The Loup City northwestern. (Loup City, Neb.) 189?-1917, August 23, 1917, Image 2
HOOVER TELLS OF FOOD SHIN Administrator Issues Message on Conservation. IS GREAT PROBLEM OF WAR Am*' ca*» Production ind Need* of the Allied Notion* Set Forth—What We Must Do to Keep Wolf From the Door. WstJiiBftw. Aiiy. is*.—Herbert C. H<"’ier. I'mitd State- fowl adminis trator. tialii Ivotnl tn the American Jiut l-e hi- statement covering the food Nlu'iou a* it lum riift* and the ne matjr of cm.-erviny the fond re e-uf e. of the nation tu provide for the future dunny the continuance of the v ar. The statement follow -: K»<d is alwa)s more or le-« of a proln.ua tn every plia«e of it- produc tion. handling and consumption. It is a prid.i.tu with every farmer, every trail-porter and seller. every house holder It U * problem with every touts -’ te and nation. And now, very r»<ts-ps--uou»!y. It U a proldetn with three great group- of ttatious. namely, the allies, the central empire- ami the neutral*: In a word It 1- a yre-.it inter national proldetn. The food problem today of our own littta-n. therefore ha- a- it- most cotl »!<;• in us pha-.- an iuteruattoiial charac ter. A -uIRi lent and reyular supply of ff*l for the maintenance of the great held artnie- of our hyhtiny ailies !.m! vif their »o le— great iirtnies of worVi!:y men and lurkin; wittm-u in w war inounnc*. aiui nnaiiy mr tiu* Bunatrumir «»f the wotm-ti ami chil dren in the home, is an absolute ne cessity. second to no other, for the BKo*.fal prosecution of the war for liberty la the providing of this food for the gre*t allied (<>mJ |«h>1. the Unit ed State* {dais a predominant part. With the pre*ent diversion of tens of in iiton* of men from the farms into ttie fighting and industrial armies, re sult ng in a marked lessening of food I r»«dtt<-ti.«n. and the present necessity «<f increasing the dally ration of other Bullion* of men turned from sedentary occupation- into tk'-e of strenuous 1 bj -nal lalstr. re-ulting in a marked jncre-'-e of nvi-'.tuptiou. this deficiency between the food needs and the food production of the ullie* leo'turs great er 'hen tier, with the COT1sequence of a large i;, rn » in the food quantities imi wrativelv Deeded from the I'llltoil V 'e- i* tic* allied armies are to lie able to “carry «*n,“ World's Larder Examined. This l% a ^* !i«-ral of a (i«n* <iitidita w !ii*h ••flkljr t«» K** «*labor> UoJ if* dH«il to «how ju*f ulmt w** luiv*- t#» *!«•. Tb** timr Jm* (time wb#*n thi* drtailHl ran Ik* mad*. «*ur Uarw*? and tlir Butrirt**t* <»f Ku n*»* ram n-m » •e forecast. We can also «urie> «»ur combined stocks of ford animals; in other word*. the size of that |iart of the world's larder on Which we and the allies can draw for the next twelve month* can now he es timated. This estimate shows at once that it contain* too little for our own and our allies use unless we all ad minister the supply with the greatest care and wisdom. The allies! people* are energetically undertaking this ad ministration. It lie* now with us to do our jmrt. If we fail, the |H*>ple of the allies cannot tie maintained at war. Their soldier* i-annot light without ft»*l A certain definitely determina ble pert of that f-ssl must route from u« let us then examine carefully the world's lard- r as it appear* today, or so lunch of it as is at our disposal. I propose to review the situation firs! as regard- the cereals, second, as regards food animat* and their prod ucts. third, a* regards sugar, fourth, as regard* Vegetables, fifth, a* regards fish and sea foods, and. finally, as re gards our duty In the matter. Cereals. Tlw* 11*17 h*rv»-»t is now so far ad vanced that »e may compare it with previous production, and with the de mands which are cuinjt to lie made on it. Table No. 1 i* given to show the normal peace source* „f the annu.-fl •niptWe* of France. Italy, the United Kingdom and Itelglum. Is-ing an aver age of the three-year (ire-war period. It will tie sen from this table that the normal imports of wheat are 381. gSnasi bushels and of other cereals bushel* The estimate of the 1917 harvest in the aili«*l countries based upon crop rcfort* from these 'outline*, is as follows: Probable Av. nor- Deficiency f°*w- HUT pro- mal poo In prod'n. modify dwrte.n du<t.<m due to war *’b**t -- S».” .•«*! !#*.«•** 1K.W6.Oju <■**« **««•«• I7i.pw.aun at.cc.444 :*wt» — se.ix m w. ■**> 3j.cK.1y* Barley ... *1.B6.u» 13.3J1.4CC ni.CP <«<■ Bye . 41.tr.WO 3U3.44C 3t».Mj.<*« Tara] . •*> ?*4 4W l «K.«f* <*>• SS.