Holding back wheat.
--The
Lynchburg (Va.) Republican, from information in its possession, fears that the supply of wheat, which is amply abundant in the country, is likely to be withheld from the
Government, for the purpose of forcing up prices.
It says:
‘
We heard of one farmer who refuses to sell at the prices offered by the
Government, because he expects wheat to go to ten dollars per bushel.
If there was any surely that this would be the case, or any reason to expect it upon the grounds of scarcity and a short supply, the desire to get the highest market price is but natural; but when, in face of the fact that a crop of wheat is made, ample for all the wants of the people and army, the refusal to sell does not seem to us to be conceived in the right spirit.
We learn that the
Government has given the
Commissary at this post orders to buy wheat from the farmers as quickly as possible, to be converted into flour, and if he can't buy to impress it forthwith.
Some farmers refuse either to sell at the prices given under schedule rates by the
Government — and when notified that it will be impressed, refuse to have it threshed out. But we are told that the power to impress wheat includes the power to use the necessary labor on the farm to get it ready for market.
We have heard of an instance in which one farmer threatened to throw his wheat into the river rather than have it impressed.
The impression is abroad that the
Government will raise the schedule price later in the season; and that those who sell now will get a lower rate than the less patriotic who are holding back.
This should be remedied by the
Government authorizing a notice that the schedule prices is the ultimatum.
There are some who are making arrangements to sell and some who have sold from motives that do honor to them.
They should not be made to suffer by being paid a less price than others who, from motives of gain alone, are holding back their supplies.
’
