Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-15
THE room QUESTION.

supply of food in this country is ample for
present wants as well as for the imme-
date future, while we shall have enough to
meet any demand that may come from Eu-
rope. This is not only true of breadstuffs,
but also of meats. The stock of wheat,
however, is smaller both in this country and
in England than at this date one year ago.
! The comparative deficit reaches not less
than forty per cont. but stocks one year
ago were unusually large in both countries.
The excess of stocks arose from various
causes, principally among which were
anticipative speculatiOns arising out
of the war in Europe which was
then in progress. There are also larger
shipments Of breadstuffs afoat for for
| eign markets at the various American ports
than at this time last year. The supply of
all the coarser grains, rye, buckwheat, corn,
etc, as well as the other articles of food in
ordinary use appear to be quite ample for
present purposes, in the various sections of
the country. A comprehensive resume of
the condition of the crops in Europe and
the harvest returns shows that in England
the winter prospect is not cheerful one,
and the losses sustained by stock-raisers
supplement those of short crops and the
spread of the potato disease. The returns
from other parts Of Europe are more en-
couraging, but the general impression, de-
rived from a review of the whole field, is
not regarded as favorable. The New York
Shipping List of the 7th inst. discusses
''the exigency Of the European food de
mand" as follows:
"As the season progresses the European
food deficiencies became more clearly de-
fined. 1t is now seen, that through long
succession of evil weather influences, which
the English Saturday Rerielv describes as
having been of an uncommon nature
the result of the wheat harvest in the
United Kingdom is a very poor one. The
same is true of nearly the whole of Western
Europe, while Russia and Hungary. those
great reservoirs whence large supplies for
the dependent countries are usually drawn,
are not in position to afford anything like
the usual surpluses for their needy neigh
bors. Hence the demand to make good
the deficiencies of Western Europe will be
thrown more largely upon the United States.
Not only is the wheat crop of tie United
Kingdom so short, that it is estimated
that from so to 100 millions of bushels will
be required to make good the deficiency,
but there is also a short supply of
9th NrA = l.
instance, any room to doubt that the potato
crop, which constitutes very important
part of the British food supply, has been
largely cut off by the blight. Reports from
no less than forty agricultural counties in
Great Britain and Ireland, serve to confirm
the worst anticipatiOnS in this connection.
In every direction disease is reported, with
an estimated loss of from ten to twenty
five per cent. France, it is estimated, will
require to import from from 40 to 30 mil
lions of bushels of wheat, to say nothing Of
the deficiencies of her other crops. POr-
tiOns of Germany are also in a dependent
condition. With the competition of these
buyers in the supply markets of the world,
there would seem to be a margin for some
advance on current prices, particularly as
some Of the recognized British authorities
consider it problem whether the surplus |
in the more fruitful countries will prove
sufficient to make good the Deficiencies of |
Great Britain, France, and other Continent
tai countries. The Saturday Rerie,c sums |
up an intelligent survey of the food ques-
ton with the remark, that 'The |
deficiencies are known or guessed at |
pretty accurately, and the probable supplies |
will be large under the stimulus of |
high prices; but il is too soon vet to hazard |
an opinion whether they will be large en-
Ough to prevent such high prices as will re- /
strict consumption. Dear bread we shall |
have, but how dear it is impossible to pre- |
Dict In the light of this frank admission, |
a continued active demand for our corn,
wheat and flour, at good prices, may be re-
garded as fOregOne conclusion. There |
are also indications that much larger pro-
portion than usual of our hog crop will be !
wanted abroad this season. Meats are adj |
vancing in Europe, for the principal reason |
that the higher cost of bread is increasing |
their consumption. Already Britith and
Continental shippers are contracting ahead |
largely for our bacon and pork, while the |
low price of lard continues to stimulate
heavy shipments. This demand may serve
to bring the prices Of hog product up to a
somewhat more remuneratiye scale, not
withstanding all the indications point to a
hog crop of unequalled magnitude,
awhile the exigencies of the demand for
food materials may possibly be productive
of some distress in the Old World, it is for
tunate circumstance that our own country
is in a condition to minister literally to
their wants. Our surplus of wheat is not
reckOned so large as in some former years,
but the surplus of corn is without doubt
the largest We have ever had, while we prob
ably have fair average of the minor food
crops. The law of compensation, which
tells us that what is one mans loss is an
others gain, is thus in fair way for very
practical kind Of exemplifcatiOn. In these
days of steam and the telegraph, it is not
probable that anything approaching famine
prices will be attained, as the deficiencies in
some parts cf the world are balanced bv
handsome surpluses in others. Yet there
appears to be a sound basis for better prices
than have prevailed during the last two
years."