«C «*• In «*rder to |>mvide normal consump tMd It would therefore tje necessary to Import in the nest 12 months a total af 61 jjMff0 bushels of wheat and J74.Otai.4SKt bushel* of other cereals. The prospective {wtsition of our own and the Canadian harvest Is given In UN# No 2. Our crops, especially our corn crop, cannot yet he ronsiitered as certain, hut If all mature aafdy. North Atuer .ca urtU have an apiurent surplus of «b#at of 2tK.OOti.OOti bushels and of »ther cereals of about 800.000.000 Demand an Our Crops. The alHea are Isolated from those mark els. other than Canada and the , ' — - ■ ■ ^ TABLE NO. 1. Imports Imports Net Imports Commodity. Production. from from Other Con i'. S. Canada. Sources, sumption. Wheat c,90 677 000 79.426,000 112,900,000 1SS.47S.OOO 974.4S5.00o Ccrn .121*109*000 10.S11.000 135,675.000 266.596.000 Oats .570*890 000 6.783,000 16,580,000 88,612.000 682,865,000 Jtarlev.125o01*000 4.946.000 6.660.000 63,030.000 199.793.000 Rye 78:573^0 sei.ooo 60,000 11,337x00 90,537,000 To,al .1,486.448.000 102.533.C00 136.200,000 4S7,134.000 2,214,276,000 TABLE NO. 2. Average Probable Add possible Probable Normal 17. S. V. S. Canadian Commodity I' S1917 Consumption Surplus Surplus ; Wleat " 67S 000 060 590.304.000 88,000.000 120,000.000 , ,r., .. 3 124 000,000 2.653.BS.000 470,000,000 63.000,000 I Cat* . 1 453 000 000 1.148.713,000 304,000.000 30,000.000 Har ev . . 214 000 000 178.829,000 35.000,000 9.000.000 j Rye 56.100,000 35.S66.000 20,200.000 18.000.000 Totals .5.525.100.000 4.607.410,000 917,200.000 239.000,000 | Fnited States, on which they were ac I eiistoincil to rely before the war. Tin* ! Itussinn supply cannot be got out. Bulgarian and Roumanian supplies are , in the hands of the central empires. . Tlie voyage from Australia and India is three times as long and therefore requires three times as many tons of ~ i' required from North At • lantie pi its. It Is also twice as dan gerous because of the longer exposure to submarine attack. There has been a large failure in the South American countries anil tlit* new harvest from that quarter will not he available in Kitrope until next spring. As already said, all the allied countries are and have been for some time rigorously ad ministering and economizing their food. Ill Belgium, the relief commis sion h: s been compelled to reduce the «*niisu!nptlon of cereals by nearly 50 ; per cent: ibis brings the food supply sn low that the population are in capable of labor. From the above tables it will lie seen that on normal bases of eonsump- i tion the total allied wheat import re quirements are 577.000.tH)0 bushels ! against a North American surplus of \ it im <10.000 bushels—and from our rnltc'l States supplies we must re serve a certain amount for neutrals from which we receive vital supplies j and also an amount to protect our I stock* better next year man tm* nisi. There I' therefore on normal con- j sumption a deficit of over 400,000.0(10 bushels. In the other cereals used in Europe mostly for animal feed, the import nee. ssjties of the allies on nor mal consumption basis are about 074. ntxHsai against a North American stir- i I us of <Crft.ono.OtiO. Hut again a re- ' s. rve for neutrals and Increased "car- ! ry over" will absorb all the margin. | In any event it means we must multi- j ply our exports of these cereals 29 | times However, upon the basis of our j present crop prosjiects we should he t able to supply their requirements in j cereals other than wheat. Wheat Situation Difficult. Tlie situation in wheat Is one of . erect difficulty and concern, and must be met by an elimination of waste and reduction of consumption on the part j of the allied peoples and ourselves, in one wortl. by an effective administra tion of the available supply. The allies tire unable to use other eere;.!* alone for bread. They can use them only as added to wheat flour j to make the wiir bread now in uni- j versal use in European countries. Ex- j cept in Italy, whose people normally consume much corn, our allies have , few corn mills and cornmeal is not a durable commodity and therefore can not t.e shipped in great quantities. Moreover, for generations they have ■ bought bread from the bakeries; they | have no equipment nor do they know | Inc. to hake in the household. Every j At . rican knows that it is infeasible to distribute corn bread from bakeries, and it i* therefore necessary for us to furnish our allies with sufficient wheat to enable them to have a wheat I *is for the loaf. However, they can use and must use other cereals for mixture In their war bread, and by thi* substitution and by savings on their part a great deal can be accom plished. On the other hand, a deficit of 4(*loot 1.000 bushels can be at least partially overcome if we can Increase our exports from RS.000,000 to 220, <mm• <mm> or nearly triple. This can he accomplished if we will substitute one pound of other cereals for one pound of wheat flour weekly per person; that I i«. if we reduce our consumption of wheat flour from five pounds per week to four pounds per week per person, i It will l.e no privation to us and will reduce the privation of our allies. ryuu nmmaia. Owing to the ascending standard of ! living, the world was already strained to supply enough animal products to j i meet the demand before the war be gan. Tlie war lias injected into an al ready difficult situation a number of vicious conditions wldch arc jeopardiz ing the ultimate animal products sup ply of the world. The production of fodder in Europe hns been diminished by the diversion of productive labor to war. and its import lias been curtailed i by shortage in shipping and by the isolation of markets