The Bozeman courier., 1927-12-02

A number of account books picked
up in an abandoned store building at
MOndak, Mont, now Fort Union, sheds
considerable light on prices paid in the
early days. One of these records is the
property of a Wolf Point resident. It
is the day book of Leighton & Jordan
from Sept. IL to Dec. 5, 1877. The
store was then located at Fort BufOrd.
Dakota Territory.
In this book are recorded names Of |
many who made up the personnel of
troops at Fort Buford.
Modes of Freight
A dozen years before the coming Of |
the railroad, merchandise was brought |
up the Missouri river by steamboat dur |
ing those months when the river was
open, and by sledges from st. Paul dur |
ing the winter. Wood was used for fuel
by steamboats, and there were wood chop
perS camps at frequent intervals along
the river. One of these camps was To-
Gated at Fort Buford, another at Wolf
Point, with several between. Freight
overland from st. Paul to Fort Buford
amounted to $1.9O a hundredweight, and
from New York was about $4. A single
sleigh, purchased in st. Paul for $35, had
a 1915 freight charge.
Butter Was Cheap
| Butter purchased in st. Paul at from
ID to 20 cents a pound sold at 40 cents
in small quantities and 35 cents when
a tub, or firkin; was bought Eggs sold
not on the market in November, and
were 40 cents in December, when a new
shipment arrived. Sugar sold for 20 cents
a pound, lemons 81 a dozen and apples
90 cents dozen. Potatoes brought 4A
cents pound. Cheese sold for from 25
cents to 40 cents; tea, 81; lard, 20 cents;
bacon, ID cents; flour, cents, and fresh
meat, cents pound. Coffee was 80
cents pound in the berry or so cents
pound ground. Goldfish was Is cents
70
canned turkey, rs cents a can. Dried
apples were Is cents; dried raisins. 20
cents, and dried currants and pr1nes, 20
|, cents pound. Honey in the comb sold
at three pounds for 81; maple syrup was
, $l.5O Tor half-gallon pail, while vinegar
was 90 cents to 81 a gallon. Beans were
8 cents pound and pigs feet 20 cents
pound. Sweet potatoes at 5 cents a
pound were but slightly higher than
7 white potatoes.
Thanksgiving Menu
I About the middle of November several
officers bought supplies Of luxuries that
q gave indications of Thanksgiving parties
= in prospect. Six yards of table damask
4 sold for $1.5O and a dozen linen napkins,
9 new dishes, chopping bowl and knife
e dried fruits, nuts and spices were charged
to Lieut.. r. H. Day, suggesting Thanks
E giving dinner with a rich fruit cake
- colonel Sanders also bought table dam
e ask, Malaga grapes at go cents a pound
LIZ
y bottles Of stuffed olives at rs cents. q
dozen packages of guava jelly at SO Is
n a boX OF grapes at 81, four bottles Of
= champagne, case of claret at $3.50 anC
, a case Of brandy at $27. Colonel Huston
. bought quart Of sherry at 81, three
= small wine glasses and two 75-cent pack:
OF playing cards. Other delicacies or.
dered by various soldiers included oyster:
e at 40 cents can, Shrimps at so cents
n can, chanberries at 35 cents a gallon anC
IS almonds at 35 cents a pound.
e Much Kerosene Used
d Probably the most frequent entry wa
coal oil at IS cents a gallon. OCCASIONAL,
% there was a charge for candles at from
" 80 to 40 cents a pound.
sr Vieing with coal oil for most frequen
= mention in the day book was whisky a
le $3.50 quart. This seems to have beer
l. the favorite drink, being bought NOR
frequently than tea or coffee. Occasion
u. ally entries show that beer was sold 70
q 81 a dozen bottles, peach brandy at $1.5
~ bottle, champagne at $1650 a dozel
~ pint bottles, and claret at $3.50 a dozeI
~ Durham tobacco sold for $1.50 poun
q and ordinary plug tobacco at 81; Gig
arets sold at 12c package and cigar
from to 10 cents each. Clay pipes cos
Id 5 cents apiece. Candy was priced at fror
a. so cents to 81 pound.
n Mess at the wood camp was. charge
oy for at the rate Of a trif1e over II cent
d, a day and wood choppers were paid 81 z
IL Yards for Dress
ed Ribbons and laces, embroidery cottol
)l- silk mittS and fancy dress goods ind
he Gated that an officer was married
tn though this was not always the cas-
ed When Lieutenant Munson had charge
MS IL yards Of cashmere at $108 a yal
(juSt about the amount for 8 dress
~ those days. and about $3.50 worth
81 household goods, the inference was th
~ he was Just setting UP housekeepin
TQITf Tvn 1ofe IL
1s a pair Of child's arctics at 81, one col
nc cluded that he had just sent for b
eli eli. family to join him.
q" Furs were not worth nearly as much
they are today and fur garments we
ne cheaper than cloth ones. Hudson
re, Bay" overcoat sold for $40, and buffa
N coat brought from $40 to $50, accordil
Icn to quality and trimming. A coat trimm
So with real beaver sold at $22.50. Buffa
all robes were priced at s5 and buffalo mo
res casins at 50 pair. DR.. Harvey purchas
a set of furs for $14650.
IN Scarlet "UndieS'
nd German socks sold for from 75 Ger
to $3.50 pair; overalls were $1.50 or
ck- pair; mems arctics were $275 a pa
oo- Rubber boots were $3.50 and leather boo
ay- $3.50 to $12 a pair. Wool shirts sold /
on about $3.50, and suspenders up, to SO
pair. Undershirts were from $3.50
of $3.50. A few Of the officers, more fastiC
Iov Gus than their fellows, bought suits
res scarlet underclothes at $5 a suit.
T1 A good wagon, with staves attacheC
a{ brought $50 and wagon cover sold !
ted SO. These were the days Of cover
for wagons. An anvil, wise and bellows 81
! of for $3.50 a hundredweight and corn
$3.50. Axle grease was So cents a CT
- An AK and helve brought $2.25 and
US large crosscut saw, $3.50. A baby bug
ner bought by w. B. Jordan was worth {
ma and a heating stove $18.
IN Lumber was sold in those days at sew
on cents a foot, cartridges at S1.50 a b
10 and steel mink traps were 80 a dozen
A frequent name on the day book y
'ner that Of Jacob Wertz who died at Pop
lah about two years ago. Two other nan
appear which are perpetuated in nan
dnt Of North Dakota postonices-Peter N
,ut- son ana FREQ Aanl: MenGlon IS q
made Of the John Thompson compa
which had a trading post at Wolf Poi
. James Boyd, Wolf Point, recalls the q
well. as about that time he was cook