Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-04-25
Commercial and Financial.


out again at the point Of the pen.-Ed.Ch
Commercial and Financial.
The enormous prices obtained for pro-
duco the past two years, by turning the
attention of thousands to agricultural pur-
suits, has had tendency to lay deeper and
broader the foundations of our national
prosperity. Our farmers arc now more
Independent than any other class. They
have made money rapidly, and have been
liberal in making improvements, to prepare
the way for still more prosperous future.
TO till the soil is now regarded honorable
by the high and low, the rich and the poor,
since that calling, equally with any other,
of late, is regarded a highway to position
and independence. A great change has
been wrought. As q nation, until
within a year or two past, we have
been growing more and more disinclined to
engage in agricultural pursuits. Trade
and commerce have hitherto absorbed the
most promising and talented in town and
village, all over the country. Wealth, it
has been thought, could only be obtained
in our great commercial centers. The war
troubles of Europe, which have produced
an extraordinary demand for bread, have
checked thi, tendency to overcrowd our
cities, and have had an influence upon
us, morally and politically, which hardly
can be estimated. The high price. which
have so long ruled for provisions have slim
ulated our farmers to greater efforts than
ever before. Their sons are not, as for
merly, willingly released, or tempted away
tn nther professions. If the old farm is
too narrow field for their united efforts,
as is usual, they are encouraged to go, not
to the city, but to the West-to Kansas,
Minnesota, or any other far distant locali-
ty. New Y ork is not now, as hitherto,
ovcrrun with young men. Those Of the
right stamp are scarce-a fact we'll known
in commercial circles This sudden change
is as healthful as unexpected, and will in
evitably result in greatly increasing our
strength and power as nation. The cur
rent Of immi grafton Is not setting to the
city, as formerly, but to the country. This
is as It should be. The West no longer
looks to Ireland or Germany for the largest
proportion of her population, but to the
Middle States and to New England. Prob
ably not less than quarter Of million
will emigrate the present year to our from.
tier States and Territories Never was
there such excitement on the subject before.
1t pervades all classes, in every city, town,
and village. Students in colleges, profess
sional men, business men, the most talent
ed in all quarters, are taking possession Of
the soil, as surer foundation for perma-
nent prosperity than can be found in any
other vocation. What glorious specta-
Gle, and how promising for the future. Let
it be praised and encouraged, as the surest
policy to promote our growth, Streng tn,
aud high elevation.
Collections continue good from the inte-
rior, although we hear some complaints Of
the scarcity of money, in consequence of
the fall of breadstufls. The opening of
inland navigation will soon revive the pro-
duce business, and have tendency to
make things easier. From the West an
unprecedented amount of breadstuffs is to
come forward. Those farmers who refused
high prices in the fall, and are now crying
over their folly, had better move rapidly
this spring in making sales, or they will
probably have occasion to submit to much
lower figures. 1t is believed by many that
the surplus of corn in the country would
supply us the whole of the present year,
Il. c., up to January rext,) without har-
vesting another bushel. Prices, we think,
niust 60 much lower.