Smyrna times., 1855-05-02
FOOD. PRICES AND PROSPECTS.


FOOD PRICES AND PROSPECTS.
We are probably paying more for -four
throughout the United States, at the present
time, than at any period since wheat was first
grown upon the soil. Corn is certainly higher
throughout all the great corn growing region
than it ever was before The Nev York
Tribune says that, in that city, all kinds
OF edlbles bear price that slartles every pur
chaser. What is our future prospect is very
interesting question. Let us inquire how it is
IN other places. The Chicago Daily Press, Of
April 18, says:
"An intelligent friend who resides in one Of
the southern counties of Illinois furnishes us
with some interesting items respecting the pre-
sent scarcity of breadstutiS and feed for cattle
and horses, also Of the arrangements making
for the present seasons crops. Last years
crop of corn was largely deficient, not being
sufficient for home consumption, and but for
the fact that portion of the crop of the pre-
vlOus year remained over, there would, un-
doubtedly, have been much suffering. AS it is,
corn commands at the crib, III many places, 81
per bushel, hay $40 per ton, ana other articles
OF breadstufs and cattle-tccd CORES spondmgIv
high prices. In some districts quite IA number
of cattle and hogs have died from starvation.
and as general thing, stock is in very poor
condition. Preparations are being made for
planting larger spring 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. Through
out the middle and western portions Of the
k.,N, 4,ll 81 I 4
and the breadth sOwed is more than an aver
age. The crop Of Irish potatoes was total
failure last year, and some difficulty is antici-
pated in procuring sufficiency for painting
The North, however, will be able to send for
ward enough by river and railroad, to supply
this want"
| The 81. Louis Republican, after speaking of
the high prices prevailing comes to the conclu-
sion that they are not "nfated:" "
"ThG truth is, general scarcity of bread
stutfs prevails throughout the country, 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 the expectations INDUCED, and from this
poiut, South and East, more than usual de-
mand exists Buyers are in this market from
the Ohio and Tennessee, for wheat aud corn,
end hardly boat goes out but the cargo con-
slsts, IN part, of grain. We do not suppose
that prices will attain much higher figures than
quotations already show, and it is to be hopcd
for the benefit of trade and the convenience of
consumers, they may not; hut it is somewhat
doubtful if they fall much below the rates now
ruling"
| In Michigan, there is a very great complaint
of scarcity and high prices. In Iona county, in
the center of the State. The Gazette saws.
! "The oldest inhabitant in this place fails to
remember when there was such Il scarcity of
! provisions as there Is at the present time. po-
tatoes IN this village are out of the question:
they may be in the co&ntry, but the farmers do
not bring them to market. There are no beans
eggs, onions, lard, and but a very small supply
of butter and meat in the market"
| In Ohio Corn is 75 to 100 cts a bushel. and
cattle dying for want. Not only in New York.
but in all the Atlantic cities, the same complaint
exists CT high prices 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 "openng of
spring trade will bring abundance and low rates
! How can that be, when flour at the west is over
! ten dollars We noticed quotations at Pitts
burgh the other day, $l0a$I075, aid it ranges
equally high in many other localities. AT
! Cleveland, Ohio, -Four is carried inland to feed
! Wheat producers. Prices are regulated by
supply. That the supply is short is proved by
the almost universal high price. There are no
heavy stocks of Wheaton Flour anywhere, and
the whole Mississippi Valley is likely to be
drained closer than ever before since the coun-
try was cultivated. We fear prices have not
reached the highest point yet. The Rochester
Advertiser says that there are not five thou
sand barrels of Flour on hand to 20 East
by canal. A Rochester miller states his
conviction that not over 81 100000 bushels
of Wheat and 100000 barrels Of Flour can
come from the west this spring. Ofcourse, there
can be no Corn to come forward at the crescent
price and scarcity in the West. 1t is possible
that prices here will not go much higher, but
that chance hangs by single thread. 1t will
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 Wes-
tern papers have begun TO comment upon the
present appearances. At Kalamazoo, Michi-
gan,the talk is encouraging, anda large breadth
was sown. But the Gazette urges farmers to
crowd in spring crops 1t says:
"There is no surplus produce in this country;
consequently the demand will experience no
abatement of the coming harvest. So, farm
ers, crowd in the spring crops
The Sandusky (0hio) Register says:
"'SO far as we can learn, the wheat crop pro-
misses well. Farmers about here sowed heavier
than usual, and, should there be an average
yield-say twenty bushels to the acre-we
should say the market will be richly stocked
4 after harvest. In other sections we have the
same good report. From Indiana and Illonis,
indeed, the promise comes of an unusually large
yield from the present appearance ofthe fields
But there is much yet in the way ere that