The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-05-03
Food. Prices and Prospects.

FOOD, PrlceS and fT0Spects.
Under this head the n. Y. Tribune
gives a comprehensive review of the food
market throughout the United States,
with some speculations as to the prospect
of diminished prices by the amount Of the
incoming crops. We are paying more for
Flour throughout the Union, at the pres
ent time than ever before. Indian Corn,
in particular, is higher in those western
regions where it is most abundantly y pro-
duced than ever before known.
In Illinois 'corn commands at the crib,
in many places, 81 per bushel, hay 500
per ton, and other articles of breadstuffs
and cattle-feed correspondingly high pri-
ces. In some districts quito number Of
cattle and hogs have died from starvation,
and as general thing, stock is in very
poor condition. Prepar ations are being
made in the west for planting larger crops
than common. A greater breadth than
usual has been put down to oats within
the last fortnight, and more will yet be
put in. Flowing for corn has commenced
and extensive crops will be planted"
The St. Louis Republican, after speak
ing of the high prices prevailing, comes
to the conclusion that they are not "infa-
ted :"
"The truth is general scarcity of
brcadstuffs prevails throughout the coun-
try, and this is evidenced more or less
every day as the spring business opens.
Along the lake line, from Chicago to New
York, receipts fall short of expectations
INDUCED, and from this point, South and
East, a more than usual demand exists.
Buyers are in this market from the Ohio
and Tennessee, for wheat and corn, and
hardly boat goes out but the cargo. con-
sists, in part, ofgrain."
In Michigan, there is a very great COM
plaint of scarcity and high prices.
In Ohio, Corn is IS to 100 cents bush
ell, and cattle dying for want. Not only
in New York, but in all the Atlantic cit
les, the same complaint exists of high pri-
ces and scarcity, though many seem to
think that speculation is the sole cause of
the difficulty. They are quite mistaken.
SO are those who think that the opening
of spring trade will bring abundance and
low rates How can that be, when -four
at the West is over ten dollars We no.
ticed quotations at Pittsburg the other
day, $40 and $40 75, and it ranges equal
ly high in many other localities AT
Cleveland, Ohio, Flour is carried inland
to feed Wheat producers. Prices are reg
ulated by supply. That the supply is
short is proved by the almost universal
high price. There arc no heavy stocks OF
Wheat and Flour anywhere, and the whole
Mississippi Valley is likely to be drained
closer than ever before since the country
was cultivated. Ofcoursc, there can be no
Corn to come forward at the present price
and scarcity in the West. 1t is possible
that prices here will rot 20 much higher,
but that chance hangs by single thread.
It will not depend upon the prospect Of
the growing crop of Wheat, and Of that
no prediction can be made of the least
value. Several of the Western papers
have begun to comment upon the present
appearances. At Kalamazoo, Michigan,
the talk is encouraging, and large
breadth vas sown. The Register pub
lishod at Indiana, Pa, has fattering
item Of the appearance of wheat in that
region, It was in that region that the red
wcevil devasted the country. The Law
renceburg (Ia) Press says that the cold
in March has injured the wheat on fat
clay land. In many fields the whithered
plant may be scraped up in handfuls>-
The dry weather of April will be equal
y fatal to all such fields. The Lafay-
ettc American says that the wheat crop
promises we'll in that section. We car
nestly hope it will fulfill its promise all
over the country, for upon that does the
salvation from suffering of thousands of
the laboring poor depend. We again urge
it as duty upon every cultivator of the
soil to increase, by every possible means,
the area Of his planting the present season.