The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-05-09
The Growing Crops.

We take from the New York Times of |
Friday the Sd condensed statement of re-
ports from twenty nine different States and
one Territory, covering eleven columns of
fine print of that paper, giving Il condition
of the various growing crops. 1t will be
seen from this comprehensive review, that
the prospect is for the largest yield of wheat
and corn that has ever been realized in this
country, and that all the crops give equal
assurance Of great abundance. at first
glance this would argue reduced prices for
the standard cereals, but when we consider
the condition of Europe, there is ample reas-
on to believe that the growing crop will find
equally as remunerative prices as now rule.
There is but one country that can be regard
ed really az a competitor in the production
of wheat with the United States, and that is
Russia. The unsettled condition of the
agricultural interests there. by reason OF the
vast military preparations she has been COM
PEELED to make-the numbers she has had
actively in the field engaged in hostilities,
ard the reserves held in readiness for any
contingency OF war, have necessarily drawn
from agricultural pursuits much of the labor
heretofore directed to them. Instead of
producers they have become consumers, and
hence the surplus grain from that country has
been estopped from expectation, not only for
present purposes, but in anticipation of
much diminished crop for the coming bar
vest. 1t is 10. reasonable to calculate that
the over production of the United States will
be more than enoug to meet the diminished
production of Russia, while the promise in the
other grain growing countries is not greater
q than In seasons heretofore. 1t is reason
able to conclude, therefore, that the grow
ing wheat crop of this country will be re-
uuired to furnish the import demands of the
eastern world, and even if prices should re-
tnain at what they are, or rule at lower fig
ures, the return to the farmers Of America
must be immense.
IlA We take this view of the question from
peace standpoint. Should war be declared
between England and Russia, there is no
estimating how far-reaching its influence or
what nations it will implicate. The ques-
lions at issue between those governments
the European balance Of power-has been
the subject OF angry discussion for centuries,
and it has been to maintain an equilibrium
that the Turkish power has been preserved.
The treaties of 1856 and 1871 fixed the terms
upon which the great powers OF Europe
were satisfied to rest and the disturbance of
those conditions by the treaty of San Ste
fano, recently concluded between Russia
and Turkey, has caused England to demand
that the terms of that treaty be submitted
to Congress of the great powers to be dis
cussed and adjusted in the light Of the for
mer treaties. 1t is hardly to be supposed
that Russia, after the sacrifices that she has
made, will submit to this humiliation, and
surrender the rights she has acquired by
conquest and treaty at the dictation of an
unfriendly power. She has in very impera-
tive terms declared that she would not, and
England has with equal emphasis announced
that nothing else will satisfy her, and with
these conflicting views, the question OF peace
or war must be considered.
With hostilities actually commenced be-
tween these two great nations, their pro-
longation would be measured by endurance
and continued to exhaustion on one side or
the other, while the probabilities are that
continental war would follow, such as has
not shaken the dynasties of Europe since
the days of the First Napoleon.