by belligerent lines. From these causes not only are the actual numbers of animals de creasing in Europe, but the average weight and the annual output of dairy products per animal, are decreasing. A canful estimate of the world's food animal position shows the follow ing |»isition: Decrease Increase or In other decrease t>ecrease countries Enited western including Total net States allies enemies decrease Cattle 7.0WVO0 8,42(i.OOO 26,750,000 28,080,000 Sheep 3.000.006 17.S00.O00 34.000,000 54,500.000 Hogs 6.275.000 7.100,000 31.600,000 32,425,000 33,020,000 92,350,000 115.006.000 The problem facing the American people Is not only one of supplying the Immediate demand of the allies, but one which is more far-reaching In Its future significance. As the war goes on there will be a constant lessening of the capital stock of food animals of the world. Among our western al lies the demand outruns further every day the decreasing production, ns ship ping becomes further shortened by con tinued submarine destruction, less ton nage can be devoted to fodder, and fur ther reduction of the herds must en sue. These destructive forces have given rise to reactions in many direc tions. The world's supply of meat and dairy products, of animal fats and in dustrial fats, wool and hides, are all involved not only now, but for far into the future. Meats. The immediate problem is to fur nish increased meat supplies to the al lies to maintain them during the war. An important factor contributing to the present situation lies in the disturb ance to the world’s trade by destruc tion of shipping resulting in throwing a larger burden on North America, tin* nearest market. Shipments from the Australasian, South American and front the continental countries into the allied countries have been interfered with. Their contributions must be re placed by increased shipments from North America. The growth of American meat ex ports since the war began, most of which have been supplied hv allied na tions, is revealed by the following fig ures : Three-year pre-war average, 493, 848.000 pounds. Year ending June 30. 1916. 1.339. 1!I3.IN(0 pounds. The impact of European demand upon our animal products will be maintained for a long period of years after peace. \Ve can contemplate a high range of prices, for meat and for animal products for many yetys to come. \Ve must undertake to meet the demand not only during the war. so as to enable our allies to continue to fight, but we must be prepared to meet the demand after the war. Our herd can not be increased in a single night or in a single year. Our producers will not only he working in their own ul timate interest in laying the founda tion of larger herds and flocks, hut will serve our national interest and the interest of humanity, for years to come, if the best strains of young animals are preserved. The increase in herds can only be accomplished if we save more of our roughage and raise more fodder grains. It is worth noting that after the war Europe with lessened herds will, pending their recuperation, require less fodder and will therefore produce more bread grains and im port less of them, so that we can after the war safely reduce our bread grain production to increase our fodder. But we must lay our foundation in the meantime to increase our herds. There is only one immediate solution to the short supply of meat for ex port pending the increase in our herds and flocks which will take years. Dur ing the course of the war, we can. just as with the cereals, reduce the con sumption and eliminate the waste par ticularly among those classes which can best afford it. In the meantime, in order to protect all of our people, we must carefully control our meat ex ports in order that the people shall not be denied this prime necessity of life. Dairy Products. The" world’s dairy supplies are de creasing rapidly for two important rea sons. First, the dairy cattle of Eu rope are diminishing, for Europe Is be ing driven to eat its cattle for meat; second, the diversion of labor to war has decreased the fodder supplies and the shortage of shipping has limited the amount of imported fodder and therefore the cattle which can be sup ported and the productivity of the indi vidual cow have been reduced. Even our own dairy supplies are not keeping pace with our growth of population, for our per capita milk supply has fallen from 00 to 75 gallons annually in the past 15 years. Yet today we must ship increasing amounts of dairy products to our allies. The dairy supplies of the allies in normal times came to a considerable degree from western Scandinavia. Hol land and Switzerland, but under Ger man pressure these supplies are now partly diverted to Germany. The men under arms and the wounded must be supplied with condensed milk in large quantities. The net result of these conditions, despite rigorous reduction of consumption among the adults of the civil population In Europe, is that our allies are still short of large quantities and again the burden of the replace ment of this shortage must fall on North America. The growing exports of dairy products from the United States to the allies are shown in the following table: Three year Year ending average. June 30,1913.' Butter .4,457.000 lbs. 13.487,000 lbs. Cheese . 