The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-23
IN WAR TIMES.
When ProviHiOns and Everyth9ng Eiee Br0uSht sky=HiGh Prices in
 NEomfwomfery , .a

DGITOlL 1QuEH8E.%
 George P. Floyd, in business at l43 Beaubien street and living at 1872 Sec ond avenue, who was engaged In the hotel and transfer business in Mcnt- g9msry 9rs g5 Ala during the ciyil wsT re5 alive to the enormous cost of sup plies in the south in those days
 Early in the winter of the arst year states suspended specie payment he says. The specie in the hasids of the people was, of course. immediately boarded. and was afterwards employ ed to a great exteht in conkraband ersesd sS Tbs sas specie fgsS wSs to D great @ sx tent used in the smuggling trade, and running tine blockade throughout the war. And the goods brought In through it's agency were sold at such enormous prices in Confedrate money, as to con tribute very powerfully to the discred- 1t of that circulation among the peo- pie. The progress of the depreciation of the Confedrate money was at first gradual. but afterwards very rapid.
 South Was COnfdent of WinnInBs
 'so confident were tho people of the Confederate States of fhe ultimate suocass of secession that in July. 1881, Confederate currency was par with gold. July 10, 1861. 1 exchanged &4,0OO In Confederate currency at par For the same amount of gold in the Central January. 1882, Confederate currency had fallen to s1,2o for dollar of gold. In January 1868. 1t had fallen tc S6 In currency for one in gold. In nidsurn- rency to get one dollar in gold. Af- ter January, 1884, the change Of rate to S15 or $20 for enc was rather ab- rupt From 1884 until the close of the Sepreciate q, in value, Gntil the close of the war. April 1885, when the bot tom fell out of the Confederacy. Con federate currency and bonds were as dead leaves during the last six months of the war. Gold could not be obtained in any way for Confederate money.
 From the commencement of the war provisions and the aeeessaries of lire tnf all kinds became very scarce. and prices we're higher and shIgher. Dur ing 1881 beef. pork and mutton sold for SO cents and 70 cents per pound; ducks and chickens, $i5e each: eggs, si per dozen potatoes. $s per bushel. aties of food, as the supplies decreased and the value of Confederate money declined. During 1883 coffe was SS per hound. ten SIS and $SS pound; butter utter S15O barrel. Coffee was an unknown commodity after 1888.
 Provisions Go Skyhagh.
 s'The Confederate women made substitute for coffee out of part sweet potato. part corn and the grain of rye; for sugar they used sorghum syrup. They wove cotton cloth for blankets and sewed up coverings for their feet out of old carpets or hits of them after being cut up for soldiers blankets. They had only carpet or canvas soles. Women paid In January, 1884, $50 a pair for canvas boots made of old sails cut out by the shoe maker, but stitch cd and bound by the ladies. Common leather shoes sold for $t50 and $l75: flour $400 a barrel. sugar S30 a pound, bacon SS, chickens S20 6 pair, butter S6 q pound. issued notice from my boarding and livery stable in Mont gomery. January, 1884. which read:
 Owing to a heavy advance or
 feed. am obliged to charge the
 following rates for boarding horses:
 Board per month. ,$S50
 Board, per day.. q. .. 20
 Single feed ....:... .,','s
 "In December, 1864, flouS sold for s575 per barrel, corn meal $100 bush el bacon $10 a pound, chickens $50 each. potatoes S60 bushel. butter $50 a pound. white beans s6 a quart. In Richmond. wood sold for $225 a cord.
 shoes at $500 a Fair.
 Tn January, 1885, wheat sold for $60 a bushel, flour $9e0 barrel. common S400; cabbage seed $3Q an ounce; Irish potatoes. SITS a bushel; butter, $6 pound; brown sugar. $5 pound: bacon. $5 O pound; turn!p greens, $S a peck; rye whisley, SS50 a gallon, three drops of which would kill ] rat: Branch brandy, $500 gallon; champagne. $7s
 Mr Floyd exhibits the following bill showing the traveling exTenses of an officer en route from Richmond, Va. to Augusta. Ga. March and April. |