New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-06-29
PROSPERITY IN THE HARVEST.
BY HORACE GREELEY.
Eron, Til. Tndepaudsnt


The year 1866 was remarkable for the general de-
feleacy Of its harvest throughout the Union Former
years we're more papaby unfruitfullsI6 especially
1886 perhaps meager its returns TO the husbandman
but this is in good part he had put forth too little
exerton bt in former year OF this century was ths
failure of crops widespread in 1866 Wheat was less
than half an average yield throughout so that our cou
try which exported millions Of bushels OF this staple 10
porting for some months past as she has scarcely
done before 1861. Grass grew falrIy Dul
the season for haymaking was for the most part &c
cloudy stormy, aud eapricious that the labor wa
doubled and the value OF the product very seriously s
swept clean the farmers mows and stacks, leaving tent
OF thousands Of cattle 10 perish OF starvauon ana tn
diseases engendered by want while hundreds OF tnou
sands came through in such miserable plight that tn
better part OF the summer must be gwen 70 tnsn 70
cOvery Cotton suffered from quite extensive pantm
OF old Seed from which the plants came up ieepT ~.
persisted speedily; add 10 which damage by extensive
of the armywo IN summer and seems iIaryei n1
large half crop-reary or quite 2OooyoOo Daies-l
the south. upon ground mperfeety plOwed by feebl.
teams and was struck in Auk by drOuth so severe ina
thousands OF failed TO mature single merchantaDh
ear and the average yield Of the former slave states w
less than fen bushels per acre The prolific West did much
when strucE Inv carly frosis and seriously dMmaged II
short probable that the crops Of TINS country icc
Mere fIS man nns of dollars wd not make gOOl
their deficiency. For while the farmers were recon-
pensed in part by higher prices than their produeS
nlent would have commanded, this circumstance ony
dfused and eqazed the loss causing al domesuc con
than though prices had ruled low and the entire loss mao
thus been thrown on the farmers ,.-..,.,
When the years business came TO be setLed up ano
books balanced last Winter 1t was geneSy round 70 the
amazement OF many, that no pronts had been reazep
that shrunken prices bad debts had ABSORBED then
The great merchants whose gEns had been large IN for
per years, had now made very little; WINE those WIG
Commonly bankrupt. Manufacturers, mechanics and
small radesmen shared in the general depress0n fat
of produce and the inability Of thousands q
travel; the Federal revenue syinpashzed
iDdrtusI and eneraat Iength stood unvailed and con
fessed Hence the seeming codness OF the pubic ear
ton OF Southern distress land for the promotion OF educ
tion political aud general among the freedmen. DO not
aSwever il should be- the fact f. that most persons
deaf 10 the appeals TO their generosity wheh may zee
that, in spite OF their best efforts, their Duse@ u
But the opening Of new season Of termination ane
growth awakens ana justi1es hopes OF a beneflcen'
change From east 10 west IRON ho1n 70 south, .o ~
egraph and the mails reciproeate assurances thae VIZ
heavy the floods Of Spring have been destructive
especially the Lower Mississippi yet the area dcso
lated by inundation is but speck on the map or oui
country; and even this may yet produce bounteousy
where planted IN corn, SO last as rclhqulsheu ny
late, there is every promise OF generous mar Tar
vest; for the people who no longer er0Sa shs
busy AT home In spite Of the cold rainy Spring. large
area has been sown and planted aud the people OF oai
rural districts universally nor more en-
GENTLY work Late as the season is their command
OF effective machinery insures that the growing crpP
will be fairly TILED ana
south where the Blacks digentSas is theIr habit
there far larger proportion OF the Whites az wors
than ever before t Is quite probable that the harves,
OF 1851 throughout Atlantic and Calf States VIII ex'
coed that OF 1866 by full third and that we Shall again
he exporting wheat aul -four by next September
do not agree With those who regret that trade has
been dull for some months past hold that brisk trade
under the circumstances would have been dsasrous 70
the country rejoice that many thousands have been
absolutely driven out ways Of Traffic into those OF
Production Nor greve that the Railroads have re-
ceiyed less money from passengers n they were Led 70
expect; for deem 1t best Ter the Railroads. that
most persons should be industrious at He rather than
spending borrowed money IA travel. " heneyer more
goods are sold than surplus products purchasers
will nav for balance must lie stzsaz by Come fashion OF
bankruptcy and the sellers must ehe losers. rejoice,
then Ind the confident trust that the dness OF trade dur
ing the earlier half OF has been benecent and that
through increased production brighter day now opens
on the Commerce as well the Industry Of all tho States