The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1890-05-02

The following facts and figures on
one of the most vital subjects of the
day-the farmers condition-were or.
iginally compiled by the Ft. Dodge,
Iowa, Messenger, and have been some
what condensed by the Pioneer Press
They are worthy the most careful con-
sideration of all classes. and especially
of the farmers, who have been led to
believe that their condition has been
growing steadily worse. We make no
apology for giving this statement
space to the exclusion of editorial
matter today.
st. Paul Pioneer Press: 1t is a care
full and painstaking study of the COM
parative prices of what the farmer
has to buy; and it is more valuable
than the same statistics would be If col
lected in one of the great distributing
centers because these are the prices that
the farmer actually pays to the retail
er for what he considered to him the
ns cessaries of life. The figures pre-
sente'i go far to establish the conten-
tion that, where the farmer has suffer
ed from the fall of prices OF aglicul-
tural products, he has gained in equal
or greater measure by the fall of
prices of everything else.
The Messenger has obtained from
f1,o >E Md a.
of prices OF all staple commodities in
1880. and the corresponding figures for
today. The year 1886 was selected SO
as to make the comparison Il recent
one, slu TO inquire If the late tall III
grain prices had not been matched bv
other reductions within the same per-
iod We have room for but few of
the fac,s S set forth i'll its elaborate Ia
bles, but they will be found full of in
struc1lon. Taking farm implements
first, which are among the most costly
amt most necessary of the things the
farmer has 10 purchase, the price OF
self hinael has been reuuced from SS315
to 1920; a curp planter from $50 10 $40;
q culivator from $45 to $25: Woud
pump from SIS to $6; a farm wagon
from SS5 to 500, and two seated
spring wagon from 300 to $75. The
complete list of farm implements SLOWS
an avera ge fall In prices of from 33 to
| 60 per cent since 1880, While the mach
ines are far better made, and far more
ingenionsiy adapted to the work they
are to do. ID 1880 the price of barb
wire, SO essential to the cultivators of
| the prairie farm, was 10 cents a pound
now it is cents; then iron nails were
Sc per keg, while today the vastly sup
erlor steel nail is but 50 80; plow steel
h"s fallen from 1879 to 8119 cents per
pound; the cook stove that cost $33
can Re bought far $24; window glass
is 25 per cent lower. milk pans have
gone from $225 to ST. per dozen, and
there is a constant reduction in the
whole list of household hardware,
which, ranges from 25 to 6Oor 20 per
cent. Everybody Knows of the decline
in groceries. In spite of the trusts
sugar has fallen from 1219 to cents
FOR granniated, and kerosene from 25
to 13 cents per gallon; salt from So 25
to 81 25 per barrel; flour from 81 80 to
50 so per ewt; coffee remains station
ary, crockery is % per cent. lower: tea
30 per cent. lower and tobacco is 35 per
ago.
The introduction of improved ma
chinery had. even as early as 1880,
brought dry goods down to low figures.
But the process continues, unbleached
muslin having declined from to 6
cents. calico from ITO 5, gingham from
121a to 10, aud worsted dress goods
about 25 per cent. all around. There
made clothing of from 30 to SO per
cent, and of 3315 per cent. in hoots
and shoes. Furniture has gone down
from 25 to 50 per cent. Lumber and
drugs and all the incidentals that
make up the farmers bill have had
similar experience. There is not a
u single exception to the rule of lower,
and very much lower prices. On the
other hand the bonds of the county in
which Ft. Dodgeis situated bore 10
per cent. in 1850, while its 5 per cent
bonds now command q premium in
!. the market Private loans bear per
cent. interest now as against 10 in
1880. Railroad charges have declined
in like proportion; although these cut
little fgure in the comparison, being
} inclnded in the local retail prices al.
ready compared. and subtracted from
the price of grain in the central mark.
cts. New wheat was worth but 10 to
80 in TT. Dodge in April, 1880. Corn
T was then 18 and 20 as against l9 and
2OnoW: flax seed was then 81 25; nov
it is 81 %; hogs are now 1896 to SO 80
as against SO so and S3.75; oats have
fallen from 21 to II, cattle from SO and
81 to 50 and SO. eggs have risen from
e 6 to anf Q cents, and butter has fall.
en- from lG aud 18 to IA and Is cents.
1t ls demonstrated by these facts
that the farmer has not lost in the
4 prices of what he has,to sell as much
. as he has gained in the Prices of what
y he has to bu7. He might be in much
better condition than he is. and W,
= wish he We're. but he has certainl.
shared in tha advantages which an,
\ claimed for the community as a Who'll,
! hv the progressive reduction of ma
chinery and the advance of invention
There is no escape from the concln
u sion that days labor or davis wag
# es will bnv more of the good things O
life than II wonldsat any other time il
J. the worlds history.