3.780.000 lbs. 44.304.000 lbs Cond. milk....17,792,000 lbs. 159,577,000 lbs. The high price of fodder and meat in the United States during the past few months induced by the pressing Euro pean demand has set up dangerous cur rents in this country, especially in those regions dependent upon butter and the sale of milk to municipalities having made It more profitable to sell the cattle for meat than to keep them and produce dairy products. There fore; the dairy cattle are decreasing in some sections. The only sections in which dairy products have had a rise in price in appropriate proportion to the increase in most of feeds are those producing condensed milk and cheese. Our home milk and butter supplies are therefore looked at in a broad way, decreasing while our population is in creasing. This deficiency of dairy but ter is shown by the increased sales of margarine, which show an increase of several million pounds per month over similar periods in 1915. Dairy butter, however, has qualities which render it vitally necessary for children. Milk has no substitute and is not only in trinsically one of our cheapest animal foods, but is absolutely fundamental to the rearing of the children. The dairy situation resolves itself into several phases. First, it is to he hoped that the forthcoming abundant harvest together with a proper restric tion upon exports of feeding stuffs will result in lower prices of feed and di minish the impetus to sell the cattle for meat. Second, the industry needs encouragement so as to increase the dairy herd and thus our dairy supplies, for the sake first of our own people and second of the allies. The people must realize the vital dependence of the well-being of their children, and thus of the nation, upon the encourage ment and upbuilding of the industry. Third, we must save the wastes in milk and butter during the war if we are to provide milk supplies to all. We waste large quantities of our milk value from our lack of national demand for prod ucts of skimmed and sour milk. Pork Products. The hog is the most efficient of ma chines for the production of animal fat. The hog not only makes more fat from a given amount of feed, but also the products made are specially capable of preservation and most economical for commercial handling. The swine of Europe are rapidly de creasing and the consumption demand ! induced by the war Is much increased, this particularly because bacon, ham and lard tire so adaptable for military supplies. Moreover, our allies are iso lated from many markets and a large amount from northern neutrals is being diverted to Germany. While our hogs have increased .in number by 3.000.000 animals, the aver age weight at slaughter is fulling and our production is probably only about maintained. The increasing demand upon us since the war began is shown by the following figures of comparative exports: Three-year, pre-war period, 1.055, 614.000 pounds. Year ending June 30, 1916. 1,512. 376.000 pounds. Wool and Leather. Our national supply of both wool and leather are less than our needs, and we are importing them more anti more largely, as shown by the follow ing figures: Importations of wool and manufac •tures of wool (value) for the three year pre-war period, 862,457.965; for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1916, $158,078,271. Importations (value) of hides, leath er. and manufactures of leather aver age of the three-year pre-war period. $133,171,398: for the year ending June 30, 1916, $177,880,902. At the present time the world's de mand for these products has increased far above the peace level owing to the extra consumption in supplying the armies. This demand is now again in creased by the mobilization of a large American army. In the face of this, not only is the European herd decreas ing, but also American sheep have de creased about 3,000.000 since the war began. After the war is over, the va rious countries of the world from which we formerly drew our wool are likely to retain it for their own use until their flocks again become normal. Sugar. i ne sugar supply on u nion our nines in Europe normally draw has been tremendously reduced, so that they must have recourse to other sources. In consequence of the shipping situa tion the area from which they must draw is also curtailed and. as a result, they are driven into those markets from which our own supply normally arises. Furthermore, their own pro duction lias been greatly diminished. Before the war. Europe supplied in a large measure its own needs, through the production of beet sugar, ns will appear from the following table show ing the average yearly production and consumption for the five years before the war (1909-1913). in some of the chief countries of Europe: Prod'n. Consunip Surp. (t) (short (short or defi tons) tons) ciency (-) Germany .2,525.899 1.299.5S5 tl.226.314 Austria .1,651.8.89 679.204 t 972,686 Russia .1,659.947 1,322.285 t 337,662 United Kingdom. 