Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: February 1, 1863

The Virginia Legislature, now in session, has a bill under discussion for the suppression of extortion. One of the members, Mr. Anderson, read the following table of the prices of

AGRICULTURE PRODUCE.
Before the War.		Now.
White wheat, per bushel	$1.50	White wheat, per bushel	$4.50
Flour, per barrel	7.50	Flour, per barrel	22.00
Corn, per bushel	.70	Corn, per bushel	3.50
Hay, per hundred	1.00	Hay, per hundred	3.50
Hides, per pound	.07	Hides, per pound	.40
Beef, per pound	.08	Beef, per pound	.50
Bacon, per pound	.13	Bacon, per pound	.60
Lard, per pound	.15	Lard, per pound	1.00
Butter, per pound	.30	Butter, per pound	1.50
Irish potatoes	1.00	Irish potatoes	5.00
Sweet potatoes	1.00	Sweet potatoes	6.00
Apple brandy	1.00	Apple brandy	15.00
Wool, per pound	.30	Wool, per pound	2.00
MANUFACTURERS
Bar iron, per pound	.04	Bar iron, per pound	.20
Nails, per pound	.04	Nails, per pound	.60
Leather, sole, per pound	.25	Leather, sole, per pound	2.50
Leather, upper, per pound	.33	Leather, upper, per pound	3.50
COTTON GOODS.
Osnaburgs, per yard	.10	Osnaburgs, per yard	.75
Brown cotton, per yard	.10	Brown cotton, per yard	.75
Sheeting, per yard	.15	Sheeting, per yard	1.25
WOOLEN GOODS.
Coarse jeans	.45	Coarse jeans	4.00
Crenshaw’s gray	2.00	Crenshaw’s gray	28.00
MISCELLANEOUS.
Coarse shoes	$1.50	Coarse shoes	15.00
High-quartered shoes	3.50	High-quartered shoes	25.00
Boots	7.50	Boots	60.00
Wool hats, per dozen	7.00	Wool hats, per dozen	50.00
STOCKS.
Dividends on stocks in cotton companies, worth in May, 1861, $25 to $50 per share, now from $112 to $140

It is doubtful whether the bill will pass, as most of the members are agriculturists.

It is said and believed that several citizens from Illinois and Indiana, now in this city, have been sent hither by influential parties, to consult our government on the best means of terminating the war; or, that failing, to propose some mode of adjustment between the Northwestern States and the Confederacy, and new combination against the Yankee States and the Federal administration.

Burnside has at last been removed; and Franklin and Sumner have resigned. Gen. Hooker now commands the Federal Army of the Potomac — if it may be still called an army. Gen. R——, who knows Hooker well, says he is deficient in talent and character; and many years ago gentlemen refused to associate with him. He resigned from the army, in California, and worked a potatoe patch, Yankee like, on speculation — and failed.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 252-3