Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-02-03

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 1t IS the day book of Leigh
! ton & Jordan from Sept. - 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 al Fort Buford.
/ A dozen years before the coming Of
the railroad, merchandise was brought
up the Missouri river by steamboat
during those months when the river
was open. and by sledges from St. Paul
during the winter Wood was used for
fuel by steamboats, and there were
wood choppers camps at frequent in
teryals along the river One Of these
camps was located at Fort Buford. an
other at Wolf Point, with several be-
tween Freight overland from ST. Paul
to Fort Buford amounted to Sl90
hundredweight and from New York
was about 81. A single sleigh. pur-
chased in St Paul for S35, had S5.75
freight charge.
Butter purchased in st. Paul at from
10 to 20 cents a pound sold at 40 cents
in small quantities and IS cents when
q tub. or firkn, was bought. Eggs sold
at 40 cents dozen in September. were
not on the market In November. and
shipment arrived. Sugar sold for 20
cents pound, lemons 81 a dozen and
apples so cents a dozen. Potatoes
brought Az cents a pound. Cheese sold
for from rs cents to 40 cents; tea, 81
lard, 20 cents; bacon, Is cents; flour,
z cents, and fresh meat, 8 cents a
pound. Coffee was 30 cents a pound
- q
ground Goldfish was Is cents a pound,
salmon, 40 cents a can, and canned
turkey, IS cents a can. Dried apples
were Is cents; dried raisins, 20 cents,
and dried currants and pruneS, 20
cents a pound. Honey in the comb sold
at three pounds for ST. maple syrup
was 81 so for a half-gallon pail, while
vinegar was so cents TO 81 gallon !
Beans were cents a pound and pigs
feet 20 cents a pound Sweet potatoes |
at cents pound were but slightly
higher than white potatoes.
Thanksgiving Menu
About the middle of November sew (
eral officers bought supplies OF lux /
urieS that gave indications of Thanks
giving parties in prospect. Six yards of I
table damask sold for 81 so and dozen
fine napkins, new dishes, chopping
bowl and knife, dried fruits, nuts and
spices were charged to Lieut.. r. II.
Day, suggesting a Thanksgiving dinner
with a rich fruit cake. Colonel Sanders
also bought table damask, Malaga
grapes at so cents pound, box Of
srystallized fruit at SIPS, two bottles
If stuffed olives at rs cents, dozen
of guava jelly at $325, a box
If grapes at 81, four bottles of cham
1agne, a case of claret at $3.50 and a
,aSe of brandy at SGT. Colonel Huston
Fought a quart of sherry at 81, three
mall wine glasses and two 75-cent
JACKS of playing cards. Other delca-
les ordered by various soldiers includ-
ID oysters at 40 cents a can, Shrimps
1t so cents a can, cranberries at IS
ents a gallon and almonds at IS cents
pound.
Much Kerosene Used
Probably the most frequent entry was +,
oal oil at rs cents a gallon. Occasion
lily there was charge for candles at
rom 30 to 30 cents a pound.
Vieing with coal oil for most frequent (
nention in the day book was whisky at ,
! so a quart This semes TO have been
he favorite drink, being bought more !
than tea or coffee. Occasion
lily entries show that beer was sold for s
4 a dozen bottles, peach brandy at ;
l.50 a bottle, champagne at Sl6-50 a Z
Oxen pint bottles, and claret at $3.50
dozen.
Durham tobacco sold for $50