Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1855-10-31
THE GRAIN CROP IN FRANCE.


~ We arc indebted to an esteemed friend in Paris,
for the following translation, Of an important article
in late number of the Aoniteur in relation to the
wheat crop. The Honiteur is the official organ 1t
maniests some alarm with reference the prospects
for food and the information contained in its ar
tclc is deeply interesting to farmers. There is
admission of deficit in France Of seven millions
of hectotres-or twenty millions of bushels Of
wheat. This is to be supplied by impoItations and
to invite this adecree of the 9Th of this month allows
for year the entry of all articles of food reco
duty Europe, it is thought, will need all the sur
plus produce the farmers of this country may have
"The government continues to occupy itself with
the question of the means Of subsistence, always
grave one. For the third time within three years, ,
the elevated price Of wheat imposes great sacrifices
the country At this difficult juncture, the gov
errInent will net fail in its duty. -..... g.
Let us examine the state of the question. -. -.-
France produces, annually, eighty two millions of
hectoltres of wheat Let us suppose that the crop
of this year yielded seventy five millions only there
will still be deficit of seven millions Now, just SO
long these seven millions of hectotres remain
unsupplied to France by foreign production, there
exists no human means of reducing the price.
The great object then, is to bring into market, as
rapidly and economically as possible this amount Of
wheat from abroad Once arrived, it must be readi-
ly distributed throughout all parts of the empire,
and nut permitted to go out of the country. That
done, prices will fall according to the natural order
of things.
What is, then, the best means to procure these
seven ;mions of hectores? Is it, as has been pro-
posed, by lowering artfcia:ly the price? Is it by
constraining the holders TO sell in certain manner
in certain places at certain rate? Is it by giving
! premiums on importation? We do not think So
IT. by fictitious means, the government should i'm
prudentiy have wheat sold at an unfair price in or
der to check complaints; if it should inquisito
rial measures against the holders these acts would
| bring about result contrary to its Wishes fear
would seize upon all those who possess wheat; it
would disappear from the markets, would be hidden
rather than sold, and the fall purely artificial could
| not be maintained Foreign wheat, finding
vantage in our markets. would not enter France,
| and we should inevitable have famine for it is
| impossible to impose by force, price upon provis
ions, to prevent water from finding its own level
The famous law of the "ma Ximum" of fatal men,
ory, affords dent proof of the evil produced by
ignorance in political economy. Confidence and
freedom in trade the invarable bases of prosper
ity in commerce, and consequently, the causes Of
| abundance.
AS to premiums upon importation of wheat into
France, there are some who imagine that grain has
fall equal to the amount of the premium. The eX-
pertinent was made in 1910 and did not succeed. In.
deed if tae government to declare that it gave
premium upon the importation of grain, in a short
time the producers and fore ign merchants would
raise the price to the whole value of the premium,
and the measure would only end in enriching stran-
gers, to tho deriment of French producers and con-
Sumers
What then is to be done? 1t is, as thus pre-.
scrbed by the decree of the Sth of September last
TO open for more than another year frontiers, to
all amentary products of foreign countries; to for
bid their expectation from France; to facilitate thci'
transport on railways and canals, by rendering II
less COSTLY and thus equalizng the price as much as
possible in all parts of the territory it is to encour
age to urge, to assist in purchases from abroad,
allow the most perfect freedom in trade while exer
csing the utmost rgor of the law against all cupa
bic man9uvers that tend by coalition, to create ar
tiiical rises; it is to awaken public and private
charity at the moment that bread is dearest; tC
stimulate by every method internal labor; for if VI
can once succeed in rendering manual labor NOR
valuable, and consequently dearer, the workma,
will obtain remuneratvc price which will compen
safe in certain degree, the rise in price of alimen
tary products. 1t is very sure, that cheapness il
the price of provisions is not always sign OF pros
pcrity. There countries, for example wher
wheat may be had for nothing, and where, never
theless, the people in the deepest misery, bc
cause for the want of industrial and commercial nc
tvity, they cannot buy in sufficient quantities tn
most necessary articles of food, at the feebl
rate at which they sell.
Besides it is an incontestable fact, that rise i
wheat can alone make up the deficit; for, withou
any doubt, foreign producers and merchants wi
only bring it to markets when they find reason
>, >. able profit and perfect safety in trade.
This is so true, that already the rise in wheat ha
e given in good time the alarm to commerce. 1t ha
decided numerous and important orders for pu
cAases abroad and not only will the arrivals grow
ing out of this have, result the effect OF lowc
ing the price, but the simple knowledge of this fat
will cooperate to this end as it is known
French producers
), Let the people, then, be encouraged. The GOV
e ernment watches, and pre-eminenty occupied as
is with the welfare of the largest class, it will und
stand, both how to take the most prudent and Ell
cacious measures and how to resist all unreasonab
It requirements, with the power which love of rigl
e and sense of duty gives" .--