Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-12
WAR NEWSON THE STREET
OPINIONS OF BUSINESS MEN ON
THE FOREIGN QUESTION.

Discussing the Probabilities of War
and its Effects Upon Trade-Excite-
ment in tho MArkets-A General Ad-
vance in Stocks and Grain and the
Feeling Buoyant-The Price of Wheat
Forces up with a Jump and Com
modities Rising.
The war news from the Afghan from
tier. which threw the markets into a state
of angry excitement on Thursday. had
more of an assuring effect yesterday.
The ultimate results of an Anglo-Russian
war and its probable effects upon this
country are questions which for the past
two days have engaged the attention of
business men everywhere.
There is a diversity of opinion in
regard to the final outcome of the
conflict. While some believe war
between the two great powers would
prove Of immense benefit TO the United
States, others, and by no means a small
proportion, are OF the opinion that such a
war and the disastrous effects which it
certainly would have upon the business
interests OF the South, and especially
upon the cotton growing section, would
prove Of little benefit to the country at
large, because the evil effects it would
have here would else, to a great extent,
the benefits which the North, East
and West would derive. All are
a2reed, however, on the point
that the grain producing States
would be greatly profted, and that the
thing for South TN planners to do is to put
in large crops of corn instead of strainlng
their credit to plant an increased
acreage of cotton. This Opin-
ion, it is believed, is shared by
all business men without exception.
A few firm believers in the feecy staple,
and cear-headed men, too, assert that in
the end cotton will pay better than grain,
as IN the event OF war India would be the
base Of operations, and as she is the most
formidable rival of the United States in
the production of the staple, her product
will be curtailed and this country will he
ca led upon to supply the world. This
opinion is not, however, by any means
general.
A leading dealer on Change said last
nj ht: "Unthinking people do no. see the
reactiOnary influences " hich VIII follow
the boom that the markets of the world
viii have, or Of the direct effects of
a war. 1t is true that grain and provi-
siOns have advanced. 1t is true, also,
that this advance VIII benefit those who
are fortunate in having supplies on hand,
but when this supply is eXn listed, prices
still being maintained, there is no profit
in the succeeding crop, because its pro-
duction Is al a cost that will curtail the
profit that eXisted in the present crop,
produced under different circumstances
when prices were lower, labor was
cheaper ard the cost Of PRODUCTION was not
SO great. The reactionary effects, l be-
leYe, will in measure offset any benefits
that the country may derive"
few still hold that the engagement
between the Russians and Afshaus viii
not involve En- land and Russia pendine
the settlement Of the boundary negotIa-
ti0ns, and that the engag cement was acct
dental rather than the result of encOur-
agement from St Petersburg. Men who
hold this belief have less decided opinions
in regard to the effects of the war on this
country either as IA benefit or a detriment.
IT the expressions on the street Yester-
day are TO be taken as indications of the
general 5, ntiment OF the business public,
there will be no tears shed in Savannah
over war between the two pow
ers. OF course, public opinion is
largely with England; but there
are many who predict her defeat
on account of complications with
other countries. Now and then
man was heard to declare yesterday that
ne hoped, in the event of war, that Rus
STA would WIN.
The provision market, while the first
spasm IS over, is still excited. Another
advance in -four tooN place yesterday, and
wheat advaaced 21sc.