Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-09-17
I'm CORRESPONDENCE.
Price Of Wheat.

We stated more than SIX weeks ago, tha' tue Nhe"'
crops wolld be short in every county in Europe
We based our statements upon close scrutiny ofthe
tally correspondence Of the London Times from every
PORTION Of Europe and upon the extracts from CONT
mental papers, copied into the Courier DIES Etdts
Iais OF New York. Those sources of information,
satisfied us, that the price Of wheat would be at
high figure, without the aid Of war. What we stated
than month since has by recent arrivals come
10 the knowledge OF all cotemporarcs. Ii is now
confessed that the crop in France falls very much be-
low an all the efforts OF the
Government create the impression that the yield is
n very good In Italy, expectation has been
prohibited, and outbreaks have already occurred on
account uf the high price OF bread. In Holland the
crop is a bad one. Also in Sweden-which is impor-
ting for domestic consumption In Spain likewise
the supply is inadequate to the support of the popu
lation. In England the crop IA or l-5 below an
average and Is millions Of quarters, it is said OF
foreign wheat will be requisite to bring round the
harvest Of 1854. There remain then Egypt, Syria,
the country Of the Danube and the Black Sea and
the Baltic. From Egypt, we have heard nothing
definite though it may be safely taken for granted
that its surplus production will not be sufficient for
France Syria and all the other countries connected
with Constantnople have had their resources crippled
by their husbandmen being called from their fields to
take W arms at the crisis of their crops The Rus
sian army Of from TO 400 900 men will prevent any
considerable export from the Danube or the region
of the Black Sea The crops of the German side of the
Baltic may be full average and they will still be
wholly inadequate to supply the deficiencies at their
doors.
1t seems to us then certain that the price of wheat
must range high. 1t may rise very slowly-that is
natural as there is concert among farmers, while
their natural foes the millers, arc it were, con-
solidated body, governed by single will Indepcn-
dent Of any foreign demand the increase Of gold and
the enhanced price of every thing used by farmers,
and particularly labOr would seem To justify much
better price for wheat than it now commands. Five
or six years ago, 81 considered iai'
ton for q buShcl Of whea; but that dollar t.eT
would buy as much labor 81 will mr. nd much
of every other article which goes the production
of wheat rs 81 90 W Il now. Not many years past,
wheat was cash article, it considered good
god-nov, although gold has deprecated, wheat in
the Richmond market brings not gold, bit fJur
months paper. That paper may be very good, and
if it bore interest would be equal to specc-but it
Is not payable for four months, unless accommo
dating merchant will cash it for - per ccnt-thy
operation amounts in effect TO shave OF the Virginia
farmers u the tune of $4,000 year. We do not
complain of the millerS. They look 10 their interests;
a. 1t is their right to do-andif they bay wh At
at cash prices twelve months crciit they should
do so. But it IS not tn. interest Of the farmers to
submit to this state OF things us good s5helt'
was phrase, which formerly conveyed the ilea Of
something that could not Dc surpassed Farmers by
being true to themSelves-by concert, and 10y keeping
out of debt for Guano &C. can restore the phrase to
its original Specification.