The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-05-17
Provisions.

Potatoes have declined in price sud-
denly and heavily, after having reached
most prcpostcrously high figure. To
what this is owing, We cannot exactly say.
By many it is attributed to the large i'm
portations of foreign and domestic pota-
toes from every point where the article
was to be had at reasonable rates, and it
is supposed that the sundden fall has been
adopted by the potato conspirators with
view Of putting stop to the importa-
,ions. During the recent protracted dur
alton of high prices, it is fact that po-
tatoes brought from BERN uda and other
distant places, were constantly sold here
in our retail markets at lower rates than
those of domestic growth. When 1t is
considered how much the cost of importa-
ton is, and the various profits which must
be made on the article before it reaches
the hands Of consumers, the reader may
Judge for himself what reason there was
for the recent enormous charges for the
home product We think there can be
little doubt that this community has been
for many months victimized by trade
conspiracy, the object of which was to
enhance and maintain at an uDpreccdent-
edly high rate, the prices of an article
which has become of almost absolute ne
cessity as part of our daily food We
believe that there are, and have been,
plenty of potatoes here, and in most 9th,
er places of the country, and that the re-
ports of scarcity have been manufactured
for a special purpose. We have just pas
sed through one of the severest winter:
ever experienced in Philadelphia, wher
thousands of industrious workmen were
thrown out of employ, and great distress
prevailed among the poorer classes. Al
this very time, when the hearts of the be-
nevolent felt keenly the necessity for ex'
ertioD, in order to relieve the suffering, q
set of sharpers have kept up the prices
of many articles of food so high, as tC
add very greatly to the general distress
The butchers at one time actually found
it necessary to refuse to buy beef cattle
beyond certain price, and they assured
the community that the prices were KEEP
up by designing spectators. And for {
considerable period many persons found
! it cheaper to live on poultry than on beef
The potato speculation has now been car.
ried on through several successive seasons
and with such degree of profit as to in
duce the repetition and aggravation ot
the offence. There is some credulity as
to the statement that large quantities Of
potatoes have been lying stored away;
but it is notorious that on former oc-
casion not few Of the over keen farmers,
who raised crops of this article, kept their
cellars full of them all through the winter,
in hopes of prices reaching certain mark
and at last were obliged to sell them at a
great reduction. 1t might seem that such
experience would be sufficient to teach
men better; but it is well known that the
spectators make enough at the high pri-
ces which they force to enable them to
lose part of their crop or sell the sur
plus at diminished prices. What can be
done We do not know, but that there is a
necessity for some penal measures must
be evident. One thing ought to be look
ed on with suspicion. We allude to the
icroakings about bad crops Of potatoes
and scarcity of beef cattle, which are an
nually got up by interested parties for
special purposes, and palmed off on pub
lie creduiity through the newspapers.
Phiia. North american.