2.066.001) -2,056.000 France . 752.542 704.S30 t 47.712 Italy . 211.050 190,000 t 21,050 Belgium . 279.918 120.358 t 159.660 Holland . 246.146 131,538 t 114.60S As appears from the table. France. Italy, Russia and Relgium were self supporting, while the United Kingdom drew its entire sugar supply from ex terior sources. The supply of the Unit ed Kingdom came to the amount of about 70 per cent from countries from which it is now cut off by the war. Ten per cent came from the East In dies and 20 per cent from the United States and the West Indies. The prospective 1918 crop in France has diminished to 207.000 tons and that of Italy to 75,000 tons, and they are therefore short 590.000 tons. The displacement of United Kingdom sup plies nmounts to 1,435,000 tons; and therefore, in total, these three allied countries must import about 2,700,000 tons In order to maintain their normal consumption. Of this, 2,000,000 tons must come from new sources. The disturbance of shipping re duces the tonage available and drives the demand to a large degree upon the nearest markets, the United States and the West Indies. This field lias since the war increased its production by 1,000,000 tons per annum. How far this demand* will interfere with the American supply of 4.000.000 tons is difficult to forecast, first, because some increased supplies may be obtained by the allies from the Hast Indies, and, second, because the allies have re duced their consumption to some ex tent. In any event, if all the enemies of Germany are to be supplied, there must be economy in consumption everywhere. The normal American consumption is about !H) pounds per person per annum and is just double the French consumption. Vegetables. We have this year a most abundant crop of vegetables for our use as a re sult of a patriotic endeavor almost universal throughout the country. Our potato harvest alone promises an in crease from 2.8.1,000,0( H i bushels last year to over 400.000.00d bushels this year. The other vegetables are like wise enormously increased through the planting and extension of millions of gardens. The sweet potato crop promises to be from 10 to 20 per cent above what it was last year, and the commercial crop of sweet corn for canning purposes is estimated to be from 20 to 110 per cent above that of last year. The commercial crop of tomatoes for canning purposes will probably be somewhere between 10 and 20 per cent above what it was hist year. There is an increase in the acre age of late onions of about f*4 per cent over the area harvested in 1016. Fish snd Sea Foods. The waters of our coasts and lakes are enormously rich in food fish and shell fish. Our streams, too, contribute a great quantity of fish. Many varie ties are now not used for human food, hut tire thrown away or used for ferti lizer. Habit has confined our use of fish to a few varieties, and inadequate methods of commercial handling have limited our use of these largely to only certain days in the week. With better marketing facilities, with better untier standing of how to use the most varie ties. with proper preservation by smoking and salting and by establish ing plants for frozen fish, we can in crease greatly our supply and thus re lieve largely the pressure due to the inadequate supply of meat. We only have to harvest our own fish supply. It feeds ilseif. Every fish eaten is that much gained in solving the pres ent problem of living. The products of die land are conserved by eating those of the sea. Our Duty. I have endeavored to show in previ ! ous articles that the world is short of food; that Europe is confronted with the grim specter of starvation unless from our abundance and our waste we keep tlie wolf from the door. Not only must we have a proper use of our food supply in order that we may furnish our allies with the sinews with which they may fight our battles, but it is an act of humanity towards fellow men. women and children. By the diversion of millions of men from production to war, by the occu pation of land by armies, by the Ko lation of markets, by belligerent lines, and by the destruction of shipping by submarines, not only has the home pro duction of our allies fallen by over 500.000. 000 bushels of grain, but they are thrown upon us for a much larger proportion of their normal imports for merly obtained from other markets. They have reduced consumption at every point, but men in the trenches, men in the shops, and the millions of women placed at physical labor re quire more food than during peace times, and the incidence of their saving and any shortage which they may suf fer. falls first upon women and chil dren. If this privation becomes too great, their peoples cannot be main tained constant in the war. and we will be left alone to fight the battle of democracy with Germany. The problem of food conservation is one of many complexions. We cannot, and we do not wish, with our free in stitutions and our large resources of food, to imitate Europe in its policed rationing, but we must