The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-04-30
HARNESS..

HARNESS.
Harness costs but little less than ten years
ago. This is because most harness is made by
hand and the labor IS n great as ever. In all
machine made goods there are considerable re-
auctions.
The prices OF drugs are from - 10 30 per cont.
cheaper than in 1881. Paints are p per cent.
lower: lamps, one-half lower stationery. one
half lower toilet brushes. - per cont. lower.
The books of standard authors are away down,
cost about one-third what they formerly did.
School books are much lower.
MUSICAL INSTNUNENTS.
The grade of organs, pianos, ana other musical
Instruments sold commonly are about p per
cent lower than in 1850. The reduction on fancy
instruments is not great, but tn people OF
Webster County are not much interested in
SEWING MACHINES
The standard MAKES of sewing machines are
not sold cheaper than in lSS0 but there has been
a great improvement in them since then. The
big break in sewing-rnachine prices came a few
years earlier There are many cheaper ma
chimes but the standard makes have their i'm
proyements patented and hold their prices stiff.
NEWSPAPERS.
In 1880 no county newspaper could be had
for less than - year now any can be had for
Sl.jO.
INTEREST.
How has the capitalist who lives on the inter
est Of his money Jared during this time? Is
his income as large as ever
Up 20 1879 the county OF Webster paid ID per
cent. on its Indebtedness. in 1879 IL made n
loan ut per cent. TO clean up its oh debts. In
1856 it made another loan for the purpose o. re-
ducing the interest rate, aud sold its per cent.
bonds az a premium of y .Ol0 the rate is Il Nv
actually less than per cent.
The bonds of the Independent school district
OF Fort Dodge draw per cent, having been re-
duced from TO and from q TO the present
rate.
Ordinary loans do not show the same reduc-
tions in the interest rate because Eastern capt
tai does not come West as freely TO private bor
rowers as on county or school district bonds.
The loan agent gets between the principals on
orNl 40 nsN :
home money generally commanded ID per cent,
aud Eastern capital and with a commi s sion.
Now home capital demands and outside CAPT
tai ., with "A commission which makes not quite
] more.
RAILROAD CHARGES.
How have the railroads Jared during these ten
years? They are the cormorants we are told,
who devour the substance OF the count Y.
In 1880 the freight rate on wheat from Fort
Dodge 90 Chicago was 33 cents and on other
grain - cents per hundred now the rate on
wheat is - and other grain p. In lNS9 the rate
of all stock from this point to Chicago was 80
per car D feet long now the rate is so for
cattle and SIS for hogs per car OF IS feet. In
1850 the freight on n barrel OF salt from Chicago
TO Fort Dodge was IS cents now IL Is 33 cents.
In 1880 the rate ON lumber from Dubuque 10
Fort Dodge was II cents; now IL is SD cents.
In 1850 the rate on irst-class freight from Chi
cago to Fort Dodge was % cents now IL is 90.
We should explain that 40 was the rule in force
until few weeks ago NJ present the rate is
cut, but il will probably be restored 10 some
where near the old figure, VIC make 10
count Of this cut.
CONCLUSION.
This closes the comparison OF prices on what
the farmer, mechanic, and laborer has 10 buy
We have endeavored to make IL as complete and
accurate "a is possible in n hasty newspaper
article. II IL beyond dispute that the develop
ment of the age has accomplished n large re-
duction in all manufacture articles. Now. I'M
less there has been cores ponding reduction
in products OF the farm ana in wages OF me-
cnanic and laborer. We have established our
clatn tina. never.in the history OF the human
race would q days lab Jr buy 50 many comforts
"a to-day,
We clip from the Messenger OF April ?. 1880,
the following market roper;