The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-07-29


SgThe practical question Of neces.
sary living expenses is properly occupy
ing the attention Of our theorists, and
probably very many more practical cx-
perimenters Tho prices Of many it not
most articles of clothing. groceries, rents
and other staples of household expendi.
ture have greatly declined within the last
five years. And yet. in spite of the gen.
eral decline in prices, most people find
their expenses just about the same as five
years ago, while the money to get them
with is more difficult to obtain. And
their surplus energies arc expended is
grumbling at the hard times. Wherein
lies the difficulty? Is the reduction of
prices only apparent Or have our
people become more extravagant in style
Of living2 We must conclude that there
is decline in prices, though it may not
be so great as it appears upon the face of
the question. A New York daily has
prepared comparative statement from
which We condensc the following
AS to dry goods, the wholesale prices
Of cotton goods have declined from % to
80 per cent. since 1878, and woolens
from 80 to SO l.3 per cent Retail prices
have not fallen 10 quite the same proper
ton, except in special instances. 10 cheap
domestic goods there has been decline
Of % to 80 per cent, and about the same
decline 10 the prices of ready made cloth
ing. The reduction on custom. made fine
furniture has been 25 per cent, and on
ordinary furniture Is per cent, In car.
pets there has been reduction of 25 per
cent. on high grades and 90 per cent. on
low, and in all manufactured house.fur.
nishing articles there has been great
decline, and foreign goods are being grad.
ually forced out Of the market by superb.
or and cheaper American articles
10 groceries and provisions. all goods
with the exception of the hog products
beef and cofees, are believed on an aver
age to be 25 to 30 per cent. cheaper thar
in 1873. Sugars, however, are SIX pei
cent. higher now than then. Energetic
cash dealers have all reduced their prices
and ara trading on small margins, bu
the credit merchants have not reduced
prices in the same proportion as the
wholesalers. Teas are 80 per cent lower
than they were. prices for japan ranging
for 80 cents to s120 in 1873, aud from
60 to so cents in 1876, and the prices o.
green and Oolong from so cents to 81 il
1878 and from 80 to so cents in 1876
Flour. which in 1873 ranged from $685.
to Sl2, ranges now from $3.50 to $40
la tho varions meats and fish there ha
been but little change, though the gener
al tendency has been toward slight de
cline 10 poultry, butter and cheese Their
has been marked fall. but eggs ar
} higher than 10 1878.
So much for the latitude Of New York
The decline upon most of these article
has been equally great here as in tn
city. Upon others it has not been S
great. Butchers products, for instance
are scarcely less than three years ago.
But these cases are exceptions to tn
: general rule when We consider only tn
, cash system of payment We may I'm
J modification Of the rule when VIC com
under the credit system A tradesma
who has to buy Tor cash and sell on credit
. taking tho incidental risk, which is nc
very light these days, must have wide
margin OF profits than one who sells onl
for cash But while part of the troubl
may he chargesble to this cause, it is nc
: wholly 70, certainly. There is anothe
and more important element to be consid
o cred. The CONSUMER is mostly respons
i BILE Tor the difficulty under which he Ia
}. bon We are not az, Ia become NOR
I simple il our tactics The revolutio
ia oIes wants lie Ike all other revolutions