Page:Science (journal) Volume 47 New Series 1918.djvu/13



Friday, January 4, 1918

CONTENTS

SOME ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE WORLD WAR ECONOMIC CONDITIONS BEFORE THE WAR Our Resources

The United States is a nation of unmatched natural resources. It is a young nation. Its people have not yet multiplied so that they even approximate the potential possibilities of production. In consequence of this happy situation the United States, antecedent to the war, easily produced a sufficient amount of almost every essential commodity to meet our wants and in addition a large surplus. The production in the United States of the cereals—wheat, oats, rye, com, and barley—was enormous. Whether the year was favorable or unfavorable, enough of each was produced not only for our own needs, but these commodities could be shipped abroad to any extent that the market demanded.

The situation in regard to meats and fats was like that which obtained for the cereals.

The only fundamental food of which we did not produce vastly more than we needed was sugar; and an adequate supply of this commodity was easily furnished by our insular possessions and by our immediately adjacent neighbor Cuba.

The two great textiles of the world are cotton and wool; and of these "cotton is king." Of the latter commodity the out-