The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-03-12
Cause of our Troubles.

recent article, discusses the policy
that controls our national finances,
in connection with the depression
Of the industrial interests of the
country, and concludes with the
following very sensible remarks,
which wc commend TO farmers as
in every way worthy of attention:
And this brings us to speak OF
tho real cause OF our troubles, viz:
Crop FAILURES. In the first place
we have had too much bone and
sincw in the cities, and not enough
in tie fields. In other words, our
trading and consuming population
has been greatly out OF proportion
to our producing population. Ad.
ded to this, we have had 10 success
sion three unfayorabIo crop sea.
sons, and consequently three crop
failures following each other. The
loss is made up in part, TO the far
lner, by tho increased price corse.
qucnt upon tho deficient surplus;
but the fact remains that every
bushel OF wheat or corr lost by in.
adequate labor or adverse weather,
is so much money lost 10 the coun.
try, in tho aggregate. With fall
crops last year and the year before,
prices Of produce would rule lower
than curront values, and our ex-
ports to Europe would bc four
times in quantity and three timcs
in value, what they are. Then,
besides, tho high prices Of food
adds TO the cost Of everything pro.
duced, so that the loss Of the crop
comes out ofthc pocket Of The nation.
In our market yesterday the follow.
Ing wholesale quotations prevailed:
Family Flour. ... ........sllall,50
Corn car............". "a
Oats .........-".-...... 81
Wheat, red .......-....... Q 80
Mess pork. ................, % 90
Ticrce lard .............. IA
These prices are one hundred and
twenty-five per cent. above the
quotations for average crop soa,
sons, previous to 1860, and arc the
consequence, not OF tho deprecia.
ton Of paper money, in whole, but
OF deficient supplies,
To the agricultural interests Of
tho whole country, therefore, wc
must look for relief from tho de.
rangcment and depression OF bust.
moss. Tho artificial business caus.
ed by tho war carried us through
tho first five years Of this decade
with apparent success; but oflhis
artificial business we havo seen the
end, and are now experiencing the
real fruits. The way out of our
troubles is not through financial
legislation or make shifts of any
kind, but through hard work that
will, under the favors ofProvidence
cause tho fields to blossom and
bring forth abundantly tho food
necessary TO thesupport and com.
for, Of man, Tho young men who
spend their timo on street corners
will accomplish nothing in the
work OF recovery; nor will the sur
plus men employed in trading, or
standing behind counter. These
must,be starved into tho country,
while 10 the farmers wo mus, look
for that which will give strength 10
Do foundations Of business by in.
creasing tho supply, and thereby
eheaponing tho price OF food.
II is too early, Of course, to form
any opinion as TO the next crops
Tho winter, thus fur has been
favorable to wheat, and farmers
mover greater had inducements to
plow broadly tort spring crops
Labor will be more abundant in the
country than IL has boon TOR six
years past, and with a favorable
season, wo shall, no doubt, havo
heavy harvest, With such q result,
II marked improvement in business
would bc experienced; but upon tho
harvest everything depends. Those
who put their trust in financial
make'shills will fail. Those who
are guided by tho agricultural pro.
gross will succeed.