Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-05-25

VOL XVII.
How to Get Knough to Kut.

lfrOm the hCnme14 hAAULUGEH Allu-
How TO feed the towns and cities is
question requiring timely attention will
refeFen ,e TO the next harvest Supply
has fallen so far short Of demsnd in
urban markets, that the populations here
tofore dependent upon those sources foT
supplies, must look for bread and meat Il
some other quarter.
The present situstion of Confederate
cities in this respect, is not anomalous
History is full Of examples in which
war has brought cities and towns
to the verge Of famine. The instances
are very nun erous in which Government
has been obliged to furnish the city
Of Paris, for example, with bread moi
merely, indeed, in times Of war, but oi
peace. Nothing SO checks production as q
to exist, snd the night Of property in pro-
ductions being denied, producers, sooner
or later, begin to raise only what is neces-
sary to their own subsistence. The con-
ditioR Of war also interferes with the
supplies necessary for urban consumers,
by preventing transportation. Between
the combined effects of diminished produo-
ton and impeded transportation, city pop
ulations are brought, after time, to star
Tstion.
The condition Of Southern cities has not
quite reached that pointyet There is 8
remedy open to t.em, by which supplies
for another year at least may be obtained,
il measures 10 that end are taken in fime.
The genius Of our people and institutions
,revena demand, by private citizens,
upon Government supplies. Another and
better recourse is open to the people Of
towns. Experience already teaches that
it is ruinous to rely upon the town mar
kets for the supply they furnish is to-
tally inadequate o the popular wants, and
the prices ruling in them bankrupt the
rich while starving the poor.
The remedy is, for citizens to look be-
yond their town markets, directly to pro-
ducsrs Of supplies in the interior. This
remedy may be resorted to individually as
we'll as collectively. By timely action,
each household may Irocure supplies Of
the substantials of life for q year,
al Go gernment prices. Nine-tenths Of the
producers in the interior sell their pro-
ductions at Government prices, chiefly to
Government iteelt These producers would
be ss willing to sell TO the residents of
towns and cities as TO Government if
allowed to do 80. This permission could
be obtained from Government, and the
necessity Of doing SO might afford the
means o. preventing greedy individuals or
speculstors from obtaining an excess iof
provisions. The municipal authorities of
each corporation could Issue certificates Of
the ousntities Of necessities required by
each person; and these certificates, in
dorsed By the recipient, might be the war
rant Of the producer for selling to the
holder Of them.
But the question whether s strict or
gaui alton Of the distribution Of supplies
among non producers be necessary, is Sc
condary to the necessity resting upon
towns people of procuring their supplies
directly from the producers in some way
or other. II the urban markets are much
longer relied upon bV urban consumers,
tbeEe iefter VIII soon ma themselves IN
the ysrv laws Of famine. Those who pos
ssss means should take measures in time
for procuring their next years supplies
from the interior country; and those des-
titute of means will have to be provided
for by the public authorities in similar
manner. The sanction, snd, to certain
extent, the cooperation of Government, is
necessary to the success Of the exPedient,
which can doubtless b obtained, as It can
not be the interest Of Government to de.
populate the towns.
But the fact Of its being thus prsctica-
Ole TO feed the towns furnishes no reason
why the classes who could be spared from
them should not go into the country,
where they can help raise provision, in.
stead Of merely consuming them. All
ihe steps needful to be taken on the sub
iect Of feeding the towns ought to be taken
very soon.