Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 129, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 December 1909 — How Things Have Changed During the Past Fifty Years. [ARTICLE]

How Things Have Changed During the Past Fifty Years.

Fifty years ago farmers drove ox teams to Kentland on a Saturday afternoon to do their trading, and paid 15c a yard for calico. Twenty-five years ago they came in in buckboards and two wheeled carts driving Texas ponies and prairie “skates” and calico had dropped to 10c. came lumber wagons drawn by fairly good teams of plough horses. Later came the buggy and carriage and every hired hand in the township supported a high stepping and high reined driving horse. And now on a Saturday afternoon a good sized fortune is tied up in automobil s lined up along the court house square. Calico is only 6c a yard but there is little demand. People want silks and satins. Of course living is higher these days, but in striking a comparison you must take into account the manner of living.— Kentland Enterprise.