The Omaha guide., 1945-09-08
Britoin's Farm
Output High

Output High
But what about England where the
boys were in the army and the NUM-
lions factories, too; where farmers
had to farm in the blackout and
around the shell-craters in their
fields? The British increased their
production IS per cent = they were
nearer to the front than we were.
They had a greater incentive.
For the same reason, the distribu-
ton was far. better than in Ameri-
ca. RECOMMENDATION was more strin-
gent. The government in England
bought all the food and distributed
it itself. 1t cracked down hard on
the black markets. In this country,
popular opinion prevented such in
reference with private enterprise.
And so in America we permitted
the processing and distribution in
dustries to operate at a profit. In
Britain. it was a non-proft, govern
ment operation. Rationing was
stricter, too.
So much for Britain's wartime eff
fort. Now, what about the efficiency
of her production in normal times?
My informant gave me some i'm
pressive figures.
He pointed to Americas two typi-
cal farm states which taken together
are just about equal to Britain in
area: Iowa and Indiana. Believe it
or not in normal times Britain pro-
duces more wheat, barley and oats
than those two states combined.
Britain also produces more cattle
than Texas which is six times as
large-more potatoes than all our
chief potato states including Maine
and Idaho, more dairy products than
Wisconsin.
Then why on EARTH" I inter-
rupted, cant they feed themselves
over Thereof
Back came the answer: For the
same reason that New York state
with its skilled farmers, its splen-
did soil, its up-to-date methods,
can't feed itself any more than the
District of Columbia can. In Europe
as in these more heavily populated
areas in the United States, there are
Just too many people,"
If we want these Europeans to
live and prosper and earn the none
to buy u automobiles and type
writers and other gadgets which
keep our factories running, we'll
have to keep on sending food to Eu-
rope as we always have.
Recently I vas asked to make a
recording which was to be deposited
in the archives of George Washing
ton university, as part Of a series
made for the use of the class of the
year 2007. 1t is a somewhat fantastic
idea to be sure. but it is seriously
undertaken 2 l responded in as
serious a vel as l could muster. /
can't repeat what l said as that is
supposed to be held as a big sur
prise for the class of 2007. However.
the whole idea intrigues me so much
that l have been thinking about it
eve since.
The fact that this year begins
what some people call the atomic
age" makes the speculation all the
more interesting. In 1889 when the
first successful experiment in split
ting the atom" and releasing the
vast power which literally holds the
world together vas reported chiefly
in scientific publications, as of great
academic Importance. One writer
said the experiment might have no
results of interests beyond the labo-
ratory. Six years later continue
ton of those experiments ended
the japanese war.
The forces released, however.
were largely uncontrolled and pure
ly destructive.
Will the class of 20O7 have to look
up the word coal because if has
been forgotten? viii all our mod
ern means Of generating power be
displaced by the atoms forces. care
fully controlled and directed to the
uses Of peace and progress?