Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-08-06
The Wheat Crop.

What is to become of the surplus
This is now the question. Two years
ago it WAS asked: Where are the
supplies for the next year to come
from! The latter was not pleasant
subject to write about. 1t fore
Swallowed precisely what has occur
red-hard times. The loss Of a crop
is equivalent to loss Of capital. A
nation where agriculture is the great
source of wealth can not prosper, but
must suffer, from short crops. Short
crops have been experienced in this
country for several years; conse-
quentIy we have suffered. Now,
however, there is a change. The
wheat crop is q large one. The Har-
vest Is without q precedent III point
Of abundance. There is no crOahing
on this ground. The quantity of
wheat in the country was never so
large as it is to-day. Hence, the
question: What is to become Of the
surplus? Upon this point there need
be no alarm. Foreign markets will
take all we have to spare. Last year,
Notwithstanding high prices, foreign
shipments were large. This year,
prices being lower, the exports will
be very much larger. Europe Is not
capable of producing bread for its
people. When crops are good, there
is sill q deficiency. This year the
crops are MT good, and hence the de-
ficiency will be grsater than usual,
and this must be supplied nv the
United States. Besides, low price,
will induce n heavier consumption
abroad, and prices are now ruling
comparatively low, when we take in
to consideration the premium on
gold. We may calculate, therefore,
upon an extraordinary foreign de-
mand for breadstuffB, and rs We have
three bushels to the one that was
produced, on an average, in the three
preceding years, the surplus will be
more than has been realized since
1864.
In addition to the fine wheat crop,
all other products thus for matured
have yielded largely, and the great
staple, corn, promises well. If moth
ing happens to the latter, we may
look for heavy crop of hogs. All
this foreshadows cheap living, and O
general revival of business Trade
never did prosper while famine prices
prevailed for food, and it will be
found that our crop failures have
been tie chief cause of the depres-
sion in business Large % orr debt
is, heavy as our taxes are, the loss of
half of a years crops outweighs them
all. No use in talking about pros
porous times in the face Of $12 per bar
rel for -four; $33 per barrel for pork;
so cents per bushel for corn; = cents
per bushei for cats, and other articles
iii proportion, in this market. These
figures indicate, not prosperity, but
adversely. In proportion as these
prices are reduced in consequence of
increased productions, times will inn
prove, and in view of the present
it is reasonable to calculate
upon revival of business at an early
day. Money instead of being hid
away will be let loose men of capt.
tai who have been waiting for some
thing to turn up, will find that some
thing, and money will be in better
ply with the people because it will
be more actively circulated through
the various avenues of trade.
If the abundent crops, with large
foreign demand for the surplus, do
not furnish n good foundation for
business it would be hard to find
such basis. Cincinnati Gazette.