New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-11-13
A HORLE IDEA.

Few persons have any conception OF the enor-
nifty of the tax levied upon Industry by Trade
and Speculation in the supply of our cities and
larger villages with their daily Food, especially
with Vegetables If we were to say that, above the
fair cost of transportation, the consumers Of our
city pay in the average twice as much for their
vegetables as the producers receive, we should be
within the truth. On Poultry and kindred meats
tie enhancement may or may not exceed twenty
FIVE per cent. Even barrel of Flour can rarely
be bought by poor man at an advance Of less
than dollar per barrel on the wholesale price of
lust such Flour, while smaller quantities and all
Salt Meats retailed from the barrel are enhanced
in price over cost at least twenty five per cent 1t
is a very moderate assumption to say that the en-
tire cost of the Food of our City Population is en-
HANGED to the consumer at least thirty per cent by
the charges and profits of the retail dealer.
Is this unavoidable Some persons say not and
they are not necessarily fools. Their ideas may
be visionary to-day, vet sound and practical the
day after tomorrow. A great many things were
visionary once which ceased to be such long
while ago. We do not decide that the time for this
or any kindred reform has yet come we only
know that if it has not yet come it will hereafter.
Boston is pronounced the City of Notions" One
of it's latest is that of Lyceum Hotels wherein Lii
braries, Cabinets of Minerals PhilosOphc Appara-
tus, Scientific Lectures and Demonstrations, with
facilities for rational and refining entertainments
shall supplant the bars and other ministers to de.
PRAYED appetite, which have hitherto been their
chief attractions. The realization of this idea has
barely begun but it is calculated that ere long
each township in the State containing many as
one hundred families shall have its Lyccum Hotel
repete with every Indictment to mental and moral
culture combined with rational enjoyment and
fit entertainment alike for citizens and strangers
but without one drop of aught that Can into1icate
or madden. And this shall yet be realized.
1.-THE Boston House of Equity" is another pro-
ected step in the right direction. 1t proposes to
buy the farmers products, (and the best fabrics
well,) for cash nfexibly, and distribute them to
it's customers in such quantities as may be re-
duired, for uniform commission of five per cent
This is to include the cost of delivery at any
point in Boston Ultimately, it is intended that
every article which may be wanted shall be sup
piled through the House of Equity at COM
mission of five per cent above the wholesale price
said commission TO include all charges, securing to
every customer the services Of an experienced and
capable buyer and the advantage of goods BY retail
st wholesale prices. The warehouse of this enter.
prise is at No. ~ Tremont-st., Boston, aud Amos
B Keith is the General Agent. 1.-The Peoples
Paper" a small weekly at 81 per annum is
isssed BY him to elucdate and commend the
enterprise.
OF course, this project appears very crude and
rash to those who know nothing of it but what is
set forth above. Nay, we presume 1t is crude, and
Will need a great deal of mending and pruning
before 1t will prove practical Perhaps the pro-
jector is a visionary, and knows not what he is
about; or Mr.. A. B. Keith may be penness
adventurer, desperate rogue, an incOrrigbe
fool, or whatever else you please. He may run
on, the capital or never have had any, OF run
away, for aught we know. But, after all is said
against him that, truly falsely, be- the fact
remains that be is the exponent of noble idea,
and one which will yet be rendered practical.
Were the supply and distribution of food in cities
organized by wards and districts, as the supply
and distribution of newspapers are, we should dis
miss al army of forestallers aud spectators on
mans urgent needs to some productive and lsud
able pursuit, while largely increasing the comfort
this be DONE Where s the insurmountable i'm
pedimentl
-