National Republican., 1883-01-12
sExtra No. ..

For our present purpose it has been sought
to Compare the prices of December 81, 1851,
with those Of the same date ut the close OF
1882. In flour and grain the decrease in price
ranges from 20 to 40 per cent, and averages
about 81, estimating on the basis of one unit
of value of each. In pork and pork products
tho range is from gain of 90 per cent. on
bacon shoulders to n decline of 65 per cent. on
lard making net average gain oil about per
cent. on the ten articles named in this list.
On sugar and molasses there has been de-
cline Of 81 per cent; on seeds, per cent; ON
coffee, 1lb per cent; on hay, 23l per cent; on
potatoes, 16 per cent, &c.
Out of the entire fifty articles it will be
observed that in thirty three of them there
has been a decline; in eight an advance, and
in seven no change. To make this more
clearly understood let it be supposed that the
quantity of each of the fifty articles that
could be purchased with $1,000, or in other
words, by investment of $4,000 in these com
mOdities on Dec. 81, 1881, had been bought at
the market price on Dec. 81, 1882, and it
would be found that in thirty-three articles
the saving would have been S574o, or 10 20
per cent. lower prices; on eight articles the
gain would have been S615 or "a per cent.
higher prices, and on seven articles no change
of value. The average decline estimated ON
this basis, therefore, has been 10 IL per cent.
How far this enters into the economy of
the household must be determined by fur
ther examination. In the items of Hour,
sugar. coffee, potatoes, muslins, and prints
there has been u decline. On meats and
butter substantially no change, while cheese,
eggs petroleum, &C., show slight advance.
Taken altogether 1t may be estimated that
two thirds of the 10 per cent. decline in prices
attach TO the commodities that rank as every
| day necessities, aud hence affect everybody.
This being the case, the supplies that re-
| quired 81 .06h to buy one year ago can now be
bought for 81, and thus the economy of the
decline becomes equivalent to an advance of
| 90 per cent. in the wages OF every laboring
man or woman who supports family.
In the article of hay it Will be noticed that
the present price is lower than ut any previ-
| Gus time for three years. and SO also wheat
| The steady continuing of the prices of hogs
and these products is due to the short crop
in the meat producing regions of the great
west, the statistics of the summer packing
season in Chicago showing 33 per cent less
hogs slaughtered from March l to Nov. l.
! 1882, than for the same period of the previous
year. The decline of the price of grain will
stimulate the farmers of the west to fatten for
the market every hog that will bear feeding.
rs well as great effort to replace the herds
that were sacrificed by the short feed Of last
| winter.
As it is the situation is most favorable for
| the great agricultural districts of the country,
which, rejoicing in good crops, sees every one
| return u handsome income to the producer,
while TO the provision buyer the moderation
in prices is such as to be plainly perceptible
and favorably affect his comfort and the mar
| gin of savings.