The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-15
EFFECT OF THE WAR ON THE SOUTH.

The rapid advance in the price of
breadstuffs caused by the opening Of
the war In the East has been checked.
Indeed there has been q slight decline,
and. unless the war shall become gem
eral, there is not much reason for us to
apprehend. as we did at first. that our
farmers and planters will be called
upon to pay famine prices for their corn
and meat. This is more favorable
view Of the subject for the South and q
less flatteripg one for the great food
producing regions of the North and
West; and, II 1t DO correct, the spirit OF
speculation which sprung up with such
vigor ut the first news of threatened
hostilities between Turkey and Russia
will be tanned and repressed. Upon the
whole we think this would be better for
the whole country.
The Railroad Gazette has taken the
most intelligent view of this question
that we have seen yet, and cautions the
grain growers and spectators not to ex-
poet too much from the effect Of the
war on the demand for American grain.
Referring to and quoting from the Rail
road Gdsette's article the New York
Times says:
Even IL the entire product of the South Rus
| sian. Roumanian and Turkish grain fields were
entirely cut off from the markets Of Western Eu-
rope-a contingency utterly impossbie-and il
the United States were called upon to supply the
deficiency thus created, the probable advance in
prices caused by increased demand has been al
Ill ,inI
sette now points out that the field referred to,
though their natural outlet by the Black Sea may
be closed, can, to great extent, secure another
outlet to the north and west by the ports Of the
| Baltic. At the time of the Crimean war this was
| not the case. When the English navy blockaded
| the Russian ports, it practically shut up
| the Russian grain. But now the country to the
north Of the Black Sea il penetrated by railroads,
| which usually and naturally carry the grain OF
| that country southwark toward Odessa and neigh
boring ports but which also connect with rail-
way system extending in the opposite direction
toward the Baltic ports. Under ordinary condi-
| tons the grain within 200 to 400 miles OF the
Black Sea seeks Liverpool by a route comprising
sea carriage. Ii it were turned northward
and westward, 1t could arrive at the same point
| by route made up of from 400 to HOO miles of
rail and only 1000 to 1900 miles OF sea. The latter
route is more expensive. but it is shorter and its
use is an obvious limitation on the advance in the
| price CT grain. In the same way the Roumanian
grain can, if the price warrants it. be sent up the
Danube instead Of down, and seek market over
the Austrian railway system. These facts warrant
| the Gazette In saying that, unless the war be-
comes general, we must not expect to get famine
prices for grain and corresponding rates for
carrying it,"
| The Gazette's observations are based
upon the supposition that the war will
be localized. But our farmers and
planters, who may be most disastrously
affected by heavy advances in corn and
meat, must bear in mind that the pro-
liabilities are that nearly the whole of
Europe will become involved in the con-
flict, and that in that event the famine
prices will be reached. Our farmers