Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-07-10
Agricultural.
PRICE OF PROVISIONS.

PRICE OF PROVISIONS.
The American Farmer, IN an excellent
essay on this subject, with particular ref
erence TO the Baltimore market, makes
the following just remarks. "But the
most prolific source of constant demand
for the provisions. which are the fruits of
agricultural labor, and one which must
ensure an adequate reward 10 the capital
and industry of the husbandnan is the
great increase Of city population" There
can be no doubt after all that has been
said and written on this subject; after all
the s?eculations and conjectures, that the
true solution of the difficulty lies in the
fact that those who ca; greatly outnumber
those who produce articles for eating -
and this being the case, the price of pro-
visions ceases 10 be wonder. In no
point of view is this disparity of caters and
producers of articles to be eaten, more
strikingly shown than in the instance al
luGed to by the Farmer. God made the
country and man makes the town. is true
In more senses than one. If there was
not constant influx of population from
the country into our large cities and vii
lagos they would soon cease TO exist =.
owing to natural causes, the population
OF no large city is abe TO keep its mum.
bers good, without large and constant in
tusions OF new and vigorous materials
from abroad. Statistical tables. and the
record of births and deaths, with few ex.
ceptions, demonstrate this fact. From the
country, then, must be drawn the supply
that nils up the chasm in the natural in.
crease OF population, as we'll as gives that
rapid multiplication in the numbers of our
cities, numbers that swell the class of eat
ers, while they diminish in the same ra-
ito the active producers. Many of these
who throng our cities and villages, are
engaged in manufactures and mechanics
but their industry, though laudable, does
not create provisions the shuttle and the
adze do not make, they can only purchos.
beef steak or saddles Of mutton. In thi:
state of things it is evident that price.
must remain comparatively high heavy
crop OF small grains may have the effe:
OF partially reducing the prices of whea
and -four, and 10 still less degree that O
meat; but so long as the proportion O.
eaters so rapidly increases on those who
furnish the materials for eating,--so lone
as the country is depopulated to build vi
our cities and villages just SO long viii
prices remain high. and till chang,
takes place in the habits and feelings O
the great mass OF the people, the arme
may be sure OF ample remuneration 70
his expenditures.
Mr.. Colman traces this unnatural stat
of things to The rapid increase of ictitiou
capital by means oil banks and predicts
we fear with too much reason, re-enac
ton Of the panics and suspensions will
which this country has been so offer
cursed in the few past years. By the i'm
mense sales we have made of our credi
abroad, we have put our prosperity as
nation into the keeping of other hand
than our own; and delegate TO them
fearful power that may be welded owe
us at will. As if this was not enouoh
we are engaged as individuals and a
banking associations, in endeavoring to as
certain how rapidly and how far our cred
It will extend, and we see the farmers
the state mortgaging their farms to bo,
row money to lend. The holders of
f'~P~A AbAlt uOuDtlCSS D6 SaIe-Wleth0r IN
issuefs of it will grow rapidly rich. !
another question. AT any rate, expecta
tons are excited, and habits formed +
muliitudes most unfavorable to health,
sound state of feeling in the country. an
which can have no tendency 10 decreas
but to increase the price of provisions +
the consumer. After all the ouibblino O
the subject, the great truth will becom
apparent, that to the farmer the bread an
meat of all the other classes of society !,
and ever will be owing.
Considered simply as question of pro
i or loss, the price ofprovisions would h
hardly worth the discussion; but inyolv
iog as it does the most momentous ones
lions in political economy and morals. "
teel That il is very desirable the subie,
should be brought before the people an
understood by them in all its bearings :
and this, were any necessary, must be GU
apology for its frequent introduction mt
the columns of the Farmcr.-Genese
Farmer.