December, 1873. December, 1872. 



New Jersey 1 62 cents. 62 cents. 



Pennsylvania 60 " 60 " 



Ohio 42 " 34 " 



Indiana 40 " 29 " 



Illinois 32 " 24 " 



Iowa 31 " 18 " 



Nebraska 28 " 18 " 



Jn New Jersey and Pennsylvania tliere lias been no increase. The 

 difference is greatest in Iowa and Nebraska, the advance being 72 per 

 cent, in Iowa, 55 in Nebraska, 33 in Illinois, 37 in Indiana, and 20 in 

 Ohio. The greatest glut of last year's crop was in Iowa, the more east- 

 ern States having a larger jDroportion of farm stock to feed and fatten. 

 In New York the average price of home-grown corn is the same as last 

 year, and about the same in the New England States ; in some of them 

 even lower this year. The New York City prices of western corn were 

 in January last 65 to 66 cents ; this season 78 to 85. It should not be for- 

 gotten that the prices given in the Atlantic States are those for home- 

 grown corn, which commands higher prices than that brought from the 

 West. In the northwest where the quantity grown is only equal to the 

 requirements for home consumption, the price is little higher than last 

 year ; in Wisconsin 44: against 40 last year ; Minnesota 41 against 36 

 last year. In Texas the advance is from 43 to 80 cents ; in Tennessee 

 and Arkansas the increase is material, but in the other States of the 

 South the difference is comparatively slight. 



The shipments of corn being almost inappreciable portions of the 

 crop in nine counties out of every ten, the home prices of different coun- 

 ties, especiallj^ in all Western States, vary greatly with the variations in 

 home demand and supply. In Pope and Pulaski, Illinois, the price re- 

 turned is 50 cents ; in Mason and La Salle but 22 cents ; in Kankakee 

 and Jersey, 25 cents; in Putnam and Ford, 28; most of the others 

 ranging between 30 and 45. Of 55 counties reporting in Illinois, 31 

 return above 30 cents per bushel. 



A similar range is observed in Iowa — Adams, Union, and Fremont, re- 

 porting 20 cents ; Allamakee, Emmett, Plymouth, and Winnesheik, 

 50 cents ; Dubuque and Chickasaw, 45 ; Buenavista, Calhoun, Craw- 

 ford, Clayton, Clinton, Fayette, Jackson, Humboldt and Woodbury, 40. 



The influence of prominent towns on prices of corn suggests the 

 advantages of local bodies of consumers in the heart of the producing 

 region, and offers a hint toward the problem of better remuneration, 

 which no increase of transportation facilities can equal in promised 

 efficacy. Comparing the prices from Ohio to Nebraska, they are found 

 lowest where the smallest proportion of the jjopulation are engaged in 

 industries outside of agriculture. The rapid increase of mechanical, 

 manufacturing, and mining industry in the Ohio basin, illustrates the 

 feasibility of a more equal distribution of producers and consumers. 

 It is well known that the amount of corn shipped from this basin is an 

 insignihcant jiroportiou of what is produced within it. Allowing the 

 prominent town to represent its county, as better known to those out- 

 side of the State, we have the price of corn in Dubuque, Iowa, 45 cents, 

 40 in Clinton, 41 in Davenport, Des Moines 35 cents, an average above 

 40, and very little lower than the average for Ohio, and more than 25 

 per cent, above the general average for the State. Nebraska has in 

 former years obtained higher prices than Iowa, not only by the reason 

 of the demand from immigrants before they have made a crop, but 

 from the demand from the Territories beyond. 



