The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-12-26
PRICES OF PROVISIONS.

1t is a matter OF surprise to houeekeeperf
who have moved hither from Eastern cities
: that the prices for all necessaries OF life arr
2 SO much higher here than they are there
In some cases the disparity in prices car
be accounted for, but in many Others they
, cannot. Such necessaries as vegetables,
for instance, there seems to be good cause
for the pris es here being higher because Of
the sterility OF the soil, which can only be
. rendered productive by expensive irriga.
tion. The same may also apply to grain
and flour, and yet even these can be pro
duced without irrigation at distances not
near SO far from Butte as the points from
which the supply OF these products are
shipped to New York, Philadelphia and
other large cities. For family consumption
rthey use principally four milled in Genesee
Valley, or patent -four from the mills at Min.
neapolis. To be sure we cannot, or at least
do not. have the same Touring mill facilities
here as they have at the former places,
hence, while we produce finer wheat, we can
not turn out rs good quality OF -four. The
vegetable gardens, made rich and prolific
with the most profuse manuring, are prin-
cipally close to the suburbs of Eastern
cities, hence their abundant products are
cheaply.and quickly transported to the mar
ket houses for sale. Fruits also are worth
more here because no attention of any con-
sequence has as yet been given to fruit cul-
ture. Fruit. therefore, must, for the pres
ent, be brought here from the Pacific slope
or Utah. This adds considerably to its
cost not only in freight, but the loss owing
to decay on the long journey; but as re-
CARDS such provisions as beef, butter, eggs.
chickens, turkeys, fish, game and various
other articles the same does not apply, be.
cause with the exception of poultry and
eggs, these can be raised or produced here
in greater abundance, finer qualities and at
less expense han in the East. Beef and |
mutton sold in the New York markets last |
week at the following reasonables figures:
A prime rib OF roast at Is cents a pound; |
a chuck rib, IL and IA cents; fatbone sir
loin, Is cents; porterhouse, 20 to rs cents;
A good leg OF beef 5 cents a pound; lamb, a
forequarter, z and 8 cents a pound; hind
quarter, IL and IL cents; a whole lamb
about 10 cents; a set of ribs, 16 cents.
Corned ham brings 10 cents; corned beef, IL
and Ia cents; plate and ~navals, 7 and 8
cents; pot roast, II and Is cents; chuck
steak, IL cents; liver, 8 cents.
How do these figures compare with the
prices in our markets? Are they not con-
siderably lower? The beeves and sheep
in, or for, New York markets
are largely bred and fattened upon the rich
bunch grass which grows so luxuriantly in
the valleys and on the mountain and hill
sides in our own Territory of Montana.
They are then transported 1900 miles by
rail and pass through three or four hands
before they ARE sla ughtered and dressed for
Each handt they pass through is re-
with a profit for handling. Not
wi~thstanding these additional expenses, beef
and mutton are sold in New York at a fair
profit.
Game and poultry also sells at lower
figures there than here, as will be seen by
The following:
Philadelphia roasting chickens are 12k
TO IA cents a pound. BroiIers, 81 a pair,
whils Long Island roasting chickens, 10 to
cents a pound. Ducklings, mongreI
lucks, goslings and geese, Is cents a pound.
5calded fowls IA to L. cents, and Bucks
turkeys IA and 16 cents a pound.
Ducks, 20 cents a pound.
Minnesota ~venison 20 cents a pound.
Quail 50 a dozen. Squads $3.50 a Dozen.
cartridges 81 a pair. Canvas-back ducks
50 to IS a pair; redheads, $1.75; mallards,
s1.25; teal, rs cents, and broad bills, rs
'ents a pair. New Jersey snipe $3.5Oa
lozen; grouse 81 q brace. Wild turkeys
IS cents a pound; ordinary turkeys 10
ents a pound. Eggs are reported scarce
here and bring 80 cents per dozen, and :
utter is worth 80 cents per pound. So
ar as poultry, eggs and butter are con-
erned it may be said that the higher prices
ere are owing to freights for transport
lg them from other sections, becausei
does not produce them in sufi-
lent quantities to supply the demand. It
hould be borne in mind that New York
larkets are largely supplied with these
rticles by Western States, therefore freight
pes not enter into the question. Land
'nvenient to the Eastern cities is worth
/ the way from 5000 to $4,000 per acre,
the latter sun will purchase a large
!nch convenient to Butte. =