Hey Lyle- have you tried online newspapers? I know they posted a lot of 19th century papers from cities in SC a couple of years ago so I assume that Va  also has some. I used this for research and was very pleased with the results. Not sure how many prices were listed, but maybe enough to help.
 

 

Carl Steen
 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Lyle E. Browning <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Fri, Jul 30, 2010 3:04 pm
Subject: Costs of Stuff


I'm working on a set of sites dating from the Reconstruction Era to the early 
electricity period (1865-1940) in tobacco country. The literature on the subject 
refers to average incomes per year in various places but never mentions the 
costs of basics, staples and/or farm machinery. Could someone point me in the 
direction of compiled information that has staple prices and income figures 
(cost of a loaf of bread, pound of butter, average yearly income, etc.) for that 
time period? Also, has anyone compiled farm equipment prices for that time 
period on a yearly or decade basis?

Thanks in advance,

Lyle Browning, RPA