Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1886 — Good Showing for the Grangers [ARTICLE]

Good Showing for the Grangers

To dispel the illusion of certain people that the golden age was . our grandfather’s time, the Philadelphia North American thus . compares the prices of what the farmer has to sell then and now, as follows: 1816.- 1886. Wheat, per bu 44 • .99 Oats, per bu .15 .11 Corn, per bu .20 .46 Barley, per bu2s .80 Butter, per 115. .12 .30 Cheese, per lb .06 .10 Eggs, per dozos .12 Cows, per hdsls.oo $50.00 Hay, per ton 5.00 17.00 •Straw, per ton. 4.00 15.00 Sheep, per hd7s 2.00 Farm labor, per mo.. 8.00 18.00 The prices of some of the principal articles the farmer uses are also given for the two periods, as -.-follows: — ——'■—-— - - 1816. 1886. Steel, per 1b... .17 .12 Nails,per lb.. .12 .04 Broadcloth, j>er yd.. $16.00 $4.00 Wool blankets, perpr 15.00 7.00 Cotton cloth, per yd .30 JL2 Calico, per yd.. .. .25 .06 Salt, per bu..... And from these figures the North American draws the follow* ing deductions: “It will be seen that the cost of farm labor has increased rather more than 100 per cent But the selling price of farm products has increased all the way from 100 to 400 per cent. At the same time the cost of most -of the staples the farmer must buy has decreased from 20 to 50 per cent. The Illinois State Fair will be held in Chicago this year, as usual. It will be held upon the second week in September, the dates being from the 6th to the 10th. The .fair will be a “big thing." A ‘‘South American Indian Medicine Man" is stopping at the Now<els House. With him are a couple -of alleged Cuban Plantation Singers, who make excellent music upon the guitar and banjo. It is perhaps a proper time to suggest to such of our readers as are sick or fancy themselves to be so, that their wisest course is to consult a reputable physician and to put no trust in wandering “medicine men.”