The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-04-24
HOPEFUL FIGURES.

Until confronted by the cod fig
ures, very few people realize the chang
es in values that have taken place in
the last ten years. The Pioneer Press
of last Saturday quotes from the Fort
Dodge Qowa) Messenger an article
giving tabulated comparisons of pric-
es in 1880 and 1890, which shows an
increase in the purchasing power of
almost all commodities, and CORE
spending betterment of the condition
Of all men who depend on their labor
for support:
The Messenger has obtained from
the merchants of Fort Dodge a table
of prices of all staple commodities in
1880, and the corresponding figures
for to-day. The year 1880 was select
ed SO as to make the comparison re-
cent one, and to inquire if the late fail
in grain prices has not been matched
by other reductions within the same
period. We have room for but few
of the facts set forth in its elaborate
tables, but they will be found full of
instruction. Taking farm implements
first, which are among the most costly
and most necessary of the things the
farmer has to purchase, the price of a
self-binder has been reduced from
1915 to S13O; corn planter from $50
to $40; cultivator from SIS to $25; a
wood pump from SIS to Sc; farm
wagon from SS5 to $50, and two
seated spring wagon from $3.50 to S75.
The completed list OF farm implements
shows an average fall in prices of from
80 to 60 per cent. since 1880, while the
machines are far better made and far
more ingeniously adapted to the work
they are to do. In 1880 the price of
barb wire, so essential to the cultivat-
or of prairie farm, was 10 cents per
pound, now it is 4 cents; then iron
nails were Sc per key, while to-day the
vastly superior steel nail is but $3.50;
pillow steel has fallen from 49, to 81
cents per pound; the cook stove that
cost $3;3 can be bought for $24; win
dow glass is rs per cent lower, milk
pans have gone from 1926 to 81 Der
dozen, and there is a constant reduc-
ton in the whole list of household
hardware which ranges from Is to 60
or 20 per cent. Everybody knows of
the decline in groceries. In spite of
the trusts sugar has fallen from 125
to Z cents for granulated, and kerosene
from 25 to Ii cents per gallon; salt
from 1925 to $l.25 per barrel; -four
from $3.50 to ESQ per cwt; coffee re-
mains stationery, crockery is Is per
cent lower, tea 80 per cent lower and
tobacco 81 35 per cent less costly than
it was ten years ago.
chinery had, even as early as 1880.
brought dry goods down to low figures
But the process continues, unbleached
muslin having declined from 8 to G
cents, calico from 7 to 5, bingham
from 12a to 10, and worsted dress
goods about rs per cent all around.
There has been a general reduction in
ready made clothing of from 80 to SO
per cent, and of 33k per cent in boots
and shoes. Furniture has gone down
from rs to SO per cent. Lumber and
drugs and all the incidentals that
make up the farmers bill have had a
similar experience. There is not a
single exception to the rule of lower,
and very much lower prices. On the
other hand, the bonds of the county
in which Fort Dodge is situated bore
10 per cent in 1880, while it's per
cent bonds now command a premium
in the market. Private loans bear 8
per cent interest now as against 10 in
1880. Railroad charges have declined
in like proportion; although these cut
little figure in the comparison, abeing
included in the local retail prices al
ready compared, and substracted from
the price of grain in the central mark
cts. Now wheat was worth but 20 to
80 in Fort Dodge in April, 1880. Corn
then was Is and 20 as against 10 and
20 now; fax seed was then ST. .25, now
it is M.23; hogs are now $685. to $3.50
as against $3.50 and 1915; oats have
fallen from FL to II cents, cattle from
So and 81 to So and So, eggs have ris-
en- from to 8 and 8 cents, and butter
has fallen from 16 and Is to IA and Is
cents,