FODDER. An analysis of the food situation can hardly be made without reference to feedstuffs. Food and fodder are closely related in a country's economic life, not only because some of the feedstuffs can be used for human consumption but also because the fodder situation conditions to a considerable extent the production of one of the most important groups of foods-meats and dairy products. The more important fodder grains-corn and oats-have already been discussed in the above sections. Although considerable quantities of these grains are used for human food, the larger part is used as fodder in each case. Corn also has been an important raw material in the manufacture of certain liquors. In addition, almost all of the other grains and cereal products, such as meals, are used in more or less important quantities as feedstuffs, and quantities of potatoes and other vegetables are made use of as fodder. There are several important items of fodders in the trade of the United Kingdom which have not been mentioned in the preceding sections, however. The following table shows the extent of this trade. Imports. Exports. Imports. Exports. Imports. Exports. Imports. Exports. 1 Annual (and Monthly) Statements of Trade of the United Kingdom. 2 Bran, middlings, etc. 3 Molasses fodder and other sorts. According to the above data the importation of grain offals increased in 1915 very sharply, fell to a normal figure in 1916, and declined to about 30 per cent of the normal level in 1917; there has also been a sharp decrease in the imports of oilseed cake. It might be mentioned in this connection that the decrease of the imports of oil-bearing seed mentioned in the preceding section has also meant a decrease in the fodder available, as these seeds yield from 60 to 75 per cent oil cake. The imports of hay, which were never very large, have practically disappeared. The United Kingdom, as is the case with most countries, produces a large part of its coarse fodders and forage stuffs, such as hay mangolds, turnips, and other roots. The normal production of hay and grass in the United Kingdom is between 14 and 15 million tons, and the total of mangolds, beets, and turnips is about 35,000,000 tons. As stated at the outset of this chapter, the increase in the wheat acreage has been chiefly at the expense of the area commonly devoted to hay and other fodder crops. The acreage in hay in England and Wales in 1918 is the smallest on record, and it is estimated that the hay crop for these areas will be less than normal in 1918 by considerably over a million tons. It is likely that with the return to peace conditions a considerable area of land will be reconverted to its former use as fodder-producing territory. PRE-WAR PRODUCTION DATA FOR CERTAIN FOODS AND FEEDSTUFFS. The Royal Commission appointed to consider the food and raw material requirements of the United Kingdom in its report issued in 1915 presented elaborate data on trade, production, and consumption of leading foodstuffs. The production figures given are largely based upon the census of 1907 and "Agricultural Statistics" (British) for later years. These data are not entirely satisfactory and do not cover the war period. The following table summarizes the commission's statistics for meats, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and certain fodders. Figures are for million hundredweights unless otherwise stated. III. FUEL AND METAL INDUSTRIES. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY. Coal and iron are often said to be the two basic requirements of modern industry, and in respect to these items the United Kingdom occupies a very strong position, being one of the "big three" in the production of coal, pig iron, and steel. In 1913, for example, the coal production of the United Kingdom equaled 56 per cent of that of the United States and 105 per cent of that of Germany, and the British coal exports for the year amounted to 73,400,000 tons, not including bunkers. The United Kingdom's pig-iron production was 54 per cent of that of Germany and 30 per cent of that of the United States in 1913, and in the same year British steel production amounted to about 7,700,000 tons, 18 per cent of that of the United States and 41 per cent of Germany's output. Great Britain is not entirely selfsufficient with respect to iron, however, importing more iron in the form of ore than is exported in crude and manufactured forms; and in the period 1911-1913 the annual iron-ore production of France exceeded that of the United Kingdom by substantial amounts. The reserves of coal and iron in the United Kingdom are large relative to the present rate of production. The reserves of coal have been estimated at from 150 to 200 billion tons, and those of iron ore at from 5 to 40 billion tons. The United States Geological Survey estimates the known and probable iron-ore reserves of the United Kingdom which are not beyond the range of successful commercial exploitation at 2,635 million metric tons, with a metal content of 851 million metric tons. Although in a favorable position with respect to coal and iron, the United Kingdom has inadequate or negligible resources of all the nonferrous ores and of mineral oils, and must accordingly depend on other countries for its supplies of many essential raw materials. The production from domestic ores of copper, nickel, antimony, chrome ore, tungsten, and other important items is nil or insignificant. The lead, zinc, and tin mines have been worked for many years, but the output is small in view of consumption requirements. Further, mining has been declining in Great Britain in recent years, and this decline has continued during the war, in spite of the scarcity of raw materials. The present reserves of lead and zinc ores are reported to be very small, and many of the tin workings have been abandoned. It appears certain