Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1893-11-17
The Genesis of Money.

The Genesis of Money.
There was a time when there was
no money. Men were in a very low
state of civilization having hut few
wants and meeting them in simple
manner.
This was the period of barter. All
exchanges were made by it. 1t is
true that even in highly civilized
societies some exchanges are made
by barter but that is not the general
way.
Before the day of money, if man
wanted anything, he gave his labor
for it. or some article which he had
made, or had acquired in hunting or
fishing, or in some other way. The
hunte, gave so much of the chase for
So much of the sell or SO much OF
the rod. The fisherman in like man
ner exchanged his catch for what he'
wanted of the chase or of the ground.
One commodity went for another
4urs and skins for powder and fire
arms: grains for fruits and goods for
grains etc. Labor was exchanged
for labor. or for food. This way of
getting along, however, came to be
very laborous and wasteful of time.
A man had coat which he wished
to exchange for bread; but the baker
to whom he offered it had all the
Goats he needed and so no exchange
could be affected. The baker would.
iicwever, like supply OF corn or
flour and so the man with the coat
started out to find some one who
would give him either -four corn OF
bread for lis coat. 1t took him two
days before he could effect the ex-
change. His experience was that o.
manv others. Another man hao
nothing but his labor to give for the
necessaries of life. He found en-
nlovment with man who was catch
ing fish to ship to distant marke
for coal, and for his labor coule
give him only fish. But i
was clothing and shelter thu
laborer wanted for his immediate nee
e;sity and so he had to start GU
with his fish to exchange them TO
other things. This involved him II
much difficulty, besides his fish wer
liable to spoil before he could dis,
pose Of them. Other laborers wer
in similar trouble. Employers wer
involved in the difficulties. Some
thing had to be done, away out OF al
this evil had to be made; and sc
without any enactment of law, me-
agreed among themselves to ador
some one commodity which a
should take in exchange for whateve
KIND of services or preduets's the
might have to dispose Of and thi
should be the medium of exchang
for all other things or services. l
this way came about the rise
money. In production there cam
to be division Of labor; exchange
follow; disadvantages and incenven
fences embarrass them; to remov
the embarrassment specific articl
IS chosen by the means of which
purchased whatever else is desired
This specific article takes ON tn
character Of money: From the da
some specific article was given thi
character there has been money an
there always will be. 1t may b
money OF one article or Of an"the
still it will be money. 1t may serv
in that character a long or Drl<
period but while it does serve it wi
be money. Money is not the crea
ture of law but of custom. 1t wa
not made by legal enactments.
was called into being by the de
.rlands of trade. Trade grew out
industrial conditlons-the creating c
"quantities of utility" to use
phrase of Prof. Ely, by "puttin
things in their proper places" and b
the exchange of these things.
The state supreme court has
last settled the Traill county Sc:
=. md ~