Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-12-04
Shall We have High or Low
Prices?

Shall We have High or Low
Prices?
Shall we hold or sell ? Is, especial
ly at this time, a pertinent question
with many of our farmers who have
cattle, hogs or grain for market.
Many have large or small lots OF
hogs, and but little corn. Their
stock Is in a thriving condition, and
if corn was as abundant as last year,
and worth only Is to 20 cts, they
would feed for month or two yet,
and proftably. But rise in corn
has been and is yet anticipated, in
consequence of the reported scarcity
in Europe. The situation is perplex-
ing, and opinions are various even
among those who ought to be good
Judges. From two Of the leading
agricultural papers in the West we
clip articles which will be interest
ing as bearing upon this subject, al
though they present views somewhat
conflicting:
AS the bad reports from the grain
producing districts Of Europe become
verified il Is clear that the scarcity in
many districts amounts to an actual
famine. The district Of Nicolaief in
Russia, usuallya an exporting country,
containing 100000 inhabitants, can
only find food for one-eighth Of that
number. Odessa and Taganrog, the
great wheat ports Of the Black Sea,
are entirely destitute Of wheat. In
Central Russia the crops were gener-
ally fair. In 1872 England received
from Russia 32,000,G00 bushels of
wheat. This year she can get next
to none.
France il importing instead of ex-
porting as usual. Belgium and Hol-
land will have to import heavily.
In the eastern parts Of Germany
there was good yield, but the wet
weather damaged it while it was be-
ing harvested. There Is large
deficiency in the Hungarian and
Danubian provinces. Spain has
bad harvest and the Government has
prohibited export of grain.
England will want, previous to
next harvest, nearly 100000, 900 bush.
els OF wheat. For It,, she looks
chiefly to the United States, but here
finds competitors, as France, Central
and Western Germany, Italy, Swift
zerand, Belgium, Holland, Southern
Russia, Hungary, will ali have to
import, Chilli and Australia are
looked to for II large supply.
With respects to the future pros
poets of the wheat trade, the London
Marx Lane Express says With
the certain prospect OF q vigorous
competitions, we see nothing in the
future to prevent prices from adj
vancing. - Western Rural.
Are not some being mlsled in ex-
pecting good prices for our farm
products?
During the bank panic the press
rightly maintained, that the West
was In good condition, because there
was little speculation, good grain
CIop anu u hoVAhV
have read this high prices.
Europe wants our breadstufis, but
her wants have been exaggerated, and
the masses there can live through
the year without our wheat, corn or
pork, and, will not our money tron-
bic be a powerful reason for their
making the price on what they
want?
That is, do not we want their mon
ey rs much as they want our grain?
aud are not the two sections thus
providentially equalized, so that our
prices must rule, much as though
Europe had n full crop and we had
plenty OF money? 1t looks as though
we had already seen the highest pri-
ces that will be paid for the crop Of
1875 and rs the people Of Europe
can see their way clear for food
through the winter to the time when
vegetables can be raised, their needs
will lessen, and as tardy payments
here increase the scarcity and want
OF money with Us, the tendency will
be decrease In prices.
/ believe the quicker we get to
market the more We will get.
| The quicker we pay up our debts
the more we will advance prices.
We ought to make the nimble ex-
change of one dollar cancel many dol
lars Of obligations each day, and thus
expand tile volume Of currency In
stead of paying it out tardily and
contracting II.
believe the best use we can make
Of money Is to pay our hpnpst and
most pressing debts!-ebr. Prarie
Farmer.