The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-06-01

SAlNT LOUIS, May Zotl, 1908.
Editor Tines In a former letter,
think made some remarks characterising
the action on the part of the spectators in
produce as approaching very nearly to in
sanity. If the unhealthy state of things
which then existed, had continued until the
present moment, your readers, some Of them
at least, would probably have pronounced
me as croaker and an old fogy. But the
tide having turned and my view of the
matter being pretty fully sustained, may
perhaps be permitted for time, to ride on
the top Of the wave and gain credit for
sagacity to which am scarcely entitled
The only credit however, which am dis.
posed to claim, is that of having made
shrewd guess. We were not at that time,
according to my estimate, in possession of
any news, either from abroad or from any
portion of our own uountry, which could,
for a moment, warrant the prices to which
wheat and -four had attained; and although
flour and wheat since then, have declined
in this market fully one dollar per Dbl. and
10@15cts. per bushel. Our latest advices
from Europe as we'll as from New York and
other Eastern cities, show that we are even
now, paying prices that would by no means
justify shipments to any market within our
knowledge Nevertheless, war has been
declared, and the war veterans of the con-
tending powers are concentrating their for
ces for the bloody struggle. These large
bodies of men must of course be fed, and
as the recruits may or may not be drawn
from among those who have hitherto been
the peaceful cultivators of the soil, the
opinion will at least be entertained, that
production in the old world will decrease,
while the consumption will gradually and
constantly increase Upon this opinion or
supposition, will be based the views and
wishes of operators and spectators in this
country, and our commercial marts will
necessarily be more or less excited. Prices
will of course huctuate in the same proper
ton as the weekly or semi-weekly intelli-
gence from Europe, may act upon the pulse
or nerve of the leading operators in produce.
But so long as the war continues, there will
always be sufficient excitement among the
operators in -four and grain, as well as in
beef and pork, to insure reasonable, if
not an eXtravagant remuneration to the far
mer. From all parts of the country, so far
as we have intelligence, the prospect for an
abundant crop is reported. and if this ex-
pectation should be realized, prosperity must
be the consequence to the farmer and if to
the farmer, then to all other classes of COM
munity.
There is now but little commotion in the
general business of the city. The river,
however, being unusually high, affords less
room than usual on the Levee, and the
goods upon it, receiving and discharging by
the steamer, having less space gives it the
appearance Of being greatly crowded. In
deed it is crowded to excess so that drays,
wagons, &C., are often locked together and
many times find difficulty in separating
Sometimes by way of variety and seasoning
modest little fight ensues, not exactly
after the fashion of the French and Aus
TRAN armies, nor perhaps with SO indiscrimi-
nate slaughter, and yet there have been
occasions when the bludgeon and the dray-
pin have done fearful execution, even though
the war was but miniature, or rather
amateur in its character.
We have had no rain for several days and
consequently have excaped the annoyance
of the mud, but I am not certain but the
dust to which we are exposed in fair wealth
er, is even more execrable than the mud Of
stormy weather
Yours, &C., \.