Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-11-11

WHEAT AND Flour, 1t is not surprising
that much anxiety should be felt upon q
subject which touches SO nearly the comfor,
and almost the existence. Of the people,
This natural solicitude has called forth various
articles from the commercial press, some OF
which furnish facts and spcculatons, both
curious and interesting 10 the public. II is
now admitted that very general deficit has
taken place in tho Wheat Crop of the coun-
try, and that the vacuum must be supplied
by Importation, to amount Of perhaps, five
millions Of bushels. This calculation is made
after taking account the diminished consump.
ton consequent upon increased economy.
and the partial substitution Of other articles,
such as the potatoe and Indian corn. the
crops of which have been or promise 10 be,
fair upon an average. This foreign supply
must be obtained from the ports in the Baltic,
from Bond, in England. much Of which has
been derived from the United States.
Some Of the papers are dcprecating the
alarm. or rather anxiety, which prevails
upon this subject, as calculated to produce a
panic, disastrous 10 various interests in the
country. This apprehension results from a
false view oc the matter, for the occurrence
of such a paric at an carly stage, is circum-
stance which furnishes the best remedy
against the evils incident to scarcity of the
staff of life. This is we'll known in England,
where indications Of an mnpromsing crop
are Immediately proclaimed, that merchants
may be induced to resort early to foreign
countries, TO supply deficit, which if realized
must inhict so much misery upon a populous
country. This early inlimation, this prema.
turo sensitiveness, is more indispensable TO
the welfare of this country, than TO that OF
Great Britain, which latter being within a
few days sail of the great grain growing dis.
tricts Of Europe, can always supply herself
with much greater promptilude than distant
America, which must have recourse to the
same market.
Much curiosity has been exhibited 10 know
the average annual amount of grain produced
in the United States. There is no data
which enable US 10 arrive at an accurate re-
suit, but the following table, 1t is said, pre-.
sents as close an approximation, as the cir
cumstanccs of the case will permit
Indian Cora 100 100000
Wheat 100000
Rye 100000
Oats 20,O00,0OO
Bailey l,250,000
1t must not be forgotten that South Amer.
lea and the West. Indies, are as dependent on
The annual expectation amounts 10 some.
thing like seven hundred thousand barrels
Now il is impossible, as some would suppose
TO diminish the threatened scarcity, by ad.
ding this amount TO The home consumption
as these countries cannot do without the ar.
ticle, at whatever price it ruay be held. The
increased economy which they will be obliged
TO practice. as well as ourselves. will indeed
have the effect Of diminishing The amount OK
ported, but this cause will scarcely carry The
quantity below five hundred thousand BAR
rels.
II must be recollected, whilo making this
calculation. that the countries in question
cannot change their mart Immediately, by
resorting TO the ports of Europe. The ship
ments from there are always made in grain,
and there are no facilities in South America.
or the West Indies, tor the extensive conver-
sion of the article of -four. But, concluding
II may be interesting to mention one fact,
which will be as curious as new TO most of
our readers. il is asserted, and tina, in the
most confident manner, that wheat may be
shipped from The Baltic and Mediterranean al
about half the rates charged upon the same
article from Rochester TO New York and one
fourth Of what is charged from Ohio. Making
even some allowance for exaggeration in this