Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-04-15
From the Cincinnati Price Current, April 6.

PRICES OF HORTICULTURAL PRODUCTS
For two or three months past there has been
q continuation of "strikes" among the working
classes in all the principal cities of the Union;
and, with scarcely an exception, the demands
of the mechanical and laboring classes have
been acceded to; the advance in wages ranging
from ten to twenty per cent. the demands for
higher wages have been made upon the ground
that provisions of all kinds have largely advan-
ced, that this, with increased house rents rem
ders living much more expensive than it was e
year or two ago. There is good deal of truth
in the reasons assigned, and the demands, ba-
sed thereupon have not been unreasonable; and
all must rejoice at the increased prosperity with
which the IabOrs of the Mechanics and others
are being rewarded. But, at the same time, an
erroneous impression has been carried abroad
with reference to the price of Agricultural pro-
ducts, which had better be corrected.
The interests of the producing, or farming
classes underlie all others; and to there inter
ests we are generally able to trace the promin-
emf causes of prosperity or depression. An i'm
portant question that should be considered at
this time, therefore, is whether or not the cur
rent rates of Agricultural products afford more
than fair remuneration to the producer; be-
cause, if they do, we may expect continued
prosperity, but If they do not, there is a very
good reason to apprehend reverse, though the
present strong position of farmers must, in any
event, delay the coming of the latter. 1t is a
fact that for two OF three years, the Agricultu-
raj interests of the country have prospered fine
ly, and the producing classes are much better
off now than for sometime past. But this pros
perity has enhanced the value of both lands and
labor, othat the cost of producing is now grea
ter than it was three years ago. Viewing the
matter, therefore, in this light, and comparing
the present currency for produce with the aver
age for ten years past, it appears that the value
of the leading articles has materially declined,
as compared with last season; and that prices
now are very little above the average Of the
past ten years; and the conclusion must, there
fore, be that only moderate profit is being re-
allied upon the cost of production; and there
fore, any farther depression must, while it will,
for the present, benefit consumers, operate a.
gainSt their future interests. An admitted prin-
ciple of political economy is that the country
can never be considered healthy financially,
when the value of staple products is either
greatly above or below producing point. Such
a state of things invariably produces an unheal-
thy reaction. When, therefore, prices afford
moderate profit to producers, the monetary con-
dition Of all classes is found to be healthy; con-
fdence remains undisturbed; and commercial
disasters, which in seasons of speculative ex-
elements and panics dot the surface of the
commercial world, are scarcely heard of. 1t is
important, therefore, that we should know when
prices approach the point referred to, and this
can the better be determined by glance at the
past.
The following statement shows the average
price OF the principal articles which enter into
our consumption on the 5th of April in each
year, from 1874 to 1853, inclusive: