During the war period labor was much better off than during the Civil War epoch. The New York World presented the following table from the Merchants' Magazine of December, 1864, showing the rise of prices during the Civil War era:
| 1862 | 1864 | |
|---|---|---|
| Copper, 100 lbs | $22.00 @ $25.00 | $41.00 @ $42.00 |
| Coal, ton | 4.50 @ 5.00 | 9.00 @ 10.00 |
| Iron, pig | 21.00 @ 25.00 | 48.00 @ 49.00 |
| Lead, 100 lbs | 6.50 @ 6.75 | 11.75 @ 12.00 |
| Nails, 100 lbs | 3.25 @ 3.75 | 6.00 @ 6.25 |
| Ashes, pot bbl | 5.50 @ 5.75 | 8.75 @ 8.87 |
| Dry cod, cwt | 3.37 @ 4.25 | 6.50 @ 7.00 |
| Flour, bbl | 4.50 @ 5.60 | 7.30 @ 7.35 |
| Corn, 100 bush | 58.50 @ 60.00 | 131.00 @ 134.00 |
| Hay, 100 lbs | .80 @ .85 | 1.35 @ 1.40 |
| Wheat, bush | 1.30 @ 1.45 | 1.63 @ 1.65 |
| Hemp, cwt | 10.00 @ 11.25 | 14.00 @ 16.12 |
| Barley, bush | .85 @ 1.00 | 1.35 @ 1.50 |
| Oats, bush | .37 @ .39 | .90 @ .91 |
| Hops, 100 lbs | 14.00 @ 20.00 | 26.00 @ 33.00 |
| Clover seed, 100 lbs | 7.50 @ 7.75 | 12.50 @ 13.50 |
| Lime, bbl | .60 @ .65 | 1.25 @ 1.35 |
| Oil, whale, gal | .25 @ .35 | .58 @ .60 |
| Oil, coal, gal | .48 @ .57 | 1.10 @ 1.12 |
| Pork, bbl | 13.25 @ 13.75 | 21.75 @ 23.50 |
| Beef, bbl | 5.50 @ 8.00 | 10.00 @ 15.00 |
| Lard, 100 lbs | 7.50 @ 8.25 | 13.59 @ 14.00 |
| Whisky, 100 gals | 25.00 @ 25.50 | 89.00 @ 91.00 |
| Tallow, 100 lbs | 8.75 @ 9.00 | 12.62 @ 12.75 |
| Whalebone, 100 lbs | 68.00 @ 70.00 | 150.00 @ 155.00 |
| Wool, fleece, 100 lbs | 52.00 @ 53.00 | 78.00 @ 82.00 |
| Wool, pl'd, 100 lbs | 44.00 @ 45.00 | 70.00 @ 75.00 |
| Butter, 100 lbs | 16.00 @ 21.00 | 36.00 @ 37.00 |
| Cheese, 100 lbs | 5.00 @ 7.00 | 15.00 @ 18.00 |
"Wheat flour, one of the prime necessities, 'was at no time during the Civil War above $7.35 per barrel, which is somewhat less than four cents per pound,' while at the present time it is seven cents per pound, 'or close to 100 per cent. higher than the top notch of the '60s.' Lard has already advanced about 100 per cent., while its greatest advance during the Civil War was 75 per cent.
"'The present-day advance in the price of clothing in general has not been proportionate with the advance of foodstuffs, though it has been considerable, especially as to the cheaper grades. Cotton shirts that sold for 48 cents in 1913 are now bringing 90 cents to $1. Cheap hosiery has also about doubled in value. Suits that formerly sold for $15 are now bringing $17, which is about 10 per cent. advance. Cotton goods during the Civil War were exceptionally high, owing to the difficulty of procuring the staple. After the stocks on hand at the beginning of the war were exhausted, New England mills shut down because of inability to get supplies. In 1864 raw cotton ruled at 72 cents per pound, while at one time it touched $1.90. Cotton goods of all kinds were therefore extraordinarily high.'
Copyright Underwood & Underwood
Plowing by Night
The number of men drawn from Great Britain into the army and navy during the war was about 5,000,000. This meant extraordinary efforts of production were necessary on the part of those who were left behind. By means of a motor tractor and an acetylene gas generator, the owner of the farm shown above was able to run day and night shifts.
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