country. where they hope TO
gel a share OF the rich agricultural
lands. The peasants on these lands
are slow 10 plant and cultivate,
thinking that they may lose their
labor and their crops If the land
is given TO others.
Flock to- Cities.
The result of this disturbance
is that food production will be ma
terially decreased. In other territory,
due to a lack Of transportation and
seed, crop production will be very
much reduced. Conditions every
where are such that there is little
hope TO have "A normal production.
with the disturbance in the country.
il is found that the people are now
fiOcking in large numbers TO the
city. In 1(14, the city Of Budapest
had a population Of about 500, 600.
while the population today is more
than 1000, 900. The city Of Vienna
IN the past few months has in
creased in population more than l.
coo, 900. During normal times the
city OF Vienna received 100000 lit
ers OF milk daily. At this time this
has been reduced to 80, 200 liters Of
milk. which is given by cards TO
only babies and invalids. The first
American flour is reported TO have
reached Germany within the past
few days. This flour has been sold in
half-pound lots for ia marks. This
would be at the rate OF about 81
cents a pound. other foodstufs are
selling at unusually high prices. all
Of which indicates that the supply
Of food is far from meeting the de-
mand.
Bonds Benefit Farmers.
Direct benefits TO farmers through
the sale OF government bonds also
are cited by Mr.. Christie as a reasOn
why farmers should invest in these
securities.
The recent congress- he said.
has appropriated 100000 TO buy
food for the hungry people Of
Europe. This has taken a large sup
ply Of the surplus fOodstuffs. and
has made a strong market for agri-
cultural products. Recently England
has placed an order for 200, 00G. goo
bushels Of wheat with this country,
for the reason that credit could be
obtained. This credit was made pos
sible by the money furnished the
government through the sale Of Lib
erty bonds. II is readily seen that
the sale of these large supplies o!
wheat and meat is making a place
and assuring a larger market for
the large wheat crop now in pros
pect. and for the large production
OF grain. meat. poultry, and dairy
products which Is bound 20 come
from the farms this year"
Can Borrow Money.
After buying bonds the farmer:
may use them for collateral in Dor
rowing money for farm operations
AIR. Christie points out. They car
carry out the operations for which
the money was needed and in du,
time repay the banks. Meanwhile
the boads will have been drawing
interest. making the actual cost o,
the loan comparatively small.
"The farmers of the United
states said the assistant secretary
lin response TO the call for men foi
the service. gave more than 1000.
600 boys. and TN addition one and Z
half million trained farm worker.
10 the essential war industries. sucl
as ship building and manufactur,
OF ammunitions. Then the farmer,
in 1918 produced 5s.0OO.000 acre.
more crops than ever were grown
in any previous year. Farmers ar,
supporting and serving the govern
ment in every big move. b. invest
fD~ in Victory bonds they are RON