Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-06-14

The Frost Oss. the 5th.
From our exchanges from all sections
of the country, we have etideavored to
form definite opinion rs to tlc extent of
the damage done by the flost on the morn
ing of the 9th inst, but find it impossible
to arrive at anything like sati.factoiy
conclusion. Many Of the papers represent
the ruin as almost complete, while others
assert confidently that the reports are
greatly exaggerated. We had hoped that
the fears OF those giving theyteports had
noored .hc accounts beyond what would
be found on full investigation, to be the
reality, aud still trust that such will prove
TO be the case in many instances. BGi,
making all due allowances, the sad truth
undoubtedly is, that the labors OF the far
mer, and the hopes Of the country for an
abundant harvest and year OF plenty have
been blasted - .. .".. ..
On Friday last We made a hasIy visit to
Athens, returning or Saturday, and the
farms on the way presenteda truly me!an
~choIy picture. The potatoes, beans, and,
in short, almost all garden products were
completely blasted. Not a gIeen leaf was
TO be seen. Whole fields of corn were as
dead as the patched stubble Of h harvest
field, and that which had aAained to any
considerable size is, without doubt, past
recovery. That later planted (Which, hap
PLY, is the case with most) and had only
the first tender blades killed, will, we think,
recover without material injury. But the
loss, i'll the best event, must be very great
III the prospective corn crop.
What we do not remember to have ever
Witnessed before, many of the forest trees
were blighted. The leaves of the Papaw,
the Buckeye, the Walnut, the Mulberry.
the young Sycamores, the Wild Grape and
Inany other species were as dead as in
December. The country presented such
scene as might be supposed to follow in
the wake of a blighting siroco, presenting
a spectacle that might well excuse the de.
spondent feelings and expressed fears of
the farmers, even if the result does not
prove so disastrous as appearances now
indicate. ... .....
But in the midst Of all this blight and
blackened vegetation, the wheatfelds
waived their green and glorious heads in
all the seeming luxuriance of an unequaled
promise of an almost opening harvest
We frequently remarked to the friend who
was with us, that the wheat crop, at least,
WAS sale-that the reports Of its injury
were mistakes, so fai as Melgs and Athens
counties were concerned. A week had
passed since the frost, and we took it for
granted that if injured, the destruction
would have manifested itself in the appear
ance of the bi sht, rs it did in the other
vegetation, and seeing ii green and beauti-
full, concluded it had escaped. But we
fear the harvest will not I'll the promise
of a passing view. To test the NATTER We
passed into the fields and Gonnd the grains
that should have been full OF the precious
juice, ripening into bread, dry and sbriv-
elled! Our hopes were Filled as suddenly
by the discovery as theayegelation had
been by the frost. And although our ex-
animation was limited, yet we fear the
ca amity is such as not only to cripple the
numerical and industrial interests of the
country, just struggling into prosperity
from long and severe depression, but to
make it difficult 10 feed the millions de-
pending upon the coming harvest for a
years sustenance. .... .- ..
Peculiar crcumstSaees will cause
failure of crops the present seasUn to be
felt with great force. 1t is fact, fully
demonstrated, that the productions of the
soil in the United States have not for
many years, kept pace with the increase
Of Lhe population. While the cities and
towns have been multiplying their iuhab
itauts in a ratio never, before known, the
country has been nearly stationary. and in
most, if not all the older States, The pop
ulation of the rural districts has largely
diminished. Manufactures, trades, pro-
fessions and commercial pursuits have
been crowded, increasing the consumers
Of provisions, while the producers have
not Increased, but, on tie contrary, have.
in the States referred 10, actually dimiu-
ished. The consequence is, that in years
OF comparative plenty tile means Of living
have been high aud gradually on theiu-
crease. The surplus nov in the country
is nov large.
1.e sMarmiug milli"pe of our ;'ae and