The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-02-21
From the New York Tribune.
HIGH PRICES OF FOOD.

namely, i'm 1916, in 1886, and now in 1854 has
the current price of wheat reached two dollars
a bushel in the grain-producing region, the
Genesee Valley. The first time it was occa-
stoned by ono of tho coldest and most unpro-
pitious seasons within our recollection. The
second time it arose in part from the opera
tions of the widest specializing yoars wo have
ever been afflicted with, when men paid moro
attention to buying and selling than raising
grain Of tho present extrayagant price, it is
well to inquire the cause.
Within the past year, owing to the heavy
mportatiops Of gold from California, there has
been a very large increase in tho price of land,
and farm products have gsnorally felt its in
huenco. Almost all trades have advanced
their rates OF wages, and it is but reasonable
that human food should follow the rise OF eve
rything else But the present price is not oc-
casioned altogether by this cause. nor by i.4o
spirit ofspe ecuation, which is as rife now as it
was in 1886 There is another higher cause;
it 10 indicated in the meteorological tables OF
Europe. These disclose tho fEct, that in but
one previouE summer in a century, Tag tho
weather been so unpropitous as the last. for
the production of grain This has resulted in
short crops, and rendered necessary tho i'm
portation Of largo quantities of focd At the
same time wGr and prospects of war, have ere
ated speculative demand there as well as
hercn
It is fact not generally known or sufici-
emily appreciated in this country. the GUNNER
Of England is at best, barely sufficient to ripon
wheat, which does not reach maturity till au-
tumn, and then largo quantities are frequently
lost through unfayorabie weather for harvest
ing. while Indian corn caHuot bo cultivated
there to any advantage, and tho potatoe crop
has been cut off year after year by the prevail
inc epiGamic. Besidcs the unsuaI cold summer,
tbs Neafhsr during the last harvest timo, in
England, was more than usually unpropitious.
13y far tho mos. important question, both to
producers and consumers Of breadstuifS in this
country, is this; What effect will tho crop Of
1854 havo upon the prices to which these ar
tic!es have now very unexpectedly attained?-
The crop of wheat sown last fall in the United
States, was not an unusually large one, and so
far, tho winter has not been one of promise
for all abundant yield; but should the crop
prove moderate, we may very reasonably an
ticipete continuation of high prices, though
certainly not so high aS at present. In Eu-
rope the harvest Of 1854, though il should be
unusually abundant can hardly mako up for
the deficiency of 1853, and previous years. In
this country is cannot bo expected that we
should have another season as fruitful as the
last or one of such wide spread prosperity to
al who are engaged in the cultivation of tho
earth.
We cav, aud we hear it said all around us,
that more labor ought to be devoted to tho
production of human food since those who pro-
dueo IL are so universally well fed in America
But the most singular thing in all this is The
fact, that Notwithstanding agricultural laborers
arc well fod, there are vast many of able
bodied men and women in this city suffering
for food in consequence of tho groat rise in
the price of -four while in the country those
who produce this staff Of life find it extremely
difficult to procure hands to conduct their far
ming operations.
AS a nation wo arc olest with unbounded
agricultural resources, with the largest body of
low priced lands ever offered to any people;
while tens of thousands of able bodied labor
ers are barely able to procure food enough at
present prices to sustain life, and yot wheat is
two dollars and half bushel.
There is something wrong in orr political
or, Notwithstanding cold seasons,
short crops, famine or war in Europe, the poor
hsrd-wo7king mechanic Of this city would not
be under tho necessity of paying twelve dol
lars barrel for flour, two dollars bushel for
potatoes, and twelve to eighteen conts pound
for meat, as he is doing this day