that the United Kingdom will continue to depend largely upon other countries for its supplies of these essentials. The following table shows in summary form the important facts (approximately) relative to the position of the United Kingdom prior to the war with respect to coal, mineral oils, and the principal metals: MINERAL PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.1 1 These figures are based on data gathered from several sources and the deductions made in the following sections of this chapter. They agree fairly closely with similar figures presented in the report of the Controller of the Department for the Development of the Mineral Resources in the United Kingdom, issued Mar. 1, 1918, p. 31, and in the final report of the Committee on Commercial and Industrial Policy after the War, 1918, p. 15. The smelting and refining industry is important, large quantities of foreign ores and concentrates being treated as well as the domestic production of iron, lead, zinc, and tin. The amount of iron ore imported and smelted totals over 6,000,000 tons per year. During the war imports of copper ore and precipitate have declined and imports of crude copper have increased. In the case of zinc there has been a change in the other direction. The most important development during the war has been the tremendous expansion of the steel industry. The production of iron ore and pig iron has hardly held its own (although it is expected that the 1918 production will show a considerable increase over that of the preceding year), but the production of steel has been increased by over 50 per cent, and amounted in 1917 to 9,752,326 metric tons. It is reported (Mineral Industry during 1917, p. 345) that on January 1, 1918, Great Britain had 131 electric steel furnaces in operation, a number exceeded by only one country, the United States. One of the most serious difficulties facing the United Kingdom during the war period has been the shortage of coal. Increased supplies of coal were greatly needed for domestic consumption, in the manufacture of munitions, to bunker shipping, to increase the efficiency of the railroads, and for other purposes. France and Italy also required large quantities of British coal. But due primarily to labor distrubances the production has scarcely been maintained at the normal figure; and it has been necessary for the British Government to ration consumers rigorously and to allocate stocks with great care to avert a disaster. There have been some striking changes in both the extent and direction of the United Kingdom's trade in coal, mineral oils, metals, and ores. The following table shows, in value, the total trade in fuels, metals (including semicrude metal manufactures), and ores for the years 1912-1918: THE UNITED KINGDOM'S TRADE IN FUEL, MINERAL OILS, METALS, AND ORES.' (Pounds sterling, 000 omitted.) 1 Annual (and Monthly) Statements of Trade of the United Kingdom. According to the above figures, total imports of this group in 1918 amounted to 225 per cent of the 1912 total, and total exports in 1918 equaled 85 per cent of the corresponding 1912 figure. The change in prices during the war has been so pronounced as to make any estimate of the total quantitative change in this trade rather hazardous. It may be safely said, however, that the decline in exports (in quantity) has been nearer 50 than 15 per cent and that the increase in imports (in quantity) has been less than 30 per cent. Imports of mineral oils have been greatly increased during the war especially of fuel oil. The export coal trade has been cut in half. The exports of pig iron have fallen off sharply, and the import trade in crude steel has practically disappeared. The exports of iron and steel manufactures have fallen 50 per cent. cent. The The gross trade in copper, lead, zinc, and tin has declined, but net imports have been increased in the case of copper and fairly well maintained in the case of the other items mentioned. Perhaps the most important developments in the direction of this trade have been the increased importance of the United States as an exporter of mineral oils, copper, and lead to the United Kingdom and the predominating position of France as an importer of British coal and pig iron. Great Britain has lost a large part of her colonial, South American, and European export trade in coal and iron, and such quantities of these essentials as could be spared from her own urgent requirements have been shipped largely to France. The return of peace conditions, however, is likely to bring about a gradual resumption of British exports in the pre-war channels. In the following sections an analysis of the fuel and metal industries and trade of the United Kingdom is presented in some detail. COAL AND MINERAL OILS. As stated above, the United Kingdom occupies second place in the world's production of coal. The following data give the production of coal for the three leading countries for the years 1912 and 1913: THE UNITED KINGDOM'S POSITION IN THE WORLD'S COAL PRODUCTION.2 During the war the coal industry in the United Kingdom has encountered serious difficulties. There has been an urgent need for increased production of coal, not only to maintain and accelerate domestic industries for war purposes but to assist France (deprived of a large part of her coal production by invasion) and other allied countries in meeting their essential requirements; but in spite of this 1 The coal reserves of the United Kingdom within 4,000 feet of the surface are variously estimated at from 150 to 200 billion tons, sufficient to last 600 years at the present rate of production. (See report of British "Coal Conservation Subcommittee," submitted Apr. 17, 1917, p. 6.) 2 Mineral Industry, Vol. XXVI, p. 127. 3 Throughout this study the unit "ton" indicates a British or long ton unless otherwise specified. |