voluntarily and intelligently assume the responsibility before us as one in which everyone has a direct and inescapable interest. We must increase our export of foods to the allies, and in the circumstances of our shipping situation, these exports must be of the most concentrated foods. These are wheat. Hour, beef, pork and dairy products. We have oth er foods in great abundance which we can use instead of these commodities, and we cnn prevent wastes in a thou sand directions. We must guard the drainage of exports from the Vnited States, that we retain a proper supply for our own country, and we must adopt such measures as will amelior ate. so far as may be. the price condi tions of our less fortunate. We might so drain the supplies from the country to Europe ns by the high prices that would follow to force our people to shorten their consumption. This oper ation of “normal economic forces” would starve that element of the com munity to whom we owe the most pro tection. We must try to impose the burden equally upon all. Action Must Be Voluntary. There is no royal road to food con servation. We can only accomplish this by the voluntary action of our whole people, each element in propor tion to its means. It is a matter of equality of burden; a matter of min ute saving and substitution at every point in the 20,000,000 kitchens, on the 20.000. 000 dinner tables and in the 2. 000,000 manufacturing, wholesale nnd retail establishments, of the country. The task is thus in its essence the daily individual service of all the people. Every group can substitute and even the great majority of thrifty people can save a little—and the more luxuri ous elements of the population can by reduction to simple living save much. The final result of substituting othtr products and saving one pound of wheat Hour, two ounces of fats, seven ounces of sugar and seven ounces of meat weekly, by each person, will, when we have multiplied this by one hundred million, have Increased our exports to tlie amounts absolutely re quired by our allies. Tills means no more than that we should eat plenty but eat wisely and without waste. Food conservation has other aspects of utmost importance. Wars must be paid for by savings. We must save in the consumption in commodities and the consumption of unproductive in I Kir in order that we may divert out i manhood to the army and to the shops. If by tlie reduction in consumption ol ; labor and tlie commodities that it pro i duces and the diversion of this saving j to that labor and those commodities j demanded by the war, we shall he able ; to light to eternity. We can mortgagi our future savings fur a little while but a piling up of mortgages is but a short step toward bankruptcy. Every atom that we save is available for sub scription to Liberty bonds. The whole of Europe has been en i gaged ever since the war began in tic. elimination of waste, the simplificatior of life, and the increase of its indus trial capacity. When the war is ovet tlie consuming power of tlie world will lie reduced by the loss of prosperity and man power, and we shall enter a period of competition without parallel in ferocity. After the war, we must maintain our foreign markets if oui working people art* to be employed. We shall be in no position to compete if we continue to live on the saint basis of waste and extravagance or which we have lived hitherto. Simple temperate living is a moral issue of tin first order at any time, and any othei basis of conduct during the war be comes a wrong against the interest of the country and the interest ol democracy. The impact of the food shortage ol Europe has knocked at every door oi the United States during the past thref years. The prices of foodstuffs havt nearly doubled, and the reverberations of Europe's increasing shortage woulc have thundered twice as loudly dur ing the coming year even had we nol entered the war. and it can now only be mitigated if we can exert a stront control and this in many directions. We are today in an era of higt prices. We must maintain prices a such a level as will stimulate produc tion. for we are faced by a starvlnf world and the value of a commodity t< the hungry is greater than its price. As a result of the world shortage ol supplies, our consumers have sufferer from speculation and extortion. Whih wages for some kinds of labor hav» increased with the rise in food prices in others, it has been difficult to main tain our high standard of nutrition. By the elimination of waste in al classes, by the reduction in the con sumption of foodstuffs by the more for tunnte. we shall increase our supplies not only for export hut for home, anc by increased supplies we can help ir the amelioration of prices. ror Dcner uisyiuuuon. Beyond this the duty has been laic upon the food administration to co-op erate with the patriotic men in trade; and commerce, that we may eliminate the evils which have grown into out system of distribution, that the bur den may fall equitably upon all by res torntion, so far as may be. of the nor mal course of trade. It is the purpost ■ of the food administration to use it; ' utmost power and the utmost ability that patriotism can assemble to ameli j orate this situation to such a degree a.