Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-10-06
Make Haste Slowly.
from the Providence journal. |

1t is well understood that there is III
Europe deficiency in the wheat crop
that this deficiency occurs in some of the
exporting countries, as in those which are
regularly importing ones. The statsti-
clans have placed the absolute deficiency
OF the world, after deducting the surplus
of those countries, including our own,
which have wheat to sell, at, say, sixty
two millions of bushels. Whether the cal
culation is strictly accurate or not, that
England, France and the continent are
sending us a good deal of goldupon some
such basis is evident. The Chicago esti-
mate of the production of the UnitedStates
is four hundred and forty-three millions Of
bushels; our requirement for food and
seed, is, say, two hundred and seventy
millions of bushels. We can export
therefore, one hundred and seventy mil
lions Of bushels, more or less. But if the
price in Europe should be materially adj
vanced there would follow the usual con-
sequence of less consumption. On the
other hand, if there is any such absolute
deficiency as is stated, we shall be very
likely to find demand for all we have to
spare, and it England cannot afford to
buy -four, we shall send her the more
corn; nor is it by any means an important
consideration that our corn crop is likely
to be a large one. The use of meal is
growing more and more into favor here,
as ii is abroad from motives OF economy,
and in Difference to fashion, the use of
meal in the winter quite materially affects
the amount of flour consumed. This sup
fermentation will help in two ways: it
will tend to keep down the price of -four
at home, and will enableus to send abroad
larger quantity than we otherwise
could.
All the staple agricultural productions of
the United States are this year an average
or more than average crop. The land is
full of good material. The farmer will re-
ceive a fair price for whatever he sells !;
the consumer ought not to pay high
price. The spectators may win or lose,
yet not a bushel of grain less will there
be. All this is simply saying that the
country is founded upon the necessary
basis of cheap and plenty Of food, in the
moment of its reviving industries; that
the cause Of the revival is, continued.
the surest guaranty of its permanence.-
Broadly speaking, everybody is at work {;
the demand for labor is increasing, the
only drawback, or at least the greatest,
being the insecurity occasioRed and be-
tokened by the action of the Trades
Unions. Upon general principles, and
assuredly for the present it is absolutely
necessary that there should be no material
advance, either in the cost of food, or in
the price of labor With all the promis-
ing appearances, all the hopefulness en-
tertained, all the real and Legitimate i'm
provement, there is no excuse for sudden
raising Of prices. There may indeed be
here and there staple article in made
quate supply, but a serious advance in the
price OF these, to any great extent, only
operates to delay enterprise. Never in
the history of the country were the bulk
of the people more inclined to 90 "slow
and sure than now.
Iron and iron products have been re-
Gently imported, but we have the facilitie,
for making all the iron, iron rails and stee
that we need; print goods went up fo
awhile, but the demand did not sustain til,
advance; corner in wheat would prob
ably prove a failure, and there is to bt
cheese enough at fair price despite thu
recent furry. On the whole, while spe
eiiie eases either in the price of goods, OF
la that Of labor, may be left TO settle them.
selves equitably. the lesson which is to be