Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-08-10
OLD TIMES AND NEW.

1t will be remembered by most Of
our gray-haired readers that prices of
farm produce were very low from
1925 to 1880. There was little mon
ey in the country, and that was main
ly kept out of general circulation
The following statement of the prices
of stock and produce, as well as the
rates of wages, is believed TO be be-
low rather than above the general
average.
In the spring of each of these years,
good working oxen, from four to six
years old, were sold from forty-fve to
fifty-fve dollars pair; if they were
older, forty dollars was considered
large price. The same cattle would
have sold in the spring of 1869 for
from 5000 to $3.50 pair.
AT the same time, cows of the best
quality were worth about eighteen
dollars, while ordinary animals bro't
from twelve to fourteen and, taking
them together, the native cows were
quite as good as the same grade of
cows now. In the fall, the same quail.
ity werc sold for eight and ten dol
lars. In 1869, these cows would
have sold in the spring for sixty and
seventy dollars, and in the fall for at
least fif(y-nearly five times as much
now as then.
Good ox-beef sold in the fall Of 1929
for three dollars and twenty-five cents
hundred, dressed, and common COW
or small steer beef for two and q half
and three dollars. The same ami.
mails now would have sold respective
ly for fourteen and say ten dollars.
Calves in the spring of these years,
could be bought for two and two
and half dollars a head, and at
the heighth of the season veal sold for
two cents pound for the fore, and
three for the hind quarters. Calls skins
were then but six cents a pound.
Lambs would weigh alive fifty lbs,
and from that up TO seventy, were
sold by the season for one dollar a
head.
Butter, the very best, went TO fam.
lilies for a New England shilling h.,
and in June, when feed was flush, it
brought ten to twelve cents. Cheese,
in 1929, sold for five cents a pound );
pork, at the same figures; and eggs
not far from ten cents a dozen.
Potatoes sold for twelve and q half
cents bushel corn, at fifty cents;
oats, not over twenty-five; cider at
the mill, about fifty cents a barrel ;;
and good winter apples at twenty-five
cents a bushel
On the other hand, good help was
hired for six, seven, and eight dollars
a month and board-men who would
do a quarter more work than those
who ask and get twenty-five and
twenty-five dollars and board now
The day began at sunrise, and lasted
till sundown and generally the cows
were MIXED before sunrise at that
Good women to do Homework
could then be hired for fifty cents n
week-girls that would do as much
in one day as at least three wish to
do now, besides being trusty and hon |
est. Lady school teachers, well cdu.
Gated, taught during the summer for
the same price, and men teachers in
the winter at from five to six dollars
n month for beginning, and from eight
to twelve dollars thereafter, and not
unfrequently they had from seventy.
five to eighty scholars each and, in |
addition to instruction given in the
various branches then taught, they |
not unfrcquently ruled the home. made |
writing books, and always made the
goose-quill pen, beside setting the
copies, that numbered sometimes fifly
each day.-Hearth and Home