The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-19

tions a the South. Our communications
with the interior were never, in fact, 30 perfect
as they are now, and Jet, in spite OF oil
these advantages and facilities, we fad provi-
sions in our markets at q price which would
argue the existence of state Of siege and the
stoppage Of all our lines Of land and water
conveyance. For beef we are paying two
shilliDgs pound, and for mutton nearly IS
much. Other articles of consumption are pro-
portonately extravagant. We're there any
prospect Of this state Of things being amelo-
rated, we might make up our minds to suffer
patiently little while longer. But when We
see the summer advancing without any appa-
rent chance OF abatement, it is time for us to
inquire into the causes Of this singulaf state Of
things, with q view to a remedy.
We are told that it is the rapid increase Of
population in New York and its vicinity to
which 1t is alone TO be attributed. There is
only grain OF truth in this assertion. Popu-
lation, no doubt, controls to some extent the
prices of the necessaries of life, but in no city
in the world do we find any parallel to the
rates demanded for food in our markets. Goa
sidering the vast agricultural resources that
we possess, and which are equal to the supply
Of any demands that the most rapid increase OF
our population for the next century can mali
upon then, we pay dearer for our provisions -
present, than the most expensive and densely po-
lulated capitals of Europe. We must, therefore,
se.k for explanation of the fact in some other
cause. From inquiries which we have instituted
into the subject are satisfied that the extrava-
CANT prices now maintained in our markets, at
least 60 far as meat is concerned, are entirely
to be attributed to the sy stem of combination
which exists amongst monopolists, and which
enables them to regulate the supply as it may
suit their purposes Any of the country farm
ers, for instance, attempting to break through
the arbitrary regulations of the drovers or
cattle dealers, find themselves exposed to 80
many annoy ances, difficulties and losses that
they are not second time inclined to violate
them.
In this state Of things, we see no remedy that
will meet the evil, unless by opposing the mo-
nopolists with their own weapons. As regrat
ing and forestalling are no longer stasutable
offences, we cannot inHct any legal penalty
upon them, but we can beat them by very
simple and practicable arrangements, which
only require to be theoretically carried out to
be successful. Let the butchers of New York,
who are as much interested as the public in
keeping down the prices Of meat, organize
themselves into society to pay the expenses
of agents in the agricultural districts, who
would be commissioned 10 compete with the
cattle dealers on their own ground and to pur-
chase such supplies as might be required by the
trade. Were the hotels and other large estab
lisbments of our city to adopt the same plan
for few months we will answer for it that the
present anomalous state Of our markets would
soon undergo revolution more consonant with
the means Of supply at their disposal and the
fret cost Of the articles in the localities in
which they are produced