The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-29
AOueer Colonial Law.

- 00OOt
The Essex Institute of Salem. Massa-
chusetts, has a quantity printed poster IN
its collection of objects illustrating the
early history Of this country. This poster
embodies a law OF III that was an at
tempt of the municipal authorities Of the
town of Ipswich in Massachusetts,, 10 hx
prices in that town.
The enactment of this law is probably
the first instance. in this country, at
least of governing body to take IN hand
the regulation OF prices 10 be paid Tor
labor and commodities
The headlines of this curious, colonial
bill read as follows:
The
PRICE ACT
or. the
List of the Prices
Now in Force
In the Town Of
IPSWICH.
For the Prevention Of
Monopoly and Oppression.
AT Meeting Of Selectmen and
Committees of Correspondence. Inspection
And Safety. in
Ipswich, February 10. III.
Here are the rates at which clothing
was TO be sold:
'.Stockings-Meu-s Best Yarn Stockings
at SIS a pair. and in that proportion for
ar inferior quality.
Mems Shoes-Men's Shoes. made IN
this Town. ,of the common sort. ST IS a
pair: and for other shoes in proportion to
their size and quality.
"Calamanco Shoes.-Women's best c.
Ditto. at 6s a pair.
Leather Shoes.-Women's shoes made
of good Leather. at IS I'd pair; and
other shoes in proportion TO their size
and quality; and for making shoes. In
the same proportion
Ye ancient tavern keeper OF Ipswich
was by this law obliged TO charge his
guest for breakfast or supper. one
shilling: and for a dinner ''of boiled and
roasted meats. with other articles eauivS-
dent. exclusive of wine" one shilling six
pence. For lodging the charge was 10
be four pence.
The rate for hack hire was fixed al
eight pence a mile. and for the hire or
a single horse FIVE pence a mile
A BARRIERS pay for shaving by theiyear.
emitting d person TO one shave week.
was TO be six shilling eight pence Tran
silent customers were to pay the barber
-four copDers a time.
The prices of alcoholic drinks were Civ
en- in greatest detail:
''West-India FIip.-Flip made OF West
India rum. at Sd a mug or bowl
England FIip.-Flip made OF New
England rum, at Sd mug or bowl.
..West-India Toddy.-Toddy made OF
West-india rum. 1Od a mug or bowl.
''New-England Toddy.-Sd.
"Distillers.-For distilling rum from
iMolesses. 4d a gallon
To dig a grave for a grown person
tolling one bell and attendance upon the
funeral, "a sections charge was TO be hNe
shillings. land for children IN proper
ton" And Furthermore 10 do away with
extortion in funeral charges the price or
a coffin was legally determined by the
good fathers OF this old town-"a Plain
Pine Coffin, blackened, for grown per
son. 9s, and lesser ones in proportion.
was their decree on this subject.
The rate TO be paid to laborers and 10
craftsmen was fixed and quantity word
ed thus:
Iaborers.-Laborers at % Sd a day,
from the tenth day OF April TO the first
dav of July: and for moving. Is 80 a
day; and for other Labor from the hrst
dav Of July 10 the last day OF September,
that Is equivalent for hardness at IS "a
a day and found as usual; and Labor at
other seasons OF the year In proportion
according TO ancient custom.
House Carpenters.-House Carpenters
at IS "a a day and found as usual JOIN
ers. at 80 I'd a day. and found as usual
"Curriers.-For currying n Dickerable
Hide. As, and other Hides in proportion
"Taylors.-For making a common suit
of Cloaths. Dos. and other Cioaths. In pro-
portion. And BY the day at % day
The prices on meats and provisions were
fixed thus: Beef. grass-fed, Sd pound !.
beef. stalled. 4d a pound; lamb. 4d
mound: mutton. al a pound: fresh pork.
a pound; ducks. sd a pound; turkeys,
sd a pound; fresh, cod, Id pound; milk.
at I'd a quart
That there we're no bake shops and That
every family made their own bread y
evident from the fact that there was no
price fixed on bread. but on the raw ma
terial-four. which was rated thus;
Flour imported from Southern states.
30s a hundred
Home Flour. made in the state. I'd
ditto"