Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-01-28
PRICES HIGHER THAN IN
DAYS OF THE CIVIL WAR

Minneapolis. MINI. Jan. 27.-A gem
eral merchants daybook, forty-six
a old, which contains a record of
prices for foodstuffs in the spring of
1864, when the civil van had sent
commodities to what was supposed to
be the highest notch, vas found yes
terday by A. T.. Alien, clerk of the
district court, in loking over some old
books.
Mr.. Aliens father, d. c. Allen, and
an uncle, A. Il. Allen, kept the New
York general store in Faribault, Mimi.
during the war and their books show
that many of the staple commodities
sold cheaper in war time thar at pres
ent and many varieties sold for about
the present market price. Few of the
staples sold for a higher price. Su-
gar, which reached the northern mar
kets in small quantities during the
war, and kerosene. which was not in
general use at that time, were the on
~ articles that sold greatly in excess
of present prices.
Fair for Comparison.
The prices charged in war time in
Faribault are considered fair for com.
parlson. for FaribauIt al thar time
had no railroad and supplies were
hauled overland from the nearest
steamboat landing o. the Mississippi
With poor roads and a scarcity Of Ia
Dor, the hauling expense was heavy.
The items on the old daybook most
notable are the prices for eggs, but
ter. lard. flour, potatoes, cheese ana
pork.
The prices the Aliens we're charging
and getting FORT the goods show a well
paid up list of accounts, were typical
of the time. say those who remember.
Butter old early in the spring o.
1864 for Is cents IA pound. Eggs sold
at w dozen for 25 cents, lard was II
and is cents a pound, pork sold for
the same price and potatoes. though
II was at the end of the season and
vet early for new ones. retailed 1T 80
cents a bushel.
Flour Wa Cheap.
Flour is mentioned as selling at s.
so a sack. The weight is not men
toned, but judging from the general
price Of grains at the time, the old
residents think the ninety-eight pound
sack was meant. Little flour was
sold, and as there were mills in the
district where the farmers could have
their own flour ground. there was no
necessity for a higher price, the pion-
GERS say.
Salt mackerel brought 10 cents "A
pound and cheese was selling at 10
a pound. Sirup was selling at
s1.2O a gallon. Dried fruits were
high, apples selling at II cents a ID.
and peaches at rs cents.
Coffee at hat time was graded
much as 1t is now, and the prices var
led from 80 cents a pound to so cents.
Sugar was a Luxury.
Sugar was the greatest luxury in
Minnesota in war time, and. in Fart
bault 1t sold-not much, but some
10 and 20 cents a pound. Two
grades were sold and this price did
vary during the spring of 1864.
Kerosene was used Sunday even
when company came. Some peo-
pie were afraid OF it even at that time,
and it was not shipped west in large
quantities. The price charged was 25
cents q quart. The item is mentioned
but twice on the books Of the Farlbalt
TaIlow candies furnished the
and the candles in many instan-
ces we're made at home. The candle
was a common thing In the
homes of that day.
These staple articles represented
about 90 per ccnt Of the foo pur-
ut that time. Especially pro-
pared foods had not yet come i'm. Can
ned goods were not as popular then as
low, and the books of the F%aribault
store did not record that spring the
,alc of any canned vegetables or meats
Coffee was sold almost exclusively IA
ans, but that was an. The farmers
-aised nearly every commodity they
and the t~ownspcople had their
This was typical of most
and the books indicated that the
were hit hard by the high
and spent little money on fancy
.atablcs.
siour Dearer Now
In comparison with these prices
lour today is selling az 80 cents "a
Dound. Potatoes IN most stores are
lold for 50 cents and 60 cents a BUSH
The minimum price of pork. fresh
md salt. in Minneapolis now is 10
.ents. and the choicer cuts bring sew
rial cents more.
Coffee. possibly If q bstfer grade
blend. sells a. about the same
,riccs today as tn 1854. Coffee can :
,e purchased for - ce "a pound.
md prices ranse'f r Lrat TO 80 .