Year: 1877

1

 arms between the powers of Europe may seem so foreign to our readers, that they may not at first thought realize the bearing that it must in evitably have upon the industrial and commercial interests of our country. As fair review of the bearing which this struggle in the East will have upon American trade and industry, and as matter which l it would be well for our readers consider just at this time, before they have fully completed the plant ing of thelr crops, we give the fol lowing view of the situation from the New York Sun. We consider it a reasonable and far estimate of the bearing which the foreign war will have upon American interests, and as there will be great advantages to be gained by prudent management on the part of the food and grain producing classes of our people, so as to reap the benefit of the new de mands which will spring from the disturbed state of labor in Europe, they should be quick to use the ad- vantages pretended:

 Though our commercial relations with the two beligerents are compar atively insignificant, the clash of arms in the East cannot but have an immediate and considerable bearing upon American commerce. Of late years Russia and Turkey and her aDpanages, have furnished England and the principally Eng land-with an average yearly supply of grain, amounting in the aggregate to about 45,000,000 bushels. This supply will not only be cut off, but the two belligerents, with probably together not less than million and half of men in the field to feed, will be constantly in the market as buyers of grain and provisions.

 Any grain deficiency in Europe, arising from war or other causes, must be substantially supplied from l the United States. Owing to per fected system of cheap rail and water transportation from the grain growing districts of the west to the Atlantic seaboard, American grain has of late years steadily crowded Russian cereals from British mar kets. In the present instance no other grain growing country can successfully compete with us in sup plying an extraordinary demand for breadstuffs for military consumption. This enlarged export of grain and provisions promises more money to our agricultural classes, increased activity to railroad business, and a probable revival to some other branches of industry.

 The sending abroad of dressed meat and live stock, which has grown so rapidly during the last eighteen months, will be increased by the l Russian Turkish war As yet there is no demand for American fresh beef upon tie Continent, but it is understood that several spectators are now abroad with the intention of introducing it: and we have heard that the German steamers will soon be fitted up with refrigerators for the export of fresh beef the same as the English steamers now are. The exportation of beef first commenced in October, 1875, with shipment of 36,000 pounds from this port, which had increased 10 6,262,35 pounds (valued at S5l7,762) in March last. The consumption of American beef in England has surprised the most sanguine slippers on this side. Within the last forty eight hours the largest shipper of fresh beef in this town has received telegram from well-known and responsible English house offering to take all his shipments at slxpence per pound Ia little over twelve cents land down in Liverpool. War and war rumors have increased England's needs in this direction. The exportation of fresh meat from this country is like ly soon to become great feature of : cur international trade.

 , But while war will probably in , crease our sales of food products. 1t

 will to very nearly the same extent check the consumption of cotton, petroleum, and other raw materials,

 for which Europe looks chiefly to us. 5 At the same time the existing pros } tration of trade abroad must be 3 greatly augmented by the closing oi } European markets, and large lines of certain descriptions of manufac-

 tured goods must be shipped to this ' country and sold for the most they 5 will bring. American markets will