‘ j may be possible. The food administration is assent j bling the best expert advice in tin I country on home economics, on fooc ; utilization, on trade practices anc i trade wastes, and on the conduct of I public eating places, and we shall out line from time to time detailed sugges tions. which if honestly carried out by such individuals in the country, we be lieve will effect the result which w< must attain. We are asking every home, every public eating place anc many trades, to sign a pledge cart to accept these directions, so far a; their circumstances permit, and we art organizing various instrumentalities t< ameliorate speculation. We are ask ing the men of the country who art not actually engaged in the handling of fowl to sign similar pledges tha ; they shall see to It, so far as they art able, that these directions are followed We are asking all who wish us wel' and who undertake our service to be come actual members of the food ad ministration, just as much volunteers in national service as we ourselves are so that thus the food administratioc may not be composed of a small body of men in Washington and a small representation in each state, but may become a body of 50,000,000 people devoted absolutely to the services of democracy. We hope to see the in signia of membership in every patri otic window in the country. Autocracy finds its strength in its ability to impose organization by force from the top. The essence of democracy consists in the application of the initiative in its own people. II individualism cannot be so organized as to defend itself, then democracy Is a faith which cannot stand. We art seeking to impose no organization from the top. We are asking the Americas people to organize from the bottom up, and this Is the essence of democracy Itself. The call of patriotism, of humanity and of duty rings clear and insistent. We must heed it If we are to defend our ideals, maintain our form of gov ernment, and safeguard our future wel fare. VEWLY RICH DISTURB TOKYO •Mial Climber. Known in Japan a* “Narakin," Thom in the Side of Princo Yamapata. The Japanese bare a word to de scribe the aoareav riche type "f stock ^wcwlator. The; call him a “narakin." Tha latent tale abont this class ap pear* In the Tokyo Torodru: A Mr. Salto, who had amassed a for tune in the stock market, developed a desire to get into the same atmosphere with the great people of Japan. Mar shal 1'rinee Yamagata, foremost of Ja pan's elder statesmen, some years ago erected u splendid house at Odawara, a suburb of the capital, and upon a site that commanded a superb view of Mount Fujiyama. Now, this Saito has paid a fabulous price for a large es tate located on the Iriyama hill, higher up than the mansion of the distin guished prince, and hns erected there on a charming country house. His architect located the building so that it shut out the view from the famous Kokian or “house of rare age,” by which name the prince's villa was known, of beloved and revered Mount Fuji. To quote the vernacular jour nal: “The ‘honse of rare age,’ built when the prince had attained seventy years—described by Confucius as ‘the rare age’—is no longer a quiet bower to which the aged Yamagata can re pair at all seasons and enjoy rest from the distracting worries of national pol itics. His view is obstructed by the haikara house of the narikln. The prince hasn't visited Odawara this summer.” Few Feet Are Perfect. How many bones In your feet? Most likely you don’t know. Few people do, and It Is usually a surprise to learn that there are so many and that the foot is about the most complicated and delicately constructed part of the body. That Is, perhaps, the reason why at least 75 per cent of all adults have some kind of foot trouble. ] Dr. WilliamM. Scholl of Chicago, an * , authority on foot troubles and their mechanical correction, says not one adult In 100 has feet that are com pletely free from defects. He has made a life study of the subject and has patented a great number of appli ances for correct trig defective condi tions and giving comfort. Dog Aids War Horses. In Victoria, British Columbia, there is a successful collector for the Blue Cross fund for horses disabled In war. His name is Prince and he Is a New* foundland. For months, with his box decorated with the Blue Cross, strapped to his collar, Prince has served his king and country as faith fully and as true as any subject of George V, by petitioning alms for the horses wounded and suffering in the great war. Wise. “A man should take the bull by the horns," advised the sage. “Yes,” agreed the fool. “The trouble Is to find a bull that will stand for it" ittuvnb , * j*| J) SHOTGUN FOR TEN DOLLARS And Filed on Western Canada Land. Now Worth $50,000. Lawrence Bros, of Vera, Saskatche wan, are looked upon as being amongst the most progressive farmers in West ern Canada. They have had their "ups-and-downs,” and know what it is to