The Price of Survival in Early Snohomish
A look at the 1870s market ledger reveals the volatile costs of basic survival, from milch cows to butter and grain, in the burgeoning river town.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
SNOHOMISH CITY MARKET REPORT: STOCK. Milch Cows, per head $40.00@$50.00; Work Oxen, per yoke $100@$125; Beef cattle, on foot, 4c lb; Horses, per head $100@$125; Sheep, per head $2.50@$3.00; Hogs, on foot 10c lb. PROVISIONS, etc. Bacon, 14c lb; Lard, 15c lb; Chickens, $5.00@$6.50 doz; Eggs, 50c doz; Flour, per bbl $8.75; Wheat, per bushel $1.25@$1.35; Butter, 40c lb; Cheese, 25c lb; Onions, 4c lb; Beans, 8c lb; Hay, per ton $15.00@$20.00; Potatoes, per bushel $1.00; Apples, 10c lb; Tallow, 12c@15c lb; Salmon, 10c lb.
“Milch Cows, per head $40.00@$50.00; Work Oxen, per yoke $100@$125.”
This market report captures the inflationary pressures of a frontier economy, reminding us that Snohomish’s identity has always been tied to the struggle of balancing local production with the high costs of essential goods. Today’s concerns over food insecurity and the rising cost of living in the Snohomish valley echo these 19th-century price fluctuations.
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