The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-09-20 00:00:00

FOOD FOR THE PEOPLE.

THERE seems to be little fear, after all, that
the most characteristic and historical class
in English society is destined to be swept
away by the competition of foreign wheat
growers. The equalising forces of modern
production and intercommunication are so
great that hardly anything short of a bad
harvest over the whole northern hemisphere
would bring us into a state of actual famine.
It is true that during the five years which
preceded 1879, the farmers have suffered
from the combination of bad harvests and
low prices to the extent of nearly forty mil-
lions sterling; but on the other hand the
same low prices have benefitted the con-
sumers to the extent of nearly seven mil-
lions during every year of the same period,
a saving well nigh sufficient to pay for the
wheat importations from America. If wheat
had, as in previous times, risen in inverse
proportion to the deficiency in the harvest,
the consumers would have had to pay
fifteen millions sterling more a year. While
the low price of food was tlms affecting in
some degree the interests of the farmers, it
enabled the working classes to pass through
the commercial depression with so little
general suffering, and helped to carry them
through Last winter, which was one of ex-
ceptional severity.
The great supplies of American produce,
which had increased from one hundred mil-
lions of bushels in 1849, to three hundred
and sixty-five millions in 1877, and four
hundred and twenty millions in 1878, were
owing to the vast extension of the railway
system in the Western States, which brought
the great wheat supplies within the range
of the English market. Yet, this should
not interfere with the cultivation of wheat

in this country. It is quite possible that a
had harvest in the States, where a dimin-
ished product of one bushel in the acre
would lose the union one-third of her ex.-

porting power, coincident with a good har-
vest here, would raise the price of wheat.
In addition to this consideration it may be
pointed out that a general revival of trade
in the States, which has, indeed, already be-
gun, would probably increase the traffic rates
of the western railways and the Atlantic
freights, so as to raise the price of produce
all over the States. The American compe-
tition has affected more countries than Eng-
land. The New England farmers in America
itself have felt it so strongly that they
have almost given up the contest, and very
many of them have left their homes to
settle upon the rich lands of the Far West.
Their places are now taken in part by Irish-
men and Frenchmen from Canada, who are
content to cultivate the soil in a more un-
pretending manner than the sturdy descend-
ants of the original settlers
Every mail now brings us fresh evidence
of the revival in most branches of American
trade, and this is significant in connection
with the continned supplies of wheat from
the States. Thus it will not be possible long
for the States to supply the world with food,
and to take nothing in return for it. Onr
trade returns for the past few months show
that there is already a substantial increase
;a elm, cesrprve•ic +r A mnr4na. Tho ordOrg for
iron are reaching us in growing numbers
from across the Atlantic. It is clear that
America cannot go on selling us her corn
and her cattle, and take nothing in return
She must be paid somehow; but we could
not go on paying her in specie, for the whole
currency of Great Britain would not suffice
to pay for our imports of corn and cotton
for three years. America must take our
goods in payment for what she sends us;
and thus. a revival of trade on one side of
the Atlantic will lead to an improvement on
the other. So far as Great Britian is con-
cerned, for nearly six years it has been suf-
fering from a slackened demand for produc-
tions, wages have fallen in most departments
of industry, and in many classes it has been
found difficult to make both ends meet. We
grant the existence of a tempestuous sum-
mer, late crops, and a yield which is as below
the average in quantity, as it is deficient. in
quality. Still there is a glimpse of hope.
Bread will not be so dear so long as the
American supplies continue; and with a
reviving trade on both sides of the ocean,
people will be content to -work on patiently
and perseveringly, in the hope of recovering
lost ground. The hard experience of the
last few years will not have been in vain if

it should- lead nil classes of producers, manu-
factaring and agricultural alike, to adapt
themselves to fie new conditions of success
necessitated by the competition that meets
them all over the world. The land repre-
sents the most ancient of all the occupations
which have been called into existence by the
world's requirements; it is older than any
other profession than can be named. The
tillage of the soil, the keeping of sheep, and
the calling of the husbandman, are far more
associated with antiquity than the construc-
tion of gigantic docks, the building of great
cities, or the designing of stately ships.
The importance of the agricultural profession
to the entire community entitles it to every
consideration; its prosperity is closely in-
terwoven with that of every class; and all
will rejoice when the temporary cloud upon
it has passed away, and its fortunes as well
as its prospects are as bright as the sun
which proverbially shines upon the land
during the montbs of summer, which in this
exceptional year have been so cheerless and

THE IRON TRADE.
WOLVERHAMPTON, Wednesdny.

Thero was a fair attendance on 'Cliaage
this afternc.on, and a somewhat brtoiant
feeling prevailed. Prices remain firm ®n
the £7 10 basis for marked bars, but com-
mon unmarked bars are up from 5s to 713 Gd
per ten. There is a slight improvement in
the quantity of work being done in the mills
and forges, and manufacturers refuse to
book orders far ahead The sheet manu-
facturers have orders in hand that will last
them for several weeks, and there is more
work being done in the tin-plate trade.
Strips and hoops are in good demand, and
boiler plates and stampi:,; _:,.;.L:Lts are in fair
request. - The coal trade shows a slight im-
provement, owing to the coalowners refus-
ing to supply the registers of their boats.
It is stated that the Cannock Chase coal-
masters purpose putting down neighing
machines to weigh the coal into the boats.

BIRMINGHAM, Thnrsday.

; There was a large gathering on 'Change
this•afternoon, and the business transacteci
o fa,vonrably with a week ago, when
Tnn
relapse seemed to have over-
'. titary
• „ =.., , f rn. f•biel=
• . • •-

I
ow, 1,.: •
ior nearly ,out) tons u:noop
iron, which was eagerly sought for by the
local raakers. ~Pig-iron was freely bought