Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-06-04
Food at the South

The subject of food is probably at this
moment the most grave one that occupies
the minds of the rebel leaders, and the ex
isting scarcity is actually more formidable
! enemy to them than the whole of our army
aud navy.
The concurrent testimony Of all letters
and advices from the South, and from all
returning prisoners, refugees, deserters, and
others coming from thence, as well as the
columns Of the Southern journals which
have alluded to the subject, unite in state.
! ments which leave no doubt that a most
alarming scarcity of food, both for man and
beast, at present exists in that region. Nor
is it confined to any particular district or
portion of their territory, but prevails uni
versally through all the seeded States, SO
that there is no surplus in any section from
which the deficiency in other sections can
be supplied The necessity of sowing a
greater surface of land in breadstuffs has
been constantly urged at the South, and,
though it has been followed TO consider
able extent, it has not been done to such
degree as to supply an additional quality of
food equal to that portion OF the usual sup
plies which they formerly were accustomed
to receive from the loyal States, and from
which supply they are now cut off, Besides
this, their crop Of brcadstuffs during the
last year was, as they themselves admit, a
bad one, and in some States, particularly in
South Carolina and Georgia, not producing
even as much as their former crops, not.
withstanding the additional breadth of land
occupied. .r.t -.#-..t .-..tN...
The quantity of food required for large
community or nation is enormous, and but
few people properly appreciate it, or make
any correct estimate on the subject, until
they have fully reflected on it and made the
needful calculations to demonstrate it. ~
In the scarcest years in which Grea
Britain has most severely suffered from
short crops, when the ocean was, ash were,
crowded with vessels loaded with food of
every kind for her supply, it has been esti
mated that she never imported more than
from forty to forty five days consumption
for her entire population. T' '7ua
In what is called the famine year of ls47.
when such dire scarcity prevailed through
all Europe, and when we could hardly find
vessels enough to transport our breadstuf.
across the Atlantic for the starving popula.
tions of the Old World, we exported in
wheat, including that in the shape of -four
only about sixteen per cent. Of our crop,
and of our corn crop only about three pei
cent. SAY 1900, 900 bushels out of 6o0,.
100000. OF our rye, barley, oats, and
buckwheat, we exported less than two pei
cent. Of the wheat and -four thus export
ed about one half was shipped to Greal
Britain and Ireland, and furnished supply
! of those articles equal to about seventeen
days for the whole population. ,eauI
The United States, have never in any one
|, year, even in their most exuberant crops,
J produced, in grain of every description,
more than would have been equal to sup
ply for thirteen mouths for the entire popula'
ton. A proof Of this is found in the simple
fact that they have never exported more
than thirteenth Of the crop in any year,
and very seldom more than twentieth, and
more frequently much less than twentieth
and consequently, the remainder of the croI
s was required for and was actually consumed
! in the home demand. There p Of cours.
) always more Or less surplus Of grain rewain
5 ing on hand and over lappingg from she oil