The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-15

that a great many Of the things used W
the household hive become dcarer IN tDs
last week or Two. and this has led 70
tail dealers 10 suppose that the War Was
gcing 10 advance prices still more. Many
h0usekeepers are already frightened az
the prospect OF a return OF such prices
as existed during the civil war and for
years following II.
Many remember the enormous prices
which prevailed during those years. In
those DAYS -four Was Si4 "A barrel: pO-
tatoes sold for from s. 20 s. a barrel
Java coffee was 81 a pound, molasses q
n gallon. butter 20 cents or more "a pound.
kerosene oil 20 cents gallon. and
sugar % cents or more pound
Muslins which can be bought for or
cents a yard now were three or four
times az much. and an the necessities
and Injuries OF the household were dear
m proportion. For years now and par
licuiarly since the hard times began IN
1892. prices have been 50 low that living
has been very cheap. 10 IL not 10 10
wondered az that the thrifty housekoepr.
who has ben getting 80 much for her
money should view with alarm any IN
crease I'm prices which would seem %
show that any great advance was TO 10
caused by the war
inquiries among representative deal
ers I'm the wants OF the household, made
IN this city yesterday. would seem 70 In
dicate that any alarm OF this sort was
without foundation. although there can
be little doubt that the prices or some
things have advanced, TO stay az least
for time. and that these prices and
some others may be stll further advan-
ced a few points All Of these men, how
ever. agree that the advances with few
exceptions have little or no connection
- ,tfnf. "a d. I'd a
result, but are the result or natural
causes and would have taken place
whether We had gone TO war or not
Some OF the advances I'm price are IN
fact an indication OF an Improvement
IN the general condition or trade, ana
have come with increases in the value
Of ia productions Of our own country
which should be a matter or congrdtula
ton rather than alarm. This Is true or
the higher price for -four, and with that
an increase in the market price or all or
the cereal products. Wheat. Wnicn was
selling for only 80 cents a bushei 4 IT.
ne more than q year ago. has gone 20
S.25 a bushei. and. although this has
of necessity made -four and breadstuilf
dearer. it has brought hundreds OF mi
lions Of extra dollars into the pockets OF
our farmers and enabled them 10 puy
corresponding amounts Of the extra pro-
nation. It's sale abroad has brought
great stream Of gold into our treasures
from abroad and helped % strengthen Us
in every way for the conflict which IS
now bfore US. 49,.
The conditions which produced tha
war prices OF 1863 are not likely soon
10 be repeated in this country, ana ~
IS not probable that anything ike them
would be repeated. even If the war Win
L. for N fmdaflnfle
In those DAYS when -four went TO 81
a barrel the north was maintaining III
the field an army OF million ablo-Dodlea
men. who hab been withdrawn from
their ordinary occupations producing
food stuffs and all the other articles o.
common nee We were waging war IN
our own country IN which tho ordinary
operations I'm the field often involved
enormous losses and the destruction OF
food and equipments even beyond lAe
ordinary needs Of the army besli,'
this the credit of our nation was so I'M
haired that our bonds and hence our
currency. were deprecated until tho
dollar In which we reckoned prices was
worth in the markets Of the world ohiy
about one-third Of its face value. rms
fact Of itself would have made pricet
advance 20 three times their normal
level. and Il Is a significant fact that
during even the darkest period OF lu'
war most OF the staple articles OF use
did not advance az all IN price Nnst
their value was reckOned ny INC sol-
value OF the currency. Inc spanish -
oIreadv suffering from such causes Dotn
Al C,,ba and at home. and they arc
iitrol, soon TO see prices so almost on
Of SIGHT. as In the Southern Confederacy
hut the United states is IN 10 such
dancer