American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-05-23
Prom The Chicago Tribune, Mays.
Scarcity Of Grain at the West

From careful inquiry, personally
made. both of people from the country
aud along the lines OF three ofthe prin'
cipal roads leading into this city, we
are convinced that the expectation in.
| dulged in by some ofour contempora-
ries in regard to the quantity Of grain
to come forward TO this market during
The present season, are not founded on
facts. The crop of last year was by no
means remarkable it has probably been
largely over.estiinated, as the events of
the spring and summer will provo
Though it was large enough to have
lett. III an ordinary eeason, a very con
siderable SUI plus in the hands Of the far
mers. tho extraordinary duration of the
winter has cleaned out their granalies
and cribs entirely; and even in our
own State thousands Of mon who usual
ly have corn and oats TO sell have been
for month past, and are yet, buying
from their neighbors to keep their cat.
tie and horses alive until few warm
and pleasant days bring out the new
grass. All along the Mississippi, on
the Iowa side, there is the greatest dis
tress among farmers for feed and ma.
ny OF them, so great is the scarcity, are
Using entire herds by starvation. u
gentleman from Maquoketa tells US that
in that region-by the way, one ofthe
richest and most productive parts of
lowa-cattle are dying by hundreds,
and that farmers who hauled their sur
plus to the river and sold it in the fall,
are now buying it back by wagon loads
at three times tho price they got for it
six months ago. In the country west
of Davenport, and abou Iowa City, the
same state of things exists.
At Quincy the demand for corn to
take over into Missouri is much great
er than the supply and ono disti!ery
at least is buying grain at St. Louis, and
sending it up the river by the boat load
to avoid stopping work, as it would do
if obliged TO depend upon home sup.
plies. Keokuk and Burlington the de,
mand is very active and the supply
small, as it is, indeed, in every other
part of the West from which we have
heard. Along the St, Louis and Chi
cago road there is more corn. but not
half the usual quantity. Along the
Galena Air Line, Galena and Chicago,
the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy,
and the Chicago and Rock Island roads,
hardly q full crib is to be seen. In one
word, the cattle have eaten up the en-
tire surplus of corn, oats, hay, and in
many places, the potatoes also. The
winter has exceeded its usual length
by folly forty days and in those days
the mischief has been done. Let tho
doubter take his pencil and make his
own figures. There are in Illinois full.
y two million horses, mules, ows, oxen
and other cattle. Admit that only a
half ofthis number, saying nothing Of
the three millions sheep and swine, have
required forty days extra feed, and then
see what, after their wants were sup.
piled, would be left of the very moder.
alto crop Of 1856.
If the warning that may be gathered
from our which, we admit, it
is doleful enough--wil prevent any
from overlooking, or from selling pres.
eDl stocks upon expectations of speedy
pay, or if it will stimulate the farmers
to sow and plant a wider area, and to
practice moro economy in the use Of
their hay and grain in subsequent sea
sons, we shall have accomplished all
we desire.
81.