Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1857-06-10
uTsere wa. French princess Who sal

| ~ There was French princess who sai'
tha, sooner ,!an die for want Of bread, she woul'
! live ON macaroons. It really seems as il tn,
American people were calculating upon the saln'
alternative. The fact is nnqnestionable shs
agricultural production is not keeping pace viii
the advancing population of the country. There
is an increased tendency to concentrate in
towns and cities, and growing disposition to
prefer other pursuits to that of .lling the earth
Farmers sons moved by the superior education
which they have over their fathers, turn their
backs upon their fathers occupation, and be-
take themselves to trade, mechanical emplo.
ments, or profcssionallife. The immense immi.
grafton into Tie country by no means contributes
its Just proportion to the demands of agricul-
ture. The last census shows that nearly forty
per cent of the Irish in the country are found
in large cities, and thirty six and half per cent
of the Germans. The mania for speculation was
never more rife than at present; and it has in
iected the farming class quite as much in pro-
portion 10 its capital as any other. The farms
of the Eastern and Middle States are abandoned
for the cheaper lands oil the West; but multi
tudes on arriving have, instead of buying new:
lands, and addressing themselves diligently TO
the cultivation Of the soil, invested their funds in
town lots, looking for golden harvest in the
of prices. This specializing excite
ment, while it seriously draws of the agricul-
tural population Of the East, does not CORES.
pondiagly benefit the agricultural industry OF
the West, and it must tell unfavorably upon the
agricultural productions of the country. In the
more steady and healthy period between ls4o
and 1850, the product of wheat in the Union
increased from eighty four million OF bushels to
one hundred million, and Of Indian corn from
three hundred and thrty-seven million to hve
hundred and ninety-two million; and yet at the
end of that period the amount ofproducts of all
kinds, deducting seed, gave surplus for export
of only about ten per cent. 1t is TO be feared
that unless there is a speedy turn in the course
of things, we shall make a far less favorable
show than this in 1860. -.
Agriculture must form the basis of the pros
perity and power of the American people. 1t is
The foundation of our national wealth and pri-
mary source of all our prosperity. 1t feeds US;
to great degree it clothes u., and without 1t
we could not have manufactures and commerce.
It furnishes our factories with their raw materi-
a., and 1t fills our ships with their cargoes. So
,ial industry depends upon it; life depends upon
t. There is no man in the country SO wealthy
Or so poor as not to he affected by its prosperity
Or decline. This country has peculiar facilities
FOR prosecuting this great department OF human
abor. The variety OF its climate, fertility OF its
.oil, its abundance and cheapness of land, are
such as no other nation on the globe can boast
1t cannot be said that we have ever yet made
adequate use of these advantages. We have
ne yer yet seen the time when the proportion OF
farmers to the whole population was as large as
it should have been. And there is reason to
,pprehend that this dsproportion will increase
The restless spirit of enterprise seems to be
very year taking more complete possession OF
our people. Everybody is hastng to be rich.
The young men of the day can less content
themselves with the plain homely employment
Of following the plough. They tire Of the iso-
ation and monotony of agricultural life, and
pant for something more stirring and exciting,
too, that Shall promise quicker and
more splendid returns.
But ultimately this evil must correct ITSELF
The spirit of speculation, which now RACES, must
receive check. The great departments OF in
duslry throughout the country must become
more duly adjusted and balanced by the opera
ton of the great law of supply and demand.