Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-11-09
PRICES MANY YEARS AGO
Before That Time Tea Sold for
Hundred Dollars a Pound.
PRODUCE WAS REAs 0NABLE
Philadelphia Markets Of Hundred
Years Ago Compared With Those
Of England.

. -
1t Is exactly 100 years SAYS The
Philadelphia Ledger, since Charles
William Janson published his still en-
lteretaining volume, 'sThe Stranger in
| America" in which he gives the fruits
Of his observations In this country
during a long residence here. The
book has frequently been quoted from
but his brief survey Of the. markets
Of this city as he found them n 1907
or perhaps year earlier-for the
book bears the date mentioned-is
particularly enlighten'ng to these
times OF high prices.
During the Revolution the prices oil
food in Philadelphia rose to such a
he ght that a committee was appoint
ed TO see that no serious over-charge
or extortion was practiced. The prices
Of food during and immediately after
the civil war, never equa ed those OF
this remote period. To an unpreiudlc.
ed observer today ii does not appear
that the committee was able to make
any serious break into the soaring
pr 'ces asked at that time.
Fpr instance. in the spring Of 1779
'the best Hyson tea" was $40 a
pound At the same time coffee was
16 shillings pound, which is nearly
as alarming The committee did.
however, in Difference to the demands
of the inhabitants, who murmm ed at
the price of butter. resolve that eff
any inhabitant should give more than
Is shillings for pound of butter,
such person shall be summoned to ali
pear at the next town meeting, or pay
20 shillings into the hands of the
committee to be applied to the relief
OF the poor While it does not APP
pear whether these prices applied to
specie or to the Continental currency,
so called, it may be taken for granted,
that the merchant who refused to part
with pound Of tea for less than ego
had in mind the payment OF the Con-
tinental notes.
But in 1907 the Revolution had long
been passed, and prices were normal.
Janson speaks in terms of praise of
Philadelphia markets. AS a matter of
fact, he had in mind only the market
then in Market street. 1T is well sup
Piled" he said, "and its regularity and
cleanliness indicate a good living
and wholesome cations. No article
can be offered for sale here without
being submitted to the inspection +
one of the clerks OF the market, who
SEXES unwholesome articles and a
fine is inflicted upon the owner.
The fish market, from It's. distance
from the sea, is but indifferently sup
piled, though much pains is taken to
procure regular supply. Light carts
are constantly coming in from New
York and Burlington, in New Jersey,
with the most delicate fish of the
ocean, and packed in ice during the
summer. The beef is good, but the
mutton and veal far inferior to that
of England and Ireland. Butter and
poultry are excellent, and there is a
profusion of vegetables. Butchers
meat on an average is 10 to IL cents
a pound, but poultry is not one-third
of the London price. and of a superior
quality.
Fowls of all kinds are within the
compass of the purchase Of the labor
er. A turkey of 16 pounds weight may
often be bought in Philadelphia for a
dollar, but have seen them sold for
three shillings and even less. British
money. Wild turkeys are sometimes
brought to market for the enormous
weight of % pounds and upwards, but
these birds retire from the country as
ii becomes more settled Geese,
duck, fowls, rabbits (there are no
hares In the United States) are of a
proportionate price. Quails, which
they call cartridges, are brought alive
in large quantities and sold for about
| two and sixpence per dozen.
Excellent butter is supplied by the
German settlers at about an English
| shilling per pound and eggs at six
pence Per dozen. The pork through
out the United States is excellent and
is raised in abundance. 1t is generally
in price from IS to Sc per hundred
weight.