Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-07-13
The Whole Worlds Problem,
Is Georgia S Obbortun;ta
= F "two-legged animals without feath-
ers," as a crusty and sapient Scot

" 'tWo-legged animals without feath-
ers," as a crusty and sapient Scot
once described the human species,
there are now one billion six hundred and
seventy-five million eight hundred and thir-
ty-four thousand six hundred and fourteen
opening their mouths to be victualed. We
do not vouch for the the last six digits. 1t
is two years since the statsticans-those
learned and authentic fellows" as Shake
speare called them-made an official reck-
oning of the worlds population. Meanwhile
there may have been considerable change in
the hundreds and thousands. Howbeit, We
leave the pertinacious and time-honored
reader to adjust such differences, and our
selves pass on to consider the billion six
hundred and seventy-five million more or
less lusty appetites which a none too we'll
narrowed planet is called upon to appease.
The question is nothing if not practical, and
timely to the point of being almost pain
fully imperative. For true as it is that man
is vastly more than a creature of pots and
skillets, so long as he tarries on this bank
and shoal of time he must eat. In Heaven
there may be no need of breakfast and din
ner, no hot cakes and syrup, no black-eyed
peas and lemon pie-though we devoutly
trust there will be. Certain it is, however.
that if we are to function at all in our houses
OF clay, we must have a snack now and
then. And as there are billion six hun
dred and seventy-five million of us asking
rather rum unless we get bit of sugar,
too, the question of how it is all going to be
provided becomes capitally urgent 1t is the
question, indeed, that has been most insist
emit and most widely perplexing since Adams
brow first beaded with sweat
Especially insistent and perplexing it is
today, because for years our human family's
consuming mouths have been multiplying
faster than its producing hands. When men
now in their latter thirties were in kits
the earth's total population was some two
hundred and forty million less than today,
and great era of agricultural expansion
was at its prime. In the nineteenth CEN
tury, historian recalls the United States
west Of the Alleghenies was converted from
wilderness intp bountiful fields "Argen-
tina and Northwestern Canada were added
to the food-producing area" and at the
same time, through the penetrating coloniz-
ing and genius of certain European peoples
aided by new means of communication, the
food resources of Asia became generally
available. Thus did supply keep a liberal
pace with demand. But in the Twentieth
century what do We find? No western from
tier beckons in America; no conquest of
new continents goes fruitfully forward: no
marked increment in mans fund of food
stuffs brings cheer. Yet there has been
added to the world in the last few decades a
population outnumbering two nations the
size of ours
This accounts for many wrinkle which
these latter days are scribbling on the house
wife's brow, and for many an anxious
thought in the chancellories of Europe It
accounts, in part at least, for Bolshevism
and legion of lesser vagaries. 1t is the
whole worlds problem. 1t is the spe-
cial opportunity of regions like Georgia
and Dixie, where millions of fertile acres lie
fallow, and empires of opportunity await the
pillow.