New-York tribune., 1921-03-13
BY Herbert c. Hoover

4 4
| TIE New Food Research Institut. will
| devote itself TO the investigation and
elimination OF facts in three princi.
pal directions
1 Frst-The distribution system-the
| economic SIDE
| Second-The chemistry of food manu-
/ featuring procesSes-the chemical side
| Third-The production and agricul-
| .aral side Of foods.
| Some OF the problems to be studied
appertain to milk, the price marc
between producer and consumer. de-
;srmiHatlon OF basic standard OF ljv-
] lng. cost O. producing agricultural com
nOdities and world aspects OF the food
| supply. -OoN
| The milk problem is subject Of first
grade Importance in public health In
Jhina the woman nurses the child until
II IS three o. four years old. and then
transfers 1t 10 the general diet of the
community. In this country the child
rs weansd before it is year old and
becomes dependent upon the domesti-
eated COW, 10 a greater or less extent.
antll maturity is attained.
Milk Problem Is Big One
1 With The Development of urbanjza-
/ 1on the Gependence Of the child unon
1 ne cow becomes more and more diff
cult TO MAINTAIN. The per capita con
sumption OF milk IN cities falls. The
1 more intense the struggle for existence
5ne lo"er the milk supply of the IN
auStrla- classes. The substit,,+ions ~
ether foodstuffs for milk and tba ro
L SalIs thereof are important problems
VIII ne necessary. in the first mace
"a llaAe d comprehensive study of milk
PRODUCTION from the standpoint of agri-
is'ure ana economics. One such in
'es,iss'ion TOR one small area was car
fsa oul during the war by the Tri
l0lAte iiik Commiss on. whose sittinos
ave already been suspended. Other
use u every section of the country
'T ae'e fminatlon Of the price of milk
- d com lApfomlSe, not decision.
'ls production of milk is particu-
-aF'y exposed TO the operations Of the
d" or aiminishlng returns and is very
tls'-iIe TO advances in the price of
4-- ne present situation has been
0nplicated by al abnormal develon-
aent Of manufactured dairy cornmodi-
'es 'Ae result OF The war The coun-
W Can be divided into zones of prim-
4FY ana secondary milk production.
'eheS tha' produce greatly in excess
g. laer needs, zones that approx
Hsley cover their requirements and
zones OF deficiency that must be sup
9Hea from other areas.
Accurate Statistics Needed
The total production Of milk the
manufacture of butter. cheese and CON
aensed milk, the utilization Of skinned
1i'k the shipment of fluid milk and
'ae storage Of milk products in refrig-
ualorS can be accurately tabulated and
.naiy4eo Through special investiga- 4
"ons carried on with the aid of coun-
agents no selected portions Of the
inherent zones the cosc of milk pro-
sdction for the different purposes can
De determined
me transportation and distribution
" Huld mlle to the cities will require /
4 second set of surveys, and the in
raehce o. the consumption Of milk pro-
"uetlon on the use OF fluid milk would
lIsns,ltute I the subject of third ct.
tmaHy proceeding from the stand
tO'l OF the consumer. surveys could
+" carried IN ln cities of various sizes,
70 determine The ultimate destination
" pQid muk and milk products
Aeciprocal thereto, surveys fn the
,onsested areas of cities would de-
'efmne substitution Of other goods for
nus ana dairy products and the re-
,uliant Influences upon growth and
"'dtn. FOR such an investigation the
.Sehcles aud data may be said to be
s'moSt nou-existent, and the organiza-
uVn OF the work viii be as new as the
pooiem is intricate. The subject is
snble' gIooiem Of iirst grade Importance in
Producer and Cnucurnor
Durlne the war we knew the spread
Inc prlce of every article of food
.om producer to consumer, and we
toa'a sO divide the spread into several
'ac'ons and factors No such in
.g'mstion .s exists for the present prices,
m; ,;u "oout TINS lack Of information, or
,a,. FORMATION, rage the fercest CON
."s'ons- The spread is different for
w." loodstuf and must be investi-
sHted separately.
@ rof such Investigations it is neces-
IL, 20 collect the data, beginning with
th, saie upon the farm and ending on
NM '@o'c OF the consumer. Govern
vs reports in nation and state. rail
mi iccords, trade journals, reports of
..la ana factories and records Of
bo,. constitute the basic data These,
io,oser. must be supplemented and
fha w eitc be4SiS OF surveys AT
,s. sources and in connection with the
no,tas steps OF manufacture, trans
'VrI1a'ion ro and transfer
ara ,"e present Wholesale index numbers
eon. :" par antlquated. in part erron-
eri,a.d ana in part based upon different
gasl1a. as employed by different or
.4,ad ,,I~a IONS We had devised in the
usa- administration in Washington a
bsss syS'em of wholesale index num-
ress. 'er foodstufs. These should be
Ipvimed pi aud elaborated.
con,r''e the spread can be CON
ora .vltirea' or ought to be controlled, is
sly,,SSp ling to be evaluated and an
eons.'.l's ~ another thing. And the latter
ia:u'es iases,'es i practicable subject Of
.,.,SsNRation. The problems of mar
II. ere andissolubiy connected with
PAooiems Of spread.
?. nasic Standard of Living
the ,"unierous discussions dealing with
csms ts Sa made of wage, salary and in
lsst by different classes during the
In lew years writer's have iamented
scmn.;e S OF index numbers of CON
bsrsp pssn' os corresponding to index num-
IL trad. price that are widely employed
a bss,ae and industry. During the war
sseffsi.nihg was made in the study of
sssen,;sqqes OF consumption as being
sssent;a,' semi-essential and non
a2erst;ai, inc food administration CO.
I'd ssn with the War Trade Board
M o war Industries Board
5as ~ psaet'cabic study of the problem
sro aspects. In the srs+ 49,