Homestead mailing list

[Clansgian AT wmconnect.com]

In a message dated 1/7/2009 12:01:26 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
lurine AT com-pair.net writes:


> Out of his 1870 journals, here's a few things he sold:  mutton - $0.08/lb,
> beef - $0.07/lb, pork - $0.05-$0.10/lb, carrots & turnips - 1/2 cent/lb,
> beets, cabbage & peas - $0.01/lb, eggs - $0.25/doz., apples - $0.01/lb, soup
> bones - $0.50/pkg, mixed veggies - $0.25/basket.
> 
> Somethings he bought:  flour - $8/bbl (200 lb), sugar - 12-1/2 cents/lb,
> syrup - $4.50/keg, coffee - $0.25/lb, cornmeal - $1.75/50# sack, whiskey -
> $1/qt or $1.75/1/2 gal, calico - 12-1/2 cents/yd, gingham - $0.25/yd, shoes
> (for the boys) - $2.50/pr, overalls - $1/ea, men's boots - $5/pr, hayrakes -
> $0.75/ea, slate & 8 slate pencils - $0.25, pocket knife - $0.25-$1.75.
> 

Lynda, execllent example for the discussion!

The items in the sold list, would you think that's "wholesale" as it were, 
what he'd get selling it to a store or to individuals.  Let me assume 
individuals as it puts my point at a disadvantage.

In 1870 a day's wage for a trained AB man was $1.  That's equivalent to about 
$20/hr today or about $160.  You can't compare it to minimum wage because it 
was the wage that loggers, miners, teamsters, and such received which then 
and 
now is far above the minimum (customary minimum then and enforced minimum 
now).

So from the list a pair of overalls cost a day's wages.  Today a pair of 
Carharts or Poiters cost about $160, also a day's wages.  (Pointer overalls 
are 
made right here in Bristol, TN so they are a good comparison).  Calico at 
12.5 
cents would be like $20 a yard, and it would be that today if it were not 
made 
overseas.  A pocket knife at a quarter would be $40.  That's what I paid for 
a 
decent pocket knife at Christmas and they had some that sold for as much as 
$300 which matches the 1870 high end.  So some rough comparisons can be made 
between then and now as to what things cost in terms of a full day's wages.

But look at food:  Even if your family was getting retail, they were getting 
the equivalent of $12 a pound!  That means raising one good steer to 
slaughter 
would bring in the equivalent of $7000.  I might ask Lynn how fast she could 
pay off her mortgage if she got $7000 out of every steer she raised and had 
no 
cash expenses in doing so.

Eggs fetched the equivalent of $40.  Apples $1.60 a pound.  A basket of 
vegetables for $40.  We just bought 200 lbs of wheat (flour cost the same 
from 
Wheat Montana) for about $100.  But the 1870 equivalent price is $1200.  Even 
if 
you referenced the cost to the 2009 minimum wage (which would not be a fair 
comparision), the wheat would still cost almost $500.

Or forget modern equivalents.  A pair of overalls for a dozen eggs, or two 
yards of cloth for a basket of vegetables.  One and a half sacks of cornmeal 
for 
a pair of shoes.

If we compare apples to apples, that is for example, modern domestically hand 
made boots and shoes to 1870 domestically hand made boots and shoes, your 
family journal demonstrates my main point about supporting the cash needs of 
a 
modern homestead from farm produce.  Farm produce was sharply more valuable, 
relatively more valuable, then than it is now.

When I can get 1/4 day's wages for a doxen eggs or a basket of vegetables, or 
I can get the price of a good used tractor and all equipment for the price of 
one beef, I'm going to get into that game too, and no mistake!


James