The Russellville Democrat., 1879-10-30
Rock Bottom Prices.
RussELLvILLE. Oct. 2S, ls'

hISSELJNll> ll>i<E. oGb. 70, To rs
 What do we understand by these terms? And when are goods on rock l bottom? We often hear this expres sion used--that goods are selling at rt .k bottom prices. Ever since the war closed goods of all descriptions have been going down in price, and it was generally thought 1 that when we reached a specie basis, that that would be a point wnere prices would remain permanent. But not so. Down they went still l lower, until it was thought they had reached rock bottom-especially all classes of iron goods, We under stand this term Rock Bottom to mean that goods cannot be manufac tured for anything less, and pay ex. penses. But still the pressure of | iron goods was downward, until it seemed as though prices had sunk even into bed rock. And nail manu facturies were actually running I3to debt whenever they put out keg of 105 for $2.l0. This caused them to cut down the wages of their work men until they could not clothc and l feed their families. This caused strikes among the laboring men and mechanics. And for the last IS months there has been a continual warfare going on between the manu facturies and the laboring men. Pig iron had gone down to the extreme low price of SIS per ton. The iron producers cease to produce; Nall mills and rolling mills were running on half time; stocks become broken up and reduced, until manufacturers determined with ah iron will to put prices up to remuneratiVe point. The time has passed and gone, in winch hardware of all descriptions will be sold at as low figures as it has for the last two years. Pig Iron has advanced from SIS to S30, per ton, and all goods that is made from it has felt the effect, and has been ad vancing more rapidly for the last 50 days than they ever declined. Strikes have ceased, and the mani facturcrs' wheels are all in motion. Business in the large cities is boom ing; and we predict the beginning of better times for both producer and consumer, than there has been for long time.
 But the people have been so long in the habit of buying CHEAPER goods every time they came to town, that it seems terribly hard now to have to pay higher prices every time they come. But this is the case, and the end is not yet. Prices will still ad- vance. Stoves have gone up ten per cent. and will go up per cent. high CT in less than 90 days. Consuniers will come into my store and enquire if stoves are getting any cheaper. When l tell them they arc getting
  higher every day, they give a know inc toss of the head, as much as to say ''you cant stuff that down my neck" and will even expose thelr ignorance by saying that is a put up job among the merchants to get a higher price for their goods-just as If the retail man could govern the | prices of all the manufactures Tn the 1 world. file must not go tip on his pricss even if the manu(acturies ad vance on him every forty eight | hours" Parties who are holding of | from buying iron goods, such as stoves, nails, hardware of any de,- i cription thinking that they will be cheaper in short time, will be most sadly disappointed. For higher prices will be seen, before lower ones will be heard of,
 Sirce commencing to write thls ! article the advance of5 per cent. on stoves has come. This is how l5 l per cent. advance in less than 60 days, | and good chance for still further advance.
 A hint to thc wise is sufficient.
 NJ. B. RoYs.