be in tight pinches. They perse vered, and are now in an excellent financial position. Their story is an interesting one. Coming in from the states they traveled overland from Cnlgnr.v across the Battle river, the Red Deer river, through the Eagle Hills and on to Battleford. On the way their horses were stolen, but this did not dishearten them. They had some money, with which they bought more horses, and some provisions. When they reached Battleford they had only money enough to pay their ferriage over the Saskatchewan river, and this they had to borrow. It was In 1906 that they filed on homesteads, having to sell a shotgun for ten dol lars In order to get sufficient money to do so. Frank Lawrence says: “Since that time we have acquired altogether a section and a half of land, In addition to renting another three quarters of a section. If we had to sell out now we could probably realize about $50,000, and have made all this since we came here. We get crops in this district of from 30 to 85 bushels of wheat to the acre and oats from 40 to 80 bushels to the acre. Stock here pays well. We have 1.700 sheep, 70 cattle and 60 horses, of which a number are registered Clydes.” Similar successes might be given of the experiences of hundreds of farm ers throughout Western Canada, who have done comparatively as well. Why should they not dress well, live well, have comfortable homes, with all mod ern equipments, electric light, steam heat, pure ventilation, and automo biles. Speaking of automobiles it will be a revelation to the reader to learn that during the first half of 1917, 16. 000 automobile licenses were Issued in Alberta, twice as many as in thp whole of 1916. In Saskatchewan, 21.000 li censes were issued up to the first of May, 1017. In its monthly bulletin for June the Canadian Bank of Commerce makes special reference to this phase and to the general prosperity of the West in the following: “Generally speaking the western farmer is, in many respects, in a much better position than hitherto to in crease his production. Two years of high prices for his products have en abled him, even with a normal crop, to liquidate a substantial proportion of his liabilities and at the same time to buy improved farm machinery. His prosperity is reflected in the demand for building materials motor ears and other equipment. It is no doubt true that some extravagance Is evi denced by the astonishing demand for motor cars, but it must be remembered that many of these cars will make for efficiency on the farm and economize both time and labor.”—Advertisement USES TURF INSTEAD OF COAL Switzerland, On Account of the War. Is Forced to Fall Back on Peat as Fuel. According to a report to the depart ment of commerce from William P. Kent, consul at Berne. Switzerland, the exigencies of war, the lack of de veloped coal deposits, and the inability to import coal In quantity sufficient tq meet the needs of the population have Induced the Swiss government, through a semi-official organization, known as the Societe Co-operative Suisse de la Tourbe, whose address is Berne, to re sort to the use of turf or peat as a substitute or to supplement the insuffi cient supply of coal. The association is in the market for the purchase of improved machinery for cutting, raising, drying, and com pressing turf. Turf or peat as a fuel is not a satisfactory and complete sub stitute for coal, on account of its low calorific properties, particularly for steam generation, but in those por tions of the United States where it abounds it may be used to advantage for domestic consumption by admix ture with coal, not only saving the cost of distant transportation of coal, but producing sufficient heat at a much reduced cost. TRY A MEDICINE THAT PROVES ITS VALUE During the entire period of time that I have been handling Dr. Kilmer’s Swamp Root I have never beard a single com plaint. My customers are generally pleased with results obtained and speak words of praise for the merits of the preparation. Very truly yours, GILL COMPANY, Druggist. Per Julian J Gill. Sept. 29, 1916. Starkville, Miss. i ■■ 1 .. uircr 10 Dr. Kilmer tr Co. Binghamton, N.Y. Prove Whet Swamp-Root Wflj Do For Yoo Send ten cents to Dr. Kilmer 4 Co., Binghamton, N. Y., f°r a sample size bottle. It will convince anyone. Yon will also receive a booklet of valuable in formation, telling about the kidneys and bladder. When writing, be sure and men tion this paper. Large and medium size bottles for sale at all drug stores.—Adv. Sportingly Considered. "Remember the story of the hare and the tortoise?” "Yes.” replied Mr. Erastus Pinkley. “But dat story don’t tell you miffin' 'bout de odds dot was posted agin de tortoise. Dem long shots do cotne In sometimes. But you kaln’t 'pend on ’em.” Insistent. "That.” said the physician, as he ex amined the lump on the man's neck, “is the remains of an old l*>l! that started to come and then became en cysted there.” “Well.” said the unlettered patient, "it has sure encysted on staying there.” You can’t blame the truth fur being ^often hitter, jt_is_so_oft_cu mistreated