PRICES

Mr. Craddock sketches the course of price in past as follows: The policy of road-making initiated by Sir R. Temple in 1862 was the first factor in the bringing about a rice in the prices of agriculture produce, but the quickening of trade, which this policy would have brought about, would necessarily have been a gradual process had it not be suddenly stimulated by the effect of the American War of Secession in 1862. The sudden demand for raw cotton to supply the Lancashire mills caused the price of that commodity to rise by leaps and bounds. The acreage place under the crop expanded enormously, and the price of grain and oilseeds at once rose in sympathy. Later on came a reaction; but the export trade had received an impetus, which was never wholly withdrawn. The opening of the railway to Nagpur in 1867; the rise of the cotton industry ten years latter; the simultaneous opening out of the markets in other part of India; the further extension of the Chhattisgarh line in 1882, and of the Bengal Nagpur line in 1889, have all contributed an increased demand for the produce of the country, and with it to an increased purchasing power of the owners of the land, the price of every kind of agriculture product having steadily risen. Now and then there have been fluctuations; a dull foreign trade of plentiful harvest have caused a temporary and particle fall; but succeeding failures or reviving exports have again come into play, until rates, which thirty or forty years age would have been regarded as a famine prices, are now looked upon as the normal rates which every agriculturist producer looks to realise. The history of prices, forming at once the most important factor in the prosperity of the agriculture classes and the main determinator of the ratio of rate enhancement divides itself into a two periods --- that prior to and including the year 1862 and that from 1863 onwards.’ The Imperial compilations of prices and wages go back as far as 1861, and they give only the retail rates at the chief market towns, being thereby subject to influence of the most local character. Mr. Craddock therefore, drew up from the account book of large estate and landowning firms a statement of the wholesale prices in rupees per khandi  (of 400 lbs. of wheat) at which produce was purchased from the cultivator of the harvest time. The statement thus obtained is given below, the rates having being converted into pounds per rupee; the percentage by which the price of the last period, preceding Mr. Craddock settlement, exceeded those of the first period preceding the 30 years settlement, is shown at the the end.

Period

Wheat

Cotton

Linseed

Juar

Til

Tur

Rice

Gram

Lakh

1841-62

 77

 27

 78

112

38

142

139

66.6

 114

1863–70

34.7

 8

 24.4

 50

22

45

40

43

53

1871–75

45.7

9.3

 32.6

 57

27.6

57

47

46

66.6

1876–80

35

9

27.7

47.7

19

50

38

39

52

1881–85

45.7

8.7

28

61.5

19

64

42

52

80

1886–90

39

9

26

50

19.5

53

40

41

55

Increase At Least Settlement:

The average rise in prices of the chief staples, of the District covering more than 90 percent of the cropped area during the period of thirty years settlement thus worked out the to 137 percent. As against this large increase, more than doubling the income of the agriculturist, the increase in the rental was only 33 percent. Another advantage to the agriculturist lay in the fact that the prices of the principle articles, which he requires to purchase, did not rise in the same proportion as that grain. The imports of European cloth and the establishment of local mills kept down the price of cloth, while the rate of salt though somewhat higher at the period of Mr. Craddock settlement than formerly, has since also largely declined.

Prices In Recent Years: -

The staple food-grain of the District is juar, which was selling at 44 lbs. to the rupee in 1891. It has never since been so cheap, the average for the decade ending 1900 working out at 35 lbs., while during the famine years of 1897 and 1900 the rate rose to 22 lbs. In 1906 it was 28 lbs. Wheat was 29 lbs. in 1891 and ranged between 18 lbs., a famine rate, and 33 lbs. during the decade ending 1900, the average rate being 25 lbs. Common rice was usually sold at 20 to 23 lbs. to the rupee during the fifty years ending 1906, while the best kind of rice now often fetches as much as aa rupee for 10 lbs. Ginned cotton fetched an average rate of 5 lbs. to the rupee between 1890 and 1900, and between 5 and 4 lbs. during the following five years, rising to 3lbs. at one time in 1907. Linseed was 17 lbs. in 1891 and 16lbs. to the rupee on the average during the decade ending 1900. During the next five years the rate was 14lbs. and in 1907 went as high as 8lbs. to the rupee. The average price of gram has been 30lbs. to the rupee in last fifteen years, varying between 25 and 39lbs, and rising to 18lbs. in 1897.

Prices Of Miscellaneous Articles: -

During the period 1860-74, before the abolition of the salt customs line in the latter year, the price of salt varied between 12 and 20lbs. to the rupee. Before the thirty years settlement, Mr. Craddock states it had been obtainable at 24lbs. The duty of Rs.3 per maund was lowered to Rs.2-8 in 1878 and Rs.2 in 1882, was again raised to Rs.2-8 in1888, reduced to Rs.2 in 1903, to Rs.1-8 in 1905 and to Rs.1 in 1907. The retail rates returned have varied with the duty; the price range from 21 to 24lbs. per rupee between 1878 and 1888, and was steady at about 20 lbs. between 1888 and 1902. It fell to 21½ lbs. in 1904, to 24 lbs. in 1905, 30lbs., in 1906 32lbs. in 1907. This is the rate for Bombay sea salt, which is generally used in the marãthã county. Khãràghoda salt, sold in big bolls, is more expensive, a rupee fetching only 16 to 20 lbs. This is generally preferred by immigrants by Bengal and Northern India. The sugar produced in northern India known generally as mirzãpuri, is now most consumed. It is sold at wholesale at Rs.4-8 a maund of 25½ lbs.  and retail at about 61lbs. to the rupee. Gur or unrefined sugar comes principally from northern India and is retailed at 10 to 12lbs. the rupee. Ghu now cost a rupee for 10 to 11 chittacks retail, and Rs.18 per maund of 24lbs. wholesale. In former times at sold at Rs.8 a maund. Ordinary milk is retailed at 16lbs. to the rupee and the best pure milk at 10lbs.cotton seed sales at 32lbs. per rupee in retail and Rs.18 a khandi of 640lbs. in wholesale transaction. Karabi or juar stalks cost from Rs.20 to Rs.70 per thousand large bundles, the lowest rate prevailing immediately after the harvest and the highest one in the hot weather. Oranges are sold at Rs.20 to Rs.30 a thousand at the crop season, but I the hot weather they are as dear as Rs.10 a hundred. Plantains cost Rs.2 to Rs.3 a hundred. Grass sells at about three rupees a thousand bundles, and the price of fuel has also largely risen, a cart-load at about 7cwt. costing for rupees, while it is retailed at 1½ cwt. to the rupee.