The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-07-19
THURSDAY MORNING. JULY 10.
TToRS AND PRoPRIEToRs.

THURSDAY MORNING, July 10.
The CrOPs---Our Prospects for Cheap
Bread the Coming Year.
The Cincinnati Gdzette has long and
interesting review ofthe crop prospects.
In these times of commercial inactivity,
and, as it says, Mercantile despond-
enCy," its statement of the situation
comes in as cheering feature. In
the early spring we had most gloomy
reports of the wheat crop, and when
under the influence of that seemingly
we'll authenticated intelligence the re-
tail price of good brands of family flour
rose in our market to Sl4 0O9l6 90 per
barrel. with serious talk of $50 90, in
the future, the general alarm that pre-
vailed, and the gloomy fOrebodings of
merchants, We're not surprising. y
bread famine was at that time threaten
ed, and it was too early to tell anything
about other crops. As the season has
progressed, however, wonderful
change for the better is noticeable. In
regard to wheat we can speak conclu-
sively. In many sections there is a
deficiency varying from three-quarters
to One-quarter in quantity, but every
where the quality is unsurpassed.
Last year the quality was eve
rywhere poor, and consumers
know how difficult it was to pro-
cure barrel ofgOod flour. This season,
poor flour will be as rare as was a good
article during the season that is now
closing. In the districts to which we
refer, therefore, the superior quality of
the grain will go far toward making up
for the deficiency in quantity. But
happily the injury to the winter wheat
urannFa1 H-hi1A HE,ifh
lively few exceptions, spring crops
have done well. Taking the whole
wheat growing country together, there
fore, we are safe in saying that in the
aggregate the wheat crop, in freight and
quality, is a fair average, and much bet
ter than last year. In regard to other
crops, it can be definitely stated that
hay turns out short; but there will be
no scarcity. There is a large surplus of
old hay, and this years crop being
good in quality, while the immense ar
my consumption is cut OIL, full sup
The oat crop is good-hrst rate. The
straw is short, but in grain there is a
full average, both as regards quantity
and quality. The great bulk of last
years crop, owing to unfavorable har-
vest weather, was unsOund. This year
the crop promises to be secured in
splendid condition. Barley will be
hended while ago. 1t is often said
that August makes the corn crop. To
be accurate, it should be said that Au-
gust goes far to make the crop perfect
To insure good crops, good planting
weather in Nav, and seasonable rains
in June, July and August, are required.
This year all that could be desired for
May, was realized; June was splendid,
and thus far nothing better than July
has furnished could be asked. We
have had rain and heat in about the
right proportions. How this hot mid
summer weather, with the thermome-
ter up to near 100 in the shade, causes
the farmer 10 rejoice! The ground be-
ing in excellent condition and the corn
far advanced, the temperature is right
for the crop. The latter can now stand a
good deal of dry weather, and it is SO
far advanced that there need be no fear
of early frost. Next come potatoes,
This crop also promises well. 1t was
short last year, both in quantity and
quality. This year it promises to be
excellent in both respects. There also
promises Ito be large yield of buck
wheat. OF apples there will be good
supply, taking the country through
So much for the Northern States. In
the South cotton is, of course, the great
staple. In regard to this crop it is diff
cult to get correct information. Those
who grow it and those who hold the old
stock are equally interested in under
estimating the probable yield. But it
is generally conceded that the prospects
Improve as the season advances, and
100000 bales is now getting to be con-
sidered a fair estimate. This would re-
allze in money as much as 9,OOO.-
600 bales in ante wal. times.
We can, therefore, readily estimate
the value OF the contribution to the
wealth of the country. And as we must
look to the products of the soil and of
the mines for the means to relieve tho
country from the financial embarrass-
ments that exist, we find in the croD
prospects, everything to encourage.
To manufacture paper money and to
shift the forms of Indebtedness may
keep up the deception of wealth for n
while, but to get out of the difficulty
ultimately, or to make any progress in
the direction of a solid basis, we must,
by hard knocks, dig orr means out of
the ground. While the country was
getting in debt it was DESTROYING wealth,
Now, in order to get out of debt, we
must create wealth. Hence the advan-
tage of good crops. These will enable
the Government to contract the
currency gradually. Cotton will
take the place of gold in adjusting our
foreign trade balances; prices of living
gradually settle, and while gains will |
not count up SO rapidly in dollars, the
dollar counted will be worth ali the
more. We may, therefore, look for the |
stagnation now prevailing in trade, to
pc followed by an active business as
the autumn months approach. There
Will be lower level of prices to work
upon, but people will feel more free to
Work. Consumers have been purcha-
sing sparingly of late, and country mer-
chants have been tardy in making paw
ments to city creditors. The movement
of the new crops will change ali this,and
while smaller per ccntage of DrntitS |
may be expected, we NAV confiieniiv
expect u large increase of businnsS |
The first indications of this revivai |
may be looked for in the distribution
through the agricultural districts. or
the idle capital which has Accumulated |
at the commercial centres. OF this we |
have already some symptoms, as shown |
by the ruling in exchanges in favor of
the West. But without going into de-
tails, the business man will readily
discover in the favorable agricultural
prospects, a certain basis for lively
trade: Upon this basis, too, the finan-
ces Of the nation may, IL wisely man
aged, be vastly improved, by giving
greater value and more stability TO the |
currency,