Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-09-25
The Drought, Crops, Prices, &e., &c.
ES, Westmorclsnd Co., Va. !
Sept. Goth, 1854. I

Sept Goth, 1851. !
To The Editors ct' the " J. Herald
have read with much satisfaction your circular letter
asking for Information in regard to the drought crops &c
Although not specially addressed consider myself ncu-
ded in your general itaton aud shall proceed to give
you such information possess subject at this time
OF vast Importance the whole country and about which
il is desirable the whole truth should be known have
been largely engaged in grain growing for more than br
y years; have been close observer OF every circumstances
affecting crops and prices during that period and have
read attentyey nearly all that has been published the
subjects in aud foreign journals Ny interest as
farmer is OF course promoted by high prices This
dor requires to state yet trust incapable of de
string 10 advance my interest the expense of the
general prosperity Of the country.
spent short time this Summer one OF the Virginia
watering places and returned the lower country during
the first week OF this month. During my absence from
here conyerssd with great many intelligent gentlemen
from various parts Of the country aud had an opportun
ty observe, critically, the condition OF the crops in
large portion OF Maryland and Virginia. The result O,
my observations and inquiries IT, that the estimate o.
the crops Of Virginia. contained in tho letter of Col
w. Munford is in the main From the falls of the
rivers the seAboard there ia much that good,
some that is very heavy, and deal that will be
scarcely worth gathering The crops the fine valleys OF
the Rippshsnnock and Potomac until within 80 miles of
Chesapeake bay, may be said to be failure and from tina,
quarter, which usually exports largely there will be little
spare Above the falls of rivers the drougbt
was still fatal From the county Of Albem 4rs 10
the Potomac, aud from the head Of tide the llegha-
mountains the crop is entirely insufficient TO supply
the domestic consumption In the valley of Virginia one
Of the finest agricultural regions in the world whero lands
sell from thirty to sixty dollars the
farmers assured that the average product corn would
not exceed barrel Is bushel5 to the acre. whilst MANY
fields wosld produce absolutely nothing. Nv own obser
vaon the spot confirmed the Of their opin
ions. The same state OF things exists far could
observe, in the neghbOrng counties of Washington md
Frederick Maryland. Beyond the Allegheny mountains
have information but that portion the state
chiefly engaged in grazing and very little grain there
grown for market.
OF the crops In the States West and North OF yryni,
heard much from gentlemen who had seen them, aud /
am Satisfied that the press Of the country misleading the
public, in the effort general, to produce the i'm,
preston that the crops OF the great growing States
approximate average.
great prevails in the county regards the
hy prize OF grain. Considering the circumstances az
fecing prices existing, n our country aud throughout
the world the present price of grain Is very oU Let us
advert to some Of these circumstances.
commodities may DO affected from time 70 time by supply
and demaud it be doubted that in the long run
the cost Of production will regulate prices. Tho cost OF
wheat 70 the producer is tho rent OF land, of labor
aud profits Of capital necessary to produce il. For fifty
years or the average price wheat in New York has
been over one dollar bushel The wheat until Of late
by labor demanding less than half the present ratio Of
wages Now II Is grown TO great extent exhausted
lands, requiring heavy outlay in Guauo lime aud her
expensive mauures. 10 harvest three dollars often
demanded for days labor whilst formerly ono dollar
tue highest price paid SO aud dear labor
that crops in the West left upon the ground
because Of the ippoSsibty OF saving them. 10 Virginia
and other Southern grain growing states the price cfa
Dor has, Within few years, than doubled. Such
aborcs as sold few years ago for four five hundred
dollars, nov readily command thousand aud such as
hired Tor sixty dollars nov 10 demand the factories
aud public improvements hundred aud ty dollars
year Medical bills aud life insurance. being also paid
oy the hirets Mules that sold for fifty sixty dUllars
nov bring from one hundred aud ten TO hundred
aud fifty dJlars and lands alec have advanced than
100 per cent Is 1t wonderful that where all the elements
OF price, are moro than doubled, that the price Of grain
sDoud advaocef repsst is extremely low, aud but
for the money pressure occasoned by trading add
fraudulent STOCK spscuations, wheat would be to-day
$3.50 per bushcl 10 the principal markets Of the United
States This general rise Of prices is not speculative
ttansory but permanent and progressive Hume in his
Essay on money has described this subject With much
greater cearoess thaD s exhibited in the elaborate
articles published during the last year tWo in for
eign periodicals He ssys, that At the end Of tho century
from the discovery Of the Spanish mines in South America
prices bad advanced thau four huudfed per cent
aud would have advanced s, but for the increased
demand for money, arising from the impulse enter.
epse, oecasioned by the GHuI Of the previous nesV