302 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



lowing for increased wages. The argument of the laborer, however, 

 is familiar enough to our ears. "Ask a workman in Toronto who 

 thinks his wages ought to be $1.75 per day instead of $1.50 as formerly, 

 why he makes the demand, and he will tell you that it is because pro- 

 visions are dear — because the cost of maintaining his family is much 

 greater than ever before," Beef which the year before was at 6| to 8^ 

 cents per pound, was then 10 to 14 cents; mutton which was 5 to 5| 

 cents, was then 6\ to 8|; potatoes, formerly 36| to 46^ cents per 

 bushel, were 90 to 97 cents; hay was $9.00 to $12.00 a ton, and then 

 $18.00 to $22.00. In fact it is claimed that prices are in many cases 

 as high in Toronto as in New York, to which formerly much Canadian 

 product was sent. For some time before this, owing to higher prices 

 in the United States, Canadian cattle had been shipped out of the 

 country, but then in the face of a greatly increased demand, due to 

 railroad construction and other enterprises, there was great scarcity. 

 Within another year and a half we find the tide flowing in the opposite 

 direction, Canada importing from the United States large quantities 

 of food products. 



Already there were appearing in the papers savage attacks upon 

 the bakers and other purveyors of food, who, being nearest the con- 

 sumer, were chiefly blamed for the increase in prices. In August 1854, 

 a baker, replying to some of these attacks, points out that although 

 wheat had lately fallen slightly in price owing to the incoming harvest, 

 yet the price of flour had not fallen, the baker having still to pay 

 $7.00 to 7.25. It is true, he admits, that certain grades of bread may 

 be bought at 13^ to 14 cents, but the best bread cannot be sold under 

 15 cents. The baker, he says, has to meet high prices of labor, high 

 rents and dear provisions. 



The Globe, in the beginning of 1855, presenting a review of the 

 year 1854, referred, of course, to the remarkable increase in the price 

 of wheat owing to the outbreak of the Russian War. The Canadian 

 farmers having enjoyed a good harvest were in a very prosperous 

 condition. The large expenditures during the year in construction 

 of railroads and in the expansion of towns and cities had also added to 

 the prosperity of the Province. Laborers had flocked in and found 

 immediate employment at high rates of wages, while every article 

 for their support and for the construction of the railroads had com- 

 manded high prices. The only backset had been in the price of tim- 

 ber which owing to the outbreak of the War and the over-supply in 

 British yards had fallen in value. This had caused some failure 

 among the Canadian dealers. The close of the year had found some 

 stringency in the money market which might perhaps act as a check 

 upon the growing tendency to speculation in Canada. However, there 



