Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1877 — Get Out of Debt. [ARTICLE]

Get Out of Debt.

Advices from nearly every State in the Union assure us of the excellent condition of the crops, and of favorable prospects for the future. The prices, too, for farm produce are, as a rule, considerably higher than during ordinary years, in which the harvest has been equally abundant. A large yield of cereals and other agricultural products has generally entailed low prices, in accordance with the inevitable fawß of supply and demand. The European war, however, is likely to prevent this customary effect during the present year. Of the supply of grain needed by Great Britain and other countries which do not raise enough for self-support, a large proportion has, in past years, been furnished by the South of Russia. The ports on the Black Sea, whence this was exported, are now blockaded by the Turkish fleet, and supplies from this source can no longer reach the customary markets. The demands on this country are sure, therefore, to be much larger than usual, and however abundant our crops, this cause will probably keep up prices until the close of the war. It would be highly unsafe, hovwrer, for farmers to speculate on a long continuance of this, ana consequently to hold back their produce in expectation of higher prices. The tendency of modem warfare is to a brief, vigorous campaign or two, and an early peace; and immediately on the cessation of the present hostilities the prices of our cereals are certain to fall. The only safe course, therefore, is to sell at once, at a fair figure, and leave to others the uncertainties and risks of speculation. By following this wise practice, there is a fair prospect that the financial pressure, under which our farmers have been lately groaning, will be lightened during the present season, and it is much to be hoped that the lesson in economy and thrift that necessity has, in the last few years, forced upon them, shall not be forgotten on the advent of better times. Above all things, the first use every man should make of returning prosperity is to get rid of indebtedness. It is the boast of the American farmer that his position is one of the most independent in the country, but this vaunt can never be truthfully uttered by those in debt. This is the modern form of the Old Man of the Bea which never allows rest or comfort to the wretch who trudges under its weight. Its pleasure, too, is soon likely to grow heavier, on account of the contraction of the currency certain to result from the approaching return to specie payments, and on this account alone, if on no other, prompt measures should be taken by every sensible man to clear off all forms o's indebtedness at the earliest possible moment.—Aural Neu> Yorker. The revised estimates of Genhan statisticians name the following cities, exelusive of New York, as having one, or more than one, million inhabitants: London, 3,480,428; Paris, 1,851,792; Constantinople, 1,075,000; Berlin, 1,045,000; Canton, 1,000,006; Vienna, 1.001,999; Seangt&n, Hhanchowfu and Singafu, in China, 1,000,000 each. It New York and surroundings be considered one city—as they virtually are—they will rank in size next after Paris. It Is calculated that/ abcut 86,000 men come into the City of London every morning for business purposes, and leave in the afternoon or evening.