Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-08-05
The Crops and Business.

In view of the abundant crops which have
rewarded the labors of the husbandman, it is
an important question whether the prices of
grain which are likely to rule during the
present year will enable the farmers of Iowa
to pay off the obligations many of them have
incurred during the past two years Of financial
distress Some are indulging in gloomy fore
bodings that low prices will rule, and general
stagnation of business will be the consequence.
On this subject, the New York Journal Of
Commerce, in recent article, says:
1--WE are not among those who see an
unmitigated good in high prices, or certain
damage to the country in low prices Of pro-
visions. There will be suffering at either
extreme, because the law of compensation
cannot reach to all cases, and is likewise slow
in its operation. But the prosperity of the
country is likely to be far more stable when
there is steady employment for all classes at
moderate scale of prices than when every
thing is inflated. The prices of produce, and
consequently the cost Of living ran up so
rapidly that wages in general, and especially
such incomes as could not be regulated by the
relative value of productive labor, could not
keep pace with the advance, and there was a
great inequality in the condition of those
entitled by their position and industry to
share alike in the common prosperity. We
look for speedy commencement Of the export
trade in breadstuffs. The cessation of hostil-
tiles may check the outgoes for which export
ers were even now preparing, but from present
appearances the export movement cannot be
long delayed This demand will not restore
the old prices, and probably will not be con-
tinued if it should lead to any considerable
advance in value But it may take off large
wheat, restoring this branch of trade to some
thing like is old activity, and giving new
impetus to various branches Of home indus
try"
The above is a common sense view of the
condition of matters. We look for revival
of busin :ss, even if low prices should prevail
Farmers will find in their large crops some
compensation for comparatively low prices
and ought not in justice to themselves and fol
the credit of the country to hold back their
produce and put off the payment of Their
debts, in the hope that higher prices will be
paid next Spring or Summer. The advice
given by q contemporary to such of our farmers
As are in debt is eminently proper There
can be no advance in the price of grain during
the present year which will be an equivalent
for the high rates of interest which thos,
farmers who are in debt will be obliged to pay
if they renew their obligations. 1t is never
safe for farmer, who is dependent upon hi
farm. to turn Spectator; and, in the long run
he who soonest turns the products of his field
into money, at fair price, does the best.
FEMALE SUFFRAGR.-In the constitution
lately formed for Kansas, women are allow
ed to vote in school matters. They ma
vote for school officers, school taxes, an
everything pertaining to the organization
Of the common schools, equally with men
Comforting this much of the elective fran
ohise upon females is intended as an expe
riment. We be ieve that females are Above
to vote in school matters in Canada an