The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1857-06-06
miscellaneous.
High Price Of Food.

High Price Of Food.
The continued high price of food has indu-
ced an inquiry into the cause of the enigma.
Several leading journals. among them the
Cincinnati Gazette and the New York Tribune,
are gathering statistics on this subject. From
a three. column article in the last named pa
per- we condenso few paragraphs that seem
10 be based OH correct data. 1t starts with
the assumption that the domestic animals
decrease as human beings increase. China
is witness of this fact, and so is our coun-
try though it has not generally been suppo-
sed that this relative diminution had taken
place in the United States to degree sufti-
Gent to permanently affect the supply and
price of the three great food producing classes
Of animals Facts derived from figures.
prove that the dminution has commenced,
and the increase of prices further prove that
the supply is insufficient for the demand SO
that the high prices are the legitimate result,
and that they will not recede permanently
becomes moral certainty.
The increase Of population relative to the
increase of animals. particularly the non
producing class of persons, such as reside in
cities, or are engaged in other employmcnts
than farming. is much greater than we could
ures found in the census returns. Another
reason of short supply for home consumption,
is the increased expectation of all animal pro-
ducts, and that is more likely to grow larger
than it is to decrease
AS to the difference Of the percentage Of in
crease in animal products and population we
have this reliable table, Ratio
Animals. 1910. 1850. of incre ,se
II . %. nn Of
Neat cattle, 1871 ,595 ls.473g97 "a per ct
Swine, 2i.35l ,293 !3O,354.3l3 Is per ct
Sheep, ly,lll,3o4 2l.12322O IL per ct.
Increase of population 81 per cent
1t is further cOnclusvely shown that while
New England, New York. New Jersey, Della
ware, Maryland and Virginia produced Of
horses, neat cattle swine and sheep, $685.
40 in 1910, the decrease in 1850 was $685.
3S4 head.
The decrease, it is apprehendcd, will be
shown to be much greater by the census Of
1856.
As the West is populating with almost ia
bulous rapdity, and towns and cities and
manufacturing villages are growing there as
well as here; and as a large number of per-
sons are. and will continue to be, engaged in
railway building, mining and other non ag-
ricultural employments, it is q matter OF IN
terest to catlIe.raiscrS and consumers to
know whether this increase Of population car
ries with it such a corresponding increase of
food producing animals as will enable the
West to continue to supply the great demand
Of the East, even at the present prices This
may be guessed at by the guessing population
of the Eastern States, and "reckoned' over
by the producers of the West. The table en-
braces Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, kentucky,
Tennessee, and Missouri.
Horses Mules l,s07.O92 2.ll5l6o 3!2O69
Neat Cattle, 4.3o7,9b2 5 80 542 9724s7
Swine, ll,T26209 13Sl3Oll 2llb,S32
Sheep, 5,l97 800 8.435,65s 3,2J7752
Now to make up the decrease ofanmals in
the old States, these new ones ought to show
an increase very considerable in excess Of the
increase o, the population: instead Of which,
the population appears to have increased 35
per cent, while the increase of the two great
food producing classes, the bovine race and
SWINE, docs hot exceed 20 per cent.
Another cause of high prices is the increas-
ed cxporta;i,n oifuod lakenin connection with
the decrease of production, and the increase
Of immigration.
1t is thought that the only cure for the evil
Is, that when the price of animal food Shall
reach an almost inaccessible point to consul
mcrs. farinaceous food may be more generally
cultivated and consumed, and the habit of
relying upon animal food partially eradlcated.
1t is, indeed, serious consideration, that
while our vast country is rapidly developing,
the very causes OF its advancement should be
also the causes of It's financial distress aud
embarrassment. 1t is an enigma in prices
worthy the readers serious reflection. This.
too, in view of the fact that we are young
nation. and have more facilities and ability
to work and produce than the nations Of the
old world. FIVE are to have regular an
nual increase in the price of meat with a cor
responding dminution of production, corn
cakes will finally snpercede mutton chops.