Evening star., 1941-03-30
Sees America
Feeding World
By Frederic J. Hdski1.

shortage, II nOC famine, III large areas
of Europe, and many important materials
already in demand, the American con-
ttnent is being looked upon as the great
source Of agricultural, mineral and cat
tie products, both in quantities which it
produces and in its future potentialities.
1t is even predicted that as wars and
revolutions increase on other continents,
this continent must eventually become
the supply house of the world
From the fields of the American con-
tinent come millions of tons of food
stuffs; over its plains roam hundreds Of
thousands of cattle, and from its mines
are extracted vast quantities of mineral
products Complementary to the sup
plies already available are large areas yet
undeveloped, giving this section of the
world great material advantage over
large portions of other parts of the globe.
OF all the commodities produced in
Latin America, that which perhaps
touches most closely the national econ
omy Of the majority Of states is coffee.
In Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and Haiti,
publics, coffee is rated the national in
dustry. In some Of these countries
other industries have been developed by
foreign capital, but coffee is essentially
a home industry, Brazil being the world
greatest coffee producer.
Wheat, fax oats, and corn are grown
in virtually every country Argentina
and the United States are especially well
adapted for the production of cereal
crops. Their rolling plains also accom-
modate millions of head of cattle and
sheep, and these two countries, with
Uruguay and Southeastern Brazil, are
major source of the worlds supply Of
beef, mutton and pork.
The Americas play leading part in
satisfying mans sweet tooth. Cuba is
the sugar bowl of the world and produces
a large proportion of the continents
total output. In Brazil. also, sugar IS
an important crop, and the commodity is
produced in most of the countries Of
the Caribbean region, as well as in Peru
and Argentina.
Prom tropical American countries come
bananas, pineapples, coconuts, avocados
and many lesser fruits. Countries in
the more temperate regions produce ap-
Piles, pears grapes-the basis of an inn
portant wine industry in several coun-
tries-oranges and peaches. But where
as in the United States these products
ripen in June, July and August, in the
Far South the reversal of seasons makes
them available in the North American
winter Thus, lucrative trade has been
developed in those articles between the
North and South Temperate Zones.
Cotton is one Of the most important
products cultivated on the American
continent. The United States has long
been an important producer of this COM
modify and still occupies first rank
among the world producers. In recent
years the industry has attained re-
markable growth in several of the Latin
American countries notably in Brazil
Argentina and Peru.
Several unusual commodities produced
in the Americas are nitrates, tagua. QUE
bracho, coca. quinine and asphalt. Chils
has a virtual monopoly of natural nj
trates. Quebracho, forest product used
in the tanning of hides is an important
item in the economic life of Paraguay.
Argentina and other countries. Two
medicinal products which have been Of
immense value to mankind are the well-
known quinine and coca, from which
cocain is derived. Quinine comes from
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, and
coca is found in the latter two coun-
tries. Tobacco is grown extensively in
Cuba, Brazil and the United States:
cacao in Brazil, Ecuador and Venezuela,
and yerba mate, the tea of South Amer
lea, is grown in Paraguay, Brazil and
Argentina.
The great mineral wealth of the Amer
icaS was one of the strong influences
that spurred on the conquistadores Dur
ing the colonial era, untold quantities Of
silver and gold were extracted from the
mines of Mexico and Peru and shipped
to Spain. Today, these metals are still
produced, Mexico being the greatest sill
reproducing state in the world, with
Chile, Peru, Colombia, the United States
and other countries contributing i'm
portant quantities Of both gold and
silver. Nor are the Americas lacking in
precious stones. Colombia is the worlds
principal source for emeralds, and dis
monds are found in Brazil. But at
present the more prosaic minerals are
perhaps of greater importance than
precious metals. In Peru, Chile and the
United States are located some Of tie
richest copper deposits in the world.
Extensive tin deposits also are found IN
the Andean region, in Bolivia and the
mining of this important product mas
become the republics major industry.
The scarcity of iron and coal through
out Latin America has handicapped the
industrial development of those coun-
tries, but in the United States both
products are found in great abundance.
This Nation is also the worlds largest
producer of petroleum. Venezuela,
Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and
Argentina also produce several million
barrels of oil annually. Water power Is
another important source of energy in
many of these countries. The develop
ment Of this power, especially in the
United States, has brought about giant
industry for both Government and pri-
vate enterprise.
No one country produces everything.
but what one does not have can usually
be obtained from one of the others. It