1854.

SECONDARY CAUSES 0E DISTRESS.

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and most useful of all pursuits   agriculture, and to throng the cities with a superabundant population, while millions of acres are lying idle in the ".Great West," offering to man wealth, happiness and abundance of all that he may need. For this reason it is that each year's consumption nearly exhausts the granaries of the country. One season of dearth and scarcity brings us to the ver  e of famine, while in the West alone, there are millions of acres of rich laud uncultivated, which, if only partially tilled, would produce a superabundance each year for the whole population, if men would only chose to remain "tillers of the soil," instead of becoming "hangers on " in cities. Even of the foreign emigrants, many, who at home were agriculturists, are encouraged to remain in cities, and take up occupations that are far less profitable.

The distress caused directly by the scarcity of provisions, was in mid-summer increased by sickness, which no doubt arose indirectly from tbe same cause, through the unhealthiness of provisions. Even the rivers, being drained to their dregs, failed to furnish their usual healthy draughts. During the latter part of the summer, the cholera, which seems of late years to have lost much of its epidemic character in tbe West, and seems to be becoming a regular visitant among men, made its appearance iu many cities, and raged with unusual virulence. In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which had never before been visited by that scourge, beyond the appearance of a few isolated cases, about a thousand persons died in the course of five weeks. Bowel complaints and mild forms of cholera morbus were so prevalent every where, that comparatively few escaped them. In the southern portion of the West, the yellow fever raged. Altogether, many families were broken up aud mauy dear hopes shattered by the hand of the "fell destroyer."

It is pleasing to reflect, that amid the distress caused by all these adverse circumstances, gentle charity did not fail in her kind ministrations to tbe wants of tbe needy. In some cities of the West, in the fall and winter, there were "Howard Associations" or charitable societies formed, for the relief of the distressed, and " soup-houses" were established, at which, through contributions of the wealthy, the poor were furnished with food and bread, and thus, no doubt, much suffering was alleviated, and many probably saved from starvation.

There were also other sad accidents, which did their share toward increasing the general gloom.   There were throughout the country in this year, one hundred and ninety-three railroad accidents, killing one hundred and eighty-six persons, and wounding 64