Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-29
SOME PRICES
AT SOUTH PARIS
OF 80 YEARS AGO
{Oxford Democracy

Economists, we believe. have never
been able to give satisfactory explanation
of the waves Of ascending prices winch
sweep over the world at times. period
when prices remain comparatively on
level is followed by another period when
prices of everything go mounting. as they
have been doing for the past dozen years.
until after a few decades the dollar. or
other artificial unit of value by whatever
name, represents in purchasing power as
regards general commodities perhaps
half what it formerly did. The increase
of gold production is named as cause,
and il doubtless has influence, but 1t
doesn't fully explain the intermittent rise
of prices that has been going on over the
world for some centuries.
All this comment is preliminary to
citation of some prices obtained at an
auction sale in Paris 80 years ago. The
document from which these are taken is
furnished the Democrat by Silas p
Maxim of this town. and the heading is
Account of Sales of the personal es-
tate of Stephen Robinson, late Of Paris.
in the County of Oxford. yeoman, de-
ceased, intestate, at auction. pursuant to
the order Of the Honorable Benla
Chandler. ESQ, Judge of the Probate OF
Wills. &C. for said County. dated the.
fourteenth day of June A. D. 1875; the
sales being made on the 13 October at
Paris aforesaid"
Stephen Robinson was the grandfather
of the late S. r. Parsons, and the per-
sonal property sold was at the home
stead. which Is still occupied by the
family, On account Of some blindness of
handwriting in the account, and sys-
tenn of making the entries which was
doubtless understood by the maker but
not fully by the reader. it is not possible
to make out accurately all the items, but
some Of them are plain enough.
First on the list were some horses and
colts. and as compared with other things
these apparently brought pretty good
prices, Article No. 1 was 3-Eear-old
gray colt, and the price was $50. Other
horses Of ages which are not clear from
the account sold for $685. SCI, and $3.50,
the last being sold to Stephen Robinson.
son of the decedent. and the price paid
is the largest item which appears in the
entire list
One yoke Of oxen sold for Sal, yoke Of
2-year-old steers for ST, and apparently
an odd OK and an odd 3-yearold steer for
$50 and $16.75 respectively. Two 2-year-old
bulls for s10.35 and S. respectively. Six
or eight cows and heifers ranged from
so to $13.15.
Six sheep sold for s233 each. twelve for
$1.72 each, and six for $3.50 each. Il swine,
large hog" brought 81 and. "2d do
the same price. 81 do. large pig
brought $3.50, and others $500 and s2.S5 re-
spectively.
A large quantity Of grain was sold in
ten-bushel and twenty-bushel lots, prices
on corn being 50 and 60 cents. oats 90 and
81 cents. wheat 50 and 80 cents.
Some lumber was disposed of. and the
entries are somewhat mixed. AS nearly
as can be made out, some clear boards
were sold at 80 per thousand, "mercht.
boards meaning merchant
abut-at g. refuse boards at $50. Mer-
charitable plank s.. and refuse 5oist p
cents per hundred. Ash plank s. per
thousand. Heading 80 cents per hundred,
slaves 70 cents per thousand.
A quantity Of iron. to the amount Of az
pounds, was sold to Simeon Chapman,
who was a blacksmith, at cents per
pound-and that is about the only price
named in the list which looks large in
these days.
Two morocco skins brought Ct cents.
It would be natural to infer that cider
mill was run at tho place, as one barrel
Of vinegar and thirty-one barrels of cider
were sold. The vinegar brought s1.35. and
the cider. which was sold in lots Of from
one barrel to ten per customer. brought
prices varying from IS to IS cents per bar
rel. It may be noted As a fact Of some
interest that in the list Of purchasers Of
the cider are only three names which ap-
pear anywhere else on the list, one Of
them buying ten bushels Of corn. one a
sleigh, and the third the two morocco
skins. The rest Of the cider purchasers
bought nothing but cider.