Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-10-27
ExHoRBITANT PRICES.

ExHoRBITANT PRICES.
We were surprised to learn that -four
had suddenly risen in Staunton to $50. |
per barrel There certainly can be no
sufiicienta ason for this rapid increase.
Although The last wheatscrop was not a |
large one, it was not much below the ay-
erage, and there ought to be a consider
able surplus, il Augusta. Bad as our
currency Is, it would not, of itself, war
rant 50 great a rise-other causes must
have contributed to it.
In this isis of our affairs the policy
of our Government should be directed
to stimulate productions, and to dinlin-
ish consumption. But by some strange
infatuation, our officials act as If they
were infilleaced by an opposite purpo se.
The administration of the Impress
ment law tends directly to repress pro-
duction. No man knows when he SOW S
his crop, whether he will be allowed to-,
reap and IN .rket it. The act regulating
impessments seemed to be very fair on
its face. 1t provides. while property
might be, taken at schedule prices, in
the hands of Spectators, it could only
be taken at fair i,npressment value in
the hands OF the producer This was
fair and right. and farmers were content
with it. Tie discrimination was formed
in sound ? ,licy. Butsby system of in
direction, the law is practically set aside
When a farmers grain or cattle is taken
now, and Valued by disinterested par
ties, if the Valuations be higher than the
schedule, an appeal is taken by the Gov
eminent agent to the Commissioners,
and they cat down the price to the
schedulera e. The SPECTATOR thus fares
better than che farmer, for he gets his
pay promptly, while the producer gets
the same pay after long delay, and
somf4 ses 1T heavy expense, in trying.
Sct his rights.
-ls system of NAL administration dis
.rages the farmer, and tends directly
20 diminish productions.
There isaaother matter connected with
the food question which merits attention.
a great parade was made two years ago,
about spppfessing the distillation OF
grain. Crude laws were passed, By
which mosl of the distilleries were stop.
ped, and alponopoly given to the favor
ed few. We doubt not that whiskey
was necessary for the medical bureau,
but we are not satisfied that the law was
sufficiently guarded in reference to the
quantity TO be made, or the grain TO be
used. We are of the opinion that the
distillation Of wheat should have been
prohibited Altogether Wheat is the
staff of life, and should be kept for the
sustenance of the people. IF whiskey.
must be made, it should be made of the
coaser grains. This is a mere serious
matter than may be at first supposed
We have ore distillery in orr suburbs
which is reported to consume 100 BUSH
els of wheat per day. If this. be true,
it is equivalent to abstracting from the
food OF the people, 20 barrels of foul
per day, and about SO bushels of offal.-
In a year tits. would be over /, 900 bar
rels. It is a fair estimate to say, that
10 barrels Per year, will supply fam
lily Of seven persons, and consequently
that amount distilled here would supply
bread to about five thousand people
There are other distilleries in the coun-
ty, which, in the aggregate, probably
use as much as the larger one here
Thus wheat enough to supply ten thous
and people, near halfthe population of
this county, is annually consumed in the
distilleries
1t corn and rye were used, the damage
would be much less, for these grains are
not SO important for bread, and theswill
serves to fatsen hogs.
Should not the Legislature take this
matter in hands
But there are other measures tending
TO discourage production. The practice
OF withdrawing, every now and them.
hundreds OF our stoutest and most ath
letic negroes from farming operations,
to work on the fortificationS near Rich
mond, is serious evil. These negroes
are our best farm hands, and for every
one so Withdrawn, the production of
grain is diminished several hundred
bushels. Whycannot the deserters, and
other wrong doors, be taken from Castle
Thunder, and put to work on the forth,
fications Where too, are the idlers
about Richmond, and the conseripts of
Camp Lee We think this system of
employing egroes ought to bestopped
Finally, the militia bill, we fear, is to
be one Of the most unfortunate me asures1
yet adopted, for the agriculture OF the
state-eyerY boy over 16,and every old
man under IS, is liable to be called in
to the field. fyou take all who can
plow, and SOW and reap, how is grain
enough to lie raised for consumption OF
the people! We have men enough, be-
tween IS and As, to fight our battles
The fear is not of a deficiency of men,
but of provisions.
We throw out these suggestions for
the consideration of the public. But
we do SO with little hope of their having
any good effect, When the popular fer
vor is up, reason is UNDECIDED.
FROM GEN, LEE.
Up to this time, Monday affairs re-
main perfectly quiet in Gen. Lee's army, |
and we think are very likely to coiffin-
ne so for some time to come Cavalry |
skirmishes, but lately SO frequent, have
nearly altogether ceased. The campaign