The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-12-10
Gtaqntelliasater
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lHeI6 III one Clhhh Of our EeHuBt9 WnOI
we very much fear, do mt take the
daily papers; or II they take them do
not read them, or II they read them
never happen on the provision res
ports; or Lrthey do, fall to get any In
formation thereirom. We refer to tho
bakers; and seeing that they consume
30 much flour, It seems curious they
areso slow TO discover that there has
been decline In the price. This Is so
singular u thing that many have spok-
en- about It, and wondered why the
bakers have not been able to dis.
cover, what everybody else has
discovered that flour has kot down
to IS or 90 a barrel. whereas but 1.-TWO
or three years ago It was SIS or SIG.
When flour sold at the latter figures,
the bakers loaf sold at Ten cents. Now
that Il sells at IS to 50, the bakers loaf
is still ten cents and not perceptibly
larger. One Of two things 10 therefore
certain: The bakers sold at a very
short profit then, or they get very
long one now; because the cost Of ma.
terial is some sixty per cent less than
then, and the price the same. We can.
not suppose they sold then at loss or
even without a profit. Nobody volun-
tarily manufactures and sells at loss.
Yet II there was any profit then, the
profit must be unduly large now.
A large proportion OF the households
In this city are supplied by the bakers.
The majority OF these, we believe, are
households to whom the cost Of bread
Is an Item Of importance. The best
regulated households do their own
baking; but there are many fam
lilies wherein, from lack OF fuel or other
baking facilities, want Of means to buy
material, lack Of knowledge or Of In.
dustry, or because they have never
figured up how much more costly 1t Is,
all the bread that Is eaten comes from
the nearest BAKERS. People who could
do their own baking, but knowingly
pay the baker two or three times as
much for bread US they could have It
baked for In their own kitchens, de-
serve neither sympathy nor aid. We
do not write on their behalf. But II is
the very poor who always suffer most
from the exaclions Ofthose with whom
they deal. They can only live, as the
phrase Is, iron hand to mouth )" they
must buy In small quantities from dag
TO day; rarely, II ever, get enough to
buy barrel Of flour at once, or to pro.
vide facilities for baking or are per-
haps too shiitless to do It II they could.
They must pay whatever prices are
asked them; at least they do. In most
cities the price Of the loaf and the
weight are regulated by law, and some
think ought to be here.
We want to see every man thrive by
his business, but the welfare OF the
whole requires that he shall also let
others thrive. No one is obliged; 1t Ia
true, to buy bread at the bakers unless
he chooses {; but among bakers as
among others, 1t Is possible to ar
range combinations and establish prac.
teal monopolles so that the people are
driven by circumstances to pay exor.
bltant prices. Especially that part Of
the community who may be considered
In some sense the Victims OF clrcum-
stances. need to be protected against
extortlon for such u necessary article
as bread.
AZ long as the bakers can sell their
bread at present prices they will do 1t.
ills too much TO expect good bread and
the virtue OF self denial thrown In.
What Is wanted Ia either regulation by
law, or possibly better-competItion.
Making bread must be exceedingly
profitable at present prices. Why do
not more engage In ltH Why don't
some enterprising man go to work and
bake good bread at eight cents, or six
He could make money at five, with
flour ct present prices, and lonves at
present sizes. But let some one
here In the business put down Figures
to ak or seven, aud grateful public
will see that he don't lose anything by
1t. Or II none now In the business will
do 1t, let some one start In on the
Idea Of cheaper bread. Cheaper bread
Ia what the people want and what the
timeS demand. A live man who can
supply the want can make his fortune,