East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1921-01-20
U. OF 0. NEWS NOTES

UNIVERSITY OF OREGON,s Eu-
gene, Jan. 2O.-Life in early oregon,
while it may not have been as pleas
ant as the living conditions Of the
present generation, with its motor
cars, electricity and other things now
thought to be essential to living, had
some very distinct advantages. In a re-
cent publication of the Oregon Histori-
cal Society, some very interesting fig
ures are given as to the cost Of living
in this state in about the year 1881.
The records were those of Ewing
Young. who was sent to California to
bring back some cattle for the early
Dean F. G. Young. of the school of So
siology of the University Of oregon.
An accurate account of every expen-
diture was kept and submitted to the
Willamette Cattle company, which was
organized to bring the cattle to this
state. The figures given show that
while living expenses were small. wa
ges were no larger in proportion
Modern conveniences. such as moving
pictures and other luxuries, had not
found their way into the habits of the
people and money went much further.
Wages were never over a dollar a
day. according to the figures given in
the Young accounts. This is in mark
ed contrast to the $3.50 a day which
is now paid for the most unskined
kinds of labor. Costs were not out of
proportion to wages, however. and a
saddle is listed at SEAS. A good sad
die these days will bring around $50.
Further on, 1Sfope is listed at 25
cents; forty pounds of pork was pur-
chased for 10 cents pound; wheat
could be bought for so cents bushel,
while the present price is near S2.00.
Board could be had for about IS per
month.
Clothing prices as shown by the ac-
counts were but a small part of the
amounts charged at the present time
for wearing apparel. A pair of
shoes was bought Tor 50; shirt could
be had for so cents; ''pantaloons"
brought around 81 a pair, although in
some instances they are priced as low
as s2.40s No cases were recorded
where articles cost over the present
prices, the whole account showing that
man could buy more at the earlier
date with his days wages than he
could at present.
Harry b. Cash. who was a former
University of oregon stNdent and who
spent four years as principal of high
schools in the Philippine islands, will
-go to Peru next month to help direct
the reorganization of the Peruvian ed
ucational system.
II. NJ. Fisher, who for thirteen years
has been superintendent of buildings
and grounds at the University of Ore
gon and who has seen the student
body grow from 500 to 1900. has re-
signed to take up poultry raising near
Eugene.
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, Eu-
gene, Jan. 20.--A manuscript Of 50
poems, entitled 1.-THE Singing Road
has been submitted to the Extension
Division Of the University Of oregon
by Verne Bright, a correspondence
student residing near Beaverton, Ore
gon. In two respects, at least, ne re-
sembles Robert Burnside is far
mer and he gets his inspiration from
nature. When / am not a plough
boy he says, II read and write po-
etrg." He has had his verses publish
ed in Life. Smart Set, Overland
Monthly, and the Portland specta-
tor. Many of his poems have genuine
merit and much promise, according to
the Extension Division who cite the
fresh point of view in the following
poem, entitled "Futility':
'He gathered stones from the brown
sea shore
To build high gray wall.
asked him why do you build your
wall SO high?'
He said: TO shut out the spring.
But he had forgotten to cut down the
trees
And burn the ground inside his WALL
SO spring came with all her little
leaves
And God smiled,
As do we
When little child
Tries to build a sand wall on the sea-
shore
Which the first wave crumbles."
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