Evening star., 1921-03-13

rect analysis. in accordance with en-
gineering experience. At present the
public press displays great confu-
sion on the subject. now much dis
cuSsed on account of the falling price
of wheat. The writer has discussed
the subject within recent months with
growers. experts of agricultural col
legcs and experiment stations. COM
mission merchants and millers in the
two large wheat-growing areas of
our country. No one is able to make
a computation as to the cost of pro-
duction of wheat in the last crop.
because no one has carried out the
Investigations upon which alone
cost sheet could be erected.
In food-eXporting nation the price
of the fraction consumed at home viii
be determined by the price at which
the eXportable surplus is sold abroad.
In food-importing nation the price
CT the domestic foodstuff consumed
at home will be determined by the
price of the imported fraction OBJ
tanned from abroad. This. of course.
without regard to tariff or embargo.
In practice. however. and parJlcu-
larly under abnormal circumstances.
the operations of these almost aNio-
matte principles depends upon great
many modifying influences and cir
cumstances. A review of the develop
ment of our country during the past
twenty years and the data of the
recent census liulCdte d pIoHouHS-
el tendency TO urbanization. the eX-
pansion of city industries out of
proportion to the development OF
:griculture. This has been eXagGer-
ated by the inaction of our manu-
featuring capacity that has resulted
from the war.
Prospect of Food Importing.
Apparently. we are to pass from a
food exporting to foodinportinS
nation. This transition may be ana
lyzed from the point of view OF the
dollar. the calorie or the ton. The
more available the data on conditions
in competitive lands, the better for
both city and country in the United
States.
Our food supplies would be divided
into primary and secondary commodl-
ties. The group of secondary 1000
stuffs would be divided into several
rubrics, Our country would be divided
into zones, in accordance with their
production of foodstuffs of the differ
ent classes.
The od-exporting areas OF the
world would be classified on the basis
of their relations to our production
and consumption and to world trade.
The food-consuming nations would be
classified on the basis of competition
with us as consumers. Transporta-
ton conditions, to and from each
country would be measured anu
.tabulated. An analysis would be made
of the production and distribution OF
other basic materials and finished
commodities with which imported
foodstuffs would be paid.
An international Survey.
In the sessions of the league of
nations they are discussing the inter-
national ALLEGATION Of raw materials
and foodstuffs. For such an alloca-
ton to be even considered an inter-
national survey of the kind here
proposed would be indispensable. If
indispensable for the league OF ma
tions, it ought to be equally indis-
pensable for ourselves.
The data of production, consump-
ton, distribution and expectation of
the several foodstuffs concerned
would be obtained from existing in
stitutions. governmental or CONNER
ciai of all kinds whatsoever. These
would need to be supplemented in
many countries by special surveys on
the basis of data secured at the
source.
1t was on the basis Of such surveys
that the food supplies of Europe were
marshaled throughout the world dur
ing the war. The collection of this
data in the future would be easier
than before the war. on account OF
the esta blishment of connections in
various countries.