Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-11-12
SOUTHERN DEsTITuTIoN

SOUTHERN DEsTrTIT1oN
The destituson and distress which prevail at the Sou
seem to form problem beyond the ability Of their leader
10 solve Extended efforts being made to prevent tn
disastrous consequences which are foreshadowed, an
numberesa eIpedents suggested and discussed u
20 Do discarded as totally inadequate to avert the danger
that are looming up with frghtful dstnctness The diff
Guilty seems to be confined to no particular locality but
experienced IN the districts that the most fertile and
sesustaiaing well in those that are the least pros
Peous and is shared 10 alike by all ranks and classes In
recent article the Atlanta (Ga Confederacy describe,
the condition of the people of that hourishng city
follows:
What shall eat, and wherewith shall we be clothed
Cold winter, scarcity Of provisions clothing and fuel and
high prices all upon the people Of the
city at once Who the inhabitants of the city The
civilized world is represented among them. All classes
are here-Dlves and Lszarus nextdoor neighb0rs.
Auence and misery under the roof and wretch
edness aud poverty street in every cabin,
10 ola Dox Cars, and under every available shelter. Many
thousands OF them living 10 very uncomfortable style
already aud the population is increasing, while facilities
Tor living IN the city are rapidly decreasing"
10 market report for the 2Oh utmo the Confederacy
says:
Provisions are very high and obtained with difficulty,
coming much ncensed at the condition of -four market
Ihoy have that -four would BIO brought to the
city at $lO hundred if there restrictions the
trade where they are now compelled to pay $36 hun
dred and cannot get full supplies at that rate Su
gar alr to fully fair, LIS s.; prime to choice, s.
$22o Cohee-stock low and selling at $40 pound.
Moiasses@New Orleans strip scarce and in demand at
$S 90; Georgia made only sold at retail without any
established price Salt is in demand at Go cents pound
by the car load Flour $75 barrel Candlrs-tallow,
20 80; adamantine, $40 pound. Whiskey $25 $50
$40 SIS yard Calico, s6 so for common and 81 for
WIDE English prints Sole leather 81 pound Calf skins
hne $l 200 Dozen Shoes, Russell brogans, $50 $35
nner boots and shoes command much higher prices.
Newspapers of all shades of opinion agree in the
Threatening prospects of the coming winter and vivid
are their representations of the universal Distress they
probably short of the reality The Richmond Sen-
mel Of October Goth complains follows:
Onward and upward is the course of the markets
Articles OF food grow and higher each day in this
city Since the defeat of the maximum this has been the
natural result Those having articles for sale holding
them back for the rise They will sell for fifty dollar
this week what may bring seventyfge dollars week
hen this is all to end we do not know. Ne suppose
shall get to the swapping point after aohits and probably
0ery soon' as ice are travelling Uery fast"
Still more bitterly, the Enquirer of the 3Oth mourns
over the miserable present and the still deplorable
future With bitter nvective it charges the prevalent
Distress not upon the authors of the civil it might
most justly do but upon the hoarders and SPECTATORS
whem it suggests should be hung to the nearest lamp
posts If they had their deserts It complains that these
scoundels," it denomnaes hem, have stored away
and hosrded for rise large amounts of -four for which
they paid low Sl, and 80 per BARREL while
the people starving for want Of it, an willing to
pay four and five times these rates Similar complaints
made in the Examiner of November I'd, from which
we make the following extracts 1t says:
The spectators now masters of the situation in re-
gard to the prices of oua barrel of which Of any kind
at any price next to impossible to obtain The hoard
ers should be made to come to termshs to put their
stores in the market
learn aud also in the upper valley and sells at from thirty
five to fifty six cents the hoof If the impressng Off
GERS will hold off their bands need have fears fol
the coming winter.
AT early hour Saturday morning tho meat supplied
at the city market gaze ont, and families
sequence had to dine of Grahaite dinners So long
beef impressed Tor the benefit of twelve thousand Ysn
kee prisoners, this condition of the city markets may be
expected to continue"
The conditi Of dearth prevails at Charleston
an remarking upon it the Charleston Mercury of late
date says:
"Since the necesssres of life have reached the very
exorbant rates which they command our city ia
theirs have been most zeaousy sborng for the benefit
the citizens at large, and with what the thousands
who daily supplied with anur, rice, &C. at less
than half the current market prices gratefully testify
The action of the Council in this matter well for the
supply of fuel has tended very materially TO check the
fation Of prices which, but for this course would be
much higher Yesterday afternoon hundred and fifty
cords Of wood distributed quarter cord lots to six
hundred families at the rate of twelve dollars per cord
To add to their other troubles the Southern people are
becoming alarmed by the prospective want of fuel
The occupation Of Eastern Tennessee and the noeritude
Of affairs in Northern Georgia have completely cut of
their supply Of COAL and the distance which wood has to
travel to reach the various points of demand operates
absolute prohibition upon its In view of all these
facts the tone Of the Southern press respondent
than any previous period Of the war; and they seem to
dread the breaking Of the very foundations of society
In consequsi 90