The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-23
THE PRICE OF BREAD.

THE REASON OF THE ADvANCE-NUMBER on
LoAvEs IN BARREL OF FLoUR--oFFIcIAL
EXPERIMENTS.
Washington correspondence Of the Baltimore SUM-
The recent rise in the price OF broad has drawn public
attention again 10 subject which has trsm time 70
tmc engaged the attention OF municipal authorities in
this country for century past An experimental
baking, conducted many years since by the corporate
authorities Of OF tho district towns gave 275 pounds
OF broad the product OF ono barrel OF flour.
This only tho succnct statement OF a fact which
may DO stated at largo IN a condensed extract
from tho minutes OF the Common Council OF Alexandra
tat that time in the Distrial to the effect that tho
Common Council appointed committee on the subject
Of the proper asszes OF bread, aud that committee
reported 'that tho clerk OF tho market attended
Andrew Estavo IN baking ono barrel OF -four into
bread and that It produced 275 oaves Of sixteen
each" Other bakers OF the town also made
pcrimenta bakngs from one barrel OF -four, with the
following rcsuis:-David Henderson, $50 pounds;
Duncan Charles .6s pounds; Thomas Simms, 202
pounds Lawrence Swan, 2js pounds, and samuel
Cooper, 246 pounds on this subject leading baiGf
addressed yesterday dccorous note 10 the Washington
bureau Of the Sun. He communicates most interest,"
ing report Of Major George Bell United States Com
mssary OF subsistence, lately In charge oil tho depot
this city, from which II appears that the l9h Of
May, 1884, the Bakers Association OF this city dcllv
cred Major Bell three barrels OF -four ono, Balti-
brand. los pounds and tho third Washington extra
brand, la41s pounds. He produced from this hour
(avcraging TO-, " pounds To the barrell IAN average
weight OF bread Tor each barrel OF $50. pounds"
Major Bel says-"Had all the barrels contained l9d
pounds each, and all the flour worked up In the same
manner, the yield Of bread would have been POI. so
pounds"
flour used NJ the government bakeries IN washing
ton, Alexandra aud the neighDorhood during the late
war was s per cent n0.Sn's gives S';e 10 Tho mean
Department In this city ms varying from 3i7 per
cent or 25S pounds, 70 10 por cent or ia pounds
OF bread barrel OF 1896 pounds The increase s'dc.
pending oil course on the quality OF Hour used, being
In these cases oi larger producton tho best southern
red wheat ground al n mill IN Georgetown"
1t thus seems evident thas Tho quantity OF broad
yielded by a barrel OF Hour depends mainly on the
quality of tho -four somewhat on the skill of tue
baker, and, perhaps, a little on atmospheric infu-
uenccs At the government bakeries moro the yield
was, according TO Major Bcil's statement, IRON Esd
pounds to 244 pounds Of bread to the barrel Accord
Ing TO tho Alexandria statement the yield was from
2i6 10 $50 pounds; while tho lhrce barrels OF extra
Association yielded the rate OF .6i 81 poAnds per
barrel. All these calculations are based on The
sumption that barrel Of Hour contains lv6 pounds.
The bakers view OF the matter we'll set forth In the
following statement BY Mr. John y. Havenncr, one Of
tho caaing IN the bread trade in the District ho
says"The bakers have to purchase tho nour alter II 10
Inspected and never get tho full quantity 1876 pounds
Major Bells experiment should satisfy any iair.
minded person that even when the greatest caro- IL
taken the baker only calculate traction over
100 from each barre and IN TACT taking the
cra run OF Hour the experience OF most men In tho
trade Is that 1t Is unsafe TO expect more than 250
loaves Secondly OF the bread made In the Dis
trct cities about twOthirds Is sold by tho bakers
the grocers aud through them reaches the consumer
Now take 800 oHycs at the present advanced prices
which i've cents 10 stores and SIX cents To famics
delivered ms above stated, and CHE product OF ono
barrel Of aour will give tho baker Sl3 49, deduct price
oil BAKERS mixture per BARREL 81 %. and you have
gross profit OF 50 So, from which Is 10 DO again do
Quoted the expenses OF Tho business house rent or
taxes horses and wagons, wages OF Journeymen. and
last but least bad debts, tor the Old adagc,
bread forgotten. is every day experienced by
those who supply tho people with broad and think
you Will lind that II ~ necessity aud not avarico which
has compelled the bakers TO increase tho price Of
bread