The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-06-18
Old Times and New.

1t will be remembered by the most of the
gray-haired readers of Hearth and Home
that prices of farm produce were very low
from 1926 to 1880. There was little money
in the country, and that was mainly kept
out Of general circulation. The following
statement Of the prices of stock and pro
duce, as we'll as the rates of wages, is be-
lieved to be below 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 for from forty-five to fifty
five dollars pair; if they were older, forty
dollars was considered a 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 brought from twelve
to sixteen, and, taking them together, the
native COWS then were quite as good as
the same grade of COWS now. In the fall,
the same quality were sold for eight and
ten dollars. In 1860, these COWS would
have sold in the spring for sixty and seventy
dollars, and in the fall for at least fifty
nearly five times as much now as then.
Good ox-beef sold in the fall of 1929 for
three dollars and twenty-five cents hun
dred, dressed, and common cow or small
steer beef for two and half and three dol
lars. The same animals now would have
sold respectively for fourteen and say ten
dollars.
Calves in the spring, in these years.
could be bought for two and two and a
half dollars head, and at the height of
the season veal sold at two cents pound
for the fore, and three for the hind quar-
tiers. Calf-skins were then but six cents a
pound.
Lambs that would weigh alive fifty
pounds, and from that up to seventy, were
sold by the season for one dollar head.
Butter, the very best, went to families
for New England shilling pound, and in
June, when feed was flush, it brought ten
to twelve cents. Cheese, in 1929, sold for
five cents pound; pork, at the same
figures; and eggs not far from ten cents
dozen.
Potatoes sold at twelve anda half cents a
bushel; corn, at fifty cents; oats, not over
twenty-five cents; cider, at the1nill, about
fifty cents barrel; and good winter ap-
pies 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 then at sun
rise, and lasted till shutdown, and generally
the COWS were MIXED before sunrise at
that.
Good women to do house work could
then be hired for fifty cents week-girls
that would do as much in one day as at
least three wish to do now, beside being
trusty and honest. Lady school-teachers,
well educated, taught during the summer
for the same price, and men teachers in
the winter at from five to six dollars a
month fer beginners, and from eight to
twelve dollars thereafter, and not unfre-
quently they had from seventy-five to
eighty scholars each; and, in addition to
to instruction given in the various branches
then taught, they not unfrequently ruled
the homemade writing-books, and always
made the goose-quill pens, beside setting
the copies, that numbered sometimes fifty
each day.-iIearth and Home.