Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-16

Wages are high and the cheapest labor
is paid IS much as 81 or S. day. The
cost Of living is above that of tho
states. ] pay - cents for a newspa ;
per, - cents for a shine and n like
amount for every least thing under
the sun. In fact. the smallest coin used
is quarter, and this has been so ever
since coins came into the country
FOR the first few wears after gold was
discovered everything was paid for in
gold dust or nuggets. and tho store
keepers had their gold scales. upou
which they weighed out the cost OF
their sales. Every miner then carried
a sold poke, and took out pinch OF
dust 10 pay for a cigar or n drink.
To-day the only place where YOU can
use any coin less than quarter is a,
the poSt-office. and there the change
is In stamps. ] had my shoes shined
this morning The bootblack was "A
negro whose high chair was seated on
the board sidewalk next To hprber
shop He BACKED my shoes: handed
him 81 and waited for change He went
int" tho barber shop. and came back
with ~ cents. got "A shave and a
hair-cnt and that took the res, Of the
money.
Leaving the barber shop. ] dropped
into provision store and asked the
grocer his prices. He had some wa
tc:mclons Of about half the size OF
those sold in the States. and sells them
at Sl.5" each. His cantaloupes bring
- cents apiece and his apples dol
lar dozen. Ranch eggs are worth 81
dozen, and eggs from the outside -
cents. Chickens are quoted at 81
apiece or SAG dozen
Bread is now selling at the rate OF
tw" lcavcs for a quarter. and butter
made in the country costs 81 a pound
MIX brings $3.50 Il gallon and cream
Is - quart These arc prices In sum
.fncr. I'm the heart OF midwinter. when
the hens 40 on a strike, eggs GO to 81
dozen. In early days they some
times sold for SIS dozen. and we're
cheap at 81 apiece.
Leaving the grocer. went to a loUua
ci"us butcher hard by and asked him
the prices OF meat. The butcher was
clad in white. and his shop was as clean
as pin. pink salmon that weighed
ten or twelve pounds lay on his white
marhl" counter. He was cutting il up
INT" steaks, which he sells at % cents
pound lie told me tho salmon had
been caught near tho city and that il
had Travelled 700 miles up The Yukon
TO PC; 90 the market. The flesh is not
as tender as that Of the salmon caught
nearer the ocean
picked out fine portcrhousc steak
and asked the price The butcher re :
piled: THAT cut is So cents a Mound.
hui can give YOU a Slice off the neck
for ~ cents Beef is now selling for
from 80 cents To 81 cents, depending on
whore the cut comes from our beef is
excellent |, has to be brought, in
from the states. and the frcirh, rates
ar" 50 high that we cannot afford tn
import skinny animals. Indeed the
freight cost is quite as much as the
t'S' cost Of the beef"
All WILD GAME SELLS
At Low PRICES
asked aS To game. The butcher
said: NH game is cheap. We sell
moose and caribou steaks and roasts
at 20 or % cents n pound. AS TO hear.
IN" people won't eat il: il is too tough
w" have plenty OF caribou In the win
ter The Indians Kill tho deer in great
numbers and bring in the hind quar-
ters They sell them To us or peddle
them about from house TO house The
fore parts Of the animals they feed To
Their dogs. This country is also fun OF
grouse and ptarmiGan. and any ono can
Get game in the winter If he viii 60
out and hunt for it, Grouse bring *
cents each by the dozen. Large ducks
arc worth SIP dozen and small ones
So"
My next call was at q drug store.