Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-02-18
Old Times and New.

It will be remembered by most of our
gray-haircd readers that the prices of farm
produce were very low from 1925 to 1880.
There was little money in the country, and
that was mainly kept out of circulation.
The following statement of the prices of
stock and produce, as well as the rates of
wages, is believed to be below rathcr than
above the general average. In the spring
OF each of those years, good working oxen
from four to six years old were sold from
forty-ive to fifty dollars pair; if they
were older it was considered q large price.
The same cattle would have sold in the
spring of 1869 for from two hundred to two
hundred and fifty dollars pair. At the
same time, cows of the best quality were
worth about eighteen dollars, while ordi-
nary animals brought from twelve to six
teen 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 sold for eight and ten dollars. III
the spring of 1869, these cows would have
sold for sixty and seventy dollars, and in
the fall for tifty-nearly five times as much
now as then. Good OK beef sold in the fall
of 1929 for three dollars and twenty-five
cents a hundred dressed and common COW
or small steer beef for two and half and
three dollars. The same ANIMALS would
have sold respectively for say twelve and
fourteen dollars. Calves in the spring, in
these years, could be bought for two and
two and half dollars head, and at the
hight of the season veal sold for two cents
q pound for fore and three for hind quar-
ters. Calf skins were then but six cents r
pound. Lambs that would weigh alive
fifty pounds, and from that up TO seventy,
were sold by the season at one dollar q
head. Butter the very best, went TO fani-
lies for New England shilling a pound,
and in June, when feed was ilush, it
brought from ten to twelve cents q pound.
Cheese, in 1920, sold for five cents pound;
pork Ut the same figures and eggs not far
from ten cents dozen. Potatoes sold at
twelye and half cents n bushel corn, 1T
fifty cents; oats, not over twenty-five !
cider at the mill, about fifty cents barrel;
and good winter apples, al twenty-five GEMS
q bushel.
On the other hand, good help was hired
for six, seven, or eight dollars month and
bOard--mcn who would do 4 quarter more
work than those who ask and get twenty
| two and twenty-five and board now. The
day began then at sunrise and lasted till
sundown, and generally the cows were
MIXED before sunrise mt that. Good wo-
men to do housework could then be hired
for fifty cents week-girls that would dc
more in one day than three would wish tc
do now, besides being trusted and honest
Lady school teachers, well educated, taught
during the summer for the same price, and
men teachers during the winter at from five
to six dollars a month for beginners, and
from eight to twelve dollars thereafter, anc
not unircquently had from seyentytiye t(
eighty scholars each; and in addition tC
instruction given in the various branches
then taught, they not unfrequently ruled
the homemade writing books, and alway;
made the goose quill pens, be9ides setting
the copies, that numbered sometimes fifty
each day.-MerchdRtS' Journal.