Del, Thanks for bringing at up.
Yes, I finally found what I once read and heard. I have been re-watching the Ken Burns 'The West' on Netflix just this week. Well the comment about a 25 cent cartridge was made there. Now if you have the corresponding book it is on page 263. The comment was made by someone there and who wrote his own book about his buffalo hunting time in 1873, Frank H. Mayer. The statement was...
"When I went into the business, I sat down and figured... There were 20 million buffalo, each worth at least $3-- $60 million. At the very outside, cartridges cost 25 cents each, so every time I fired one I got my investment back....".
I was maybe wrong about the quote being related to Matterson. I did find his comment stating that he practiced a lot to keep up his advantage and image.
Just another point about the crowd that quotes exact pricing from Sear. Please read all the fine print. They did not mail ammo to individuals. They demanded cash payment for freighted items. The ammo had to freighted to a central location, then had to be gotten to the distant towns. That added more to the cost per box. Who could afford to travel such distances just to pick up a box or two of ammo? The only one who could or would buy like this would have been the Dry Good or General Stores, maybe mines and these bought in quantity. The stores would, like now, add mark-ups, it business. So my point is, if you are in an out of the way town or area the prices to the consumer will be increased for all the extra work to get it in remote areas. Just like today on some goods.
BRS