The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-09-15

month of March this year and i'll 1896
IS given herewith:
Corn, per bu. ...$06245 $o.2S59
Wheat, per bu 11S7 .o5l
Cotton. per lb. 49,. 1904 .O7S25
Oats, per bu. -. .4474 .l9Z'
Rye. per bu. ... 1910 3643
Barley, per bu. 80. .693l '5ooo
Hay, timothy, per
ION .......... .ltoo 1A'1V
Hops, per lb. :. .39 .o71s
Potatoes, per bu... 1918 1850
Flaxseed, per Blu. E. 2.145 $50
Cattle, choice to
extra steers, per
100 pounds .... SIG 4.2o
Hogs, heavy, per
100 lbs. ..... 1855 3.9O25
Butter, dairy, per lb .3115 1850
Eggs, per doZ. 49,. .2310 .124O
This table shows the following per-
centages of gain: Corn, 1884; wheat,
ISL; cotton, 1922; oats, 1922; rye,
I'LL: barley, 1868; hay, 49.5; hops,
$40; potatoes, 1871; faxseed, 1924;
cattle, 92.7; hogs, 172; butter, 57.3;
eggs, 1913. These gains are extraor-
binary, and while the increase in the
general cost of living offsets the larger
prices received to certain extent, the
farmer has Jared much better than
most of the jewellers in cities and
towns.
This plan is we'll illustrated by Sen
ator Smoot in the following manner:
The real value of any article is its
exchange value. The real worth OF
farm products is measured by theil
value when compared with the value
of articles which the farmer desires
+ to purchase No compilation of retail
prices for 1910 and 1896 are available
but the retail price Of any commodity
follows in a general way the whole
sale price. Without retail prices 1t is
impossible to measure the exact pur-
chasing power of farm products, bu'
the proportionate change in purchas-
/ ing power is practically the same when
wholesale prices are used. Ten bush
els of corn equaled in value 70 pounds
of Rio coffee in March 1910, and II
hounds in March, 1896. Ten bushels
of corn equaled in value 16 gallons
of New Orleans molasses in March
1910, and gallons in March, 1896. Ter
bushels of corn equaled in value l3l
pounds of sugar in March, 1910, anC
80 mounds in March, 1896. Ten bushels
of corn eQualed in value 80 yards o.
brown sheetings in March, 1910, anc
II wards in March, 1896. Ten bushels
of corn equaled in value l6 yards o.
cashmere all-wool dress goods II
March, 1910 and IA yards in March
1896. Ten bushels of corn equaled II
value 35 bushels of anthracite stove
coal in March, 1910, and ~ bushels
in March. 1896. Ten bushels OF corr
eoualed in value SO gallons of reiine'
netroleum i'm March, 1910, and 70 Sai
ions In March. 1896. Ten bushels o
corn enualed in value 337 pounds o
wire nails in March, l9l0' anu o.
. pounds in March, 1896. Zen pusne !,
of corn equaled in value lo4o DrleH oo =,
March, 1910, and 5l9 in Mareh' io'u
Ten bushels of corn equaled III Nalu
4 barrels OF Portland cement IN Ma,cn
, 1910. and barrel in March, 1880
The comparison might be carrle
much further, using milk, putte'
wheat cattle, hogs, and many othe
commodities. without changing the re
suits already reached The period ma
|, been one of extraordinary prosperit
: for farmers just as the period IN III
: eighties and early nineties was one 0
extraordinary depression. Mor'gase
: have been paid, farm buildings nav
! been improved, comforts and even lux
/ ur;es have been purchased, and IN
4 nresent time finds the farmer IN pei
: ter condition, as rule, then ms urpa
I neighbor
=? The other side of the picture is IN
I suffefing which the rise in prices nd
> caused to the thousands who Work 10