Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-06
COL. ADAMS ON
.'61 PRICES

Watervllle, Me, Nov. o.-Iolonel oiids
Adams of this city has given to the jour
nal the following interesting statement OF
prices at the time of the Civil war in or
der that the people may be able to com
pare them with the prices that they are
now paying.
The average wages of the men at that
time are also given, so that 1t can De
seen what the conditions were then. and
what the nation may yet be called upon
to face in this war. In these exciting
days when the whole world is engaged in
the world war one of the leading topics
of the days is the food question. A very
great majority of the people who are now
the breadwinners were born since the
Civil war. and have little or no knowl-
edge of prices at that period of our Ma
tional history.
! They try TO guage the prices of food,
/ and in fact everything else from their
own observation in q circle Of 90 or Al
years, instead of reaching back in history
for comparison of prices. The prices
of today seem outrageous when compare
! with those of 10 or 10 years ago.
! During the time from 1864 TO 1858 when
the life of the country was at stake the
| prices were at pra ctically the same
I height as during the war times. while
/ wages were very low in comparison to
what they are at present. Ship carpen-
! tiers during the war in the navy yards and
elsewhere received from s2,50 to $3.50 per
day of 10 hours. farm work was done for
about s15.00 per month.
Masons got $500 day for 10 hours
work mechanics in
and painters $50 per day. Cotton goods
were extremely high for years after the
war, but during the conflict the high
prices were caused by the scarcity OF cot
ton which could not be gotteS from the
states in the rebellion. They had a plen-
| ty. but it could only be had by capture
or in conquered territory.
/ Leather was cheap. as we had millions
of acres to raise cattle on. A curiosity
was the price Of beans. which remained
at s3.C0 bushe all during the war. that
appearing to be a standard price. If the
people understood that high prices exist
ed in other periods of our national life
perhaps they could feel more reconciled
to the present conditions of conservation
of food. that Europe might not starve, In
this worlds crisis. In war times many
people use our common field pea as a
substitute for coffee, roasting and grind
Ing il in the same manner, so it is neces-
sary to stand this test cheerful!y a 6 there
has been harder times. The following
! price list has heel m"de Up largely frnr
the New York Herald of March 4, 1874
and from other reliable sources: Flour.
SIG to $lS per barrel. corn. 81 50 per bushel
coffee. 60 cents per pound; tea. SIS per
pound; wool 81 per pound; sugar. ia
cents per pound; beans 500 per bushcl;
cotton sheeting. 60 cents per yard; men s
+! suits, $40 to $50, with a good suit costing
from So to 500; mems boots. s437 per pair;
womens boots s2.25 per pair: wheat.
Michigan. SEQ per bushel oats, Sis per
bushel; hay, $500 a ton; moIasses, d
cents a gallon; pork. $37o0 a barrel: hams,
q cents per pound; lard. 81 cents per
pound: butter IS to As per pound tur-
key, % to 2S cents per pound; round hogs,
IA cents per pound. In going over this list
it will be seen that on the majority Of
/ things the prices were higher then than
now, while the wages were much lower. -