The Mena weekly star., 1920-05-06
THE H. c. l.. AFTER
 THE CIVIL WAR

in every American home today me same question was asked almost as earnestly something more than a half century ago. While conditions result ing from the World War are hardly comparable to those that came from the Civil War, it is interesting to ob- serve what happened to prices as the result of the conflict in the eos how they rose, and how long they were in falling.
 Briefly, prices rose in recent years. They fell off somewhat with peace, maintained themselves for about three years. and then began gradual de- cline -that Nith one intermission brought them to the pre-war basis in 1878, thirteen years after the wars end.
 With the opening of hostilities prices were affected. Starting from a level a little below that of 1860, they advanced more than 20 per cent be- fore the close of 1861.
 At the beginning of the war flour was selling at SIPS barrel, pork at II cents a pound. sugar at about 9 cents, eggs at Is cents dozen and coffee at 20 cents pound. The sudden cutting off of supplies from the South along with an equally sudden demand for war materials ill the North, had an immediate effect on prices. But by the next year the big factor in Civil War prices came to be an inconverti- ble papermoney standard, with con sequent premium on gold. Specie pay- ments were suspended by the United States treasury in 1862. Paper money, largely in small denominations, circu- lated freely. AS at the present time, there was an atmosphere of prosper ity, and although there was complaint that increased with the mounting prices. nobody appeared to be suffer ing.
 This condition. of course, prevailed in the North. In the Confederacy the situation became desperate as the war advanced. Paper currency was issued by the wagon load, and by 1864 s1 in gold would buy $22 of the Confederate money. Many commodities could not be bought for any price in the South. \ dinner for nine men at restaurant in Richmond in 1864 cost $SS1.50 Fur keys cost Se0 each: flour, $500 a bar rel. and shoes, $150 a pair.
 But in the North. where the pur- r>F h, lnlf aft,f,1 above 50 cents throughout the war. prices continued to mount. By the mid die of 1863 flour had almost doubled in price. pork had gone past 25 cents a pound. butter had advanced from 25 cents to nearly SO cents a pound and other commodity prices showed in creases amounting to more than 100 per cent. The general average was not far below the 100 per cent mark.
 The climax of Civil War prices was reached at the close of 1864 and lasted for only a short time in 1865. Tine highest point touched showed an aver age increase well past 100 per cent Many articles by this time were sell. ing for three, and some for four and five times what they brought at the beginning of the war. The general average was not far below the loo per cent mark.
 The climax of Civil War prices was reached al the close of 1864 and lasted for only a short time in 1865. The highest point touched showed an aver age increase we'll past the 100 per cent. Many articles by this time were selling for three. and some for four and five times what they brought al the beginning of the war. The general price level. 9f7 points, was % points above that reached by the signing os the srmistice in November. 1918.
 Early in tSe5 flour was selling at Sa2 hArrel, sugar had advanced 10 8 cents pound. butter to 5 cents. and vegetables. canned gods, teas and coffees bad doubled in price. Pork had moved up from s2a a barrel whole sale to see Coal was selling for SIS a teE. kerosene oil for s0 cents s gallon, spool of cotton thread for 90 ceats. and mnslins that had sold for frem 10 cents yard in 1860 were hard 10 ger at sS cents yard
 But people who had to buy commodi- ties near the close and immediately after the close of the Civil War had an experience that has not yet come to she present purchasers. Prices began sn i&li early in 1865 as it became more and more apparent that the war must end soon. By the tine Lee surrender cd in April of that year there had been decline of twsnty-seven points iu the general plane of prices.
 5y isSs the decline was arrested An6 slight upward movement began sA@E confirmed for two years. although the peak prices os the war were not again reached. For another year prices aesSt2fsd. and then with 1889. four ysarx after the ending of the war, q steady decline set In. For the three years iron 1ST1 to lSI4-snclndinx the panic years the decline paused. II shen began once more and continued uHtil 1S-S thirteen years after the eAose ct she war. when specie payment wzs resumed and the prs-wAr IeYel os prices w4s reached
 Wat caused the decline. according ta Prot ?. ". TznSsig. the distinguish. e& aG-vzr1 economist. wzs sAe in- crease iz p@FaiAEsoa and wealsh. sa