The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-01-02
THE FALL IN PRICES.
General Depression Existing in England,
Due TO q Variety of Causes-Its Prob
able Effects

to variety of causes, exists at tn,
present time, which is calculated tt
have important social and commercial
effects. 1t is proved by slight exam
ination that ~ compared with the cor
responding period of last year th,
purchasing power of sovereign has
undoubtedly increased. This result
is especially andj Immediately ascrib
able to fall in the market values Of
almost all the necessaries of life
Food, clothing, and fuel are severally
cheaper, in some articles by as much
as 10 per cent; that is to say, 18 shil.
lings this year will buy almost as
much as a pound did last. 1t is, how
ever, in the more densely populated
neighborhoods that this decline in re
tail prices may be particularly noticed.
In what are called quitting" locali-
ties the changes in the wholesale quo
tations are quickly reflected in the
amended figures attached to samples
in the tradesmen's shop windows, but
in better class districts, where fam
| lily" or regular trade is done, the mar
ket fluctuations have not necessarily
an immediate effect, the principal
object of the shop-keeper being to pre-
serve as nearly as possible an equality
OF scale. Consequently, he sometimes
bears the loss of slight rise without
alteration of his prices, recoupling
himself when occasion offers by charg-
ing his customers at higher rates on
articles which ought, in strict justice.
be cheaper Tradesmen, again, who
have to call for and book orders, give
credit, and send goods home are nat
urally less prepared to allow the pub
lie the full advantage of a drop in
wholesale prices; but those who work
upon the rough and ready cash sys-
tenn are compelled by competition to
adopt different method, and it will
be found that their prices are gener-
ally in closer accord with the ruling
figures of the wholesale trade. 1t is
of this class of tradesmen that wage
.earners and people OF small and linn
tied incomes buy most largely. and
hence it is Che needy portion of
the population which really derives
most benefit by the prevailing cheap
ness Of the most important commodi-
ties.
Taking articles of food in the order
of their Importance, as determined by
the inreads they make upon the private
purse, there is first, butchers meat,
which may generally be said to abb
sorb five shillings of a middle-class
housekeeper's sovereign. Beef and
mutton are, on the whole, penny per
pound cheaper than they were last
November, as there is plenty of meat
in the market. Foreign supplies of
frozen and other meat have done much
to keep prices down, but it is said by
some authorities that New Zealand
mutton is becoming so popular that it
will shortly equal the price of home
grown. The opening of parliament
has had beneficial effect upon the
value of sirloins of beef and legs of
mutton, which are now in great de-
mand in the West end. 1t is not so
much in the fall of price that the gen.
eral public profits as by the improve
ment in quality. the fine season having
developed the nutritious elements of
Ill classes of meat. stock having fed
better. Notwithstanding these con-
'iderations butchers are crying out |
hat trade is slow, if not bad, and they
attribute this partly to the cheapness
If poultry. Poultry, wherever it is
,ut before the public at fair prices,
certainly commands a ready sale, the
purchasers being the working and
over middle classes, to whom pair of
owls at one time might have been a
cry rare luxury. 1t frequently hap
'ens now, however, that poultry is as
heap as butchers meat, and this year
here is a reduction of as much as
ence in the retail price of the ordinary
rish fowl, which sold wholesale last
ear at shillings "a pence, but which
an be bought this season for 2
killings pence, the reason being
hiefy a plentiful supply, the weather
aving been most favorable to the
reeders. Smaller birds are to be had
/ quantities as low as l shilling 3
ence each, and tradesman with
uick sale often sells them at nominal
rofits. AS compared with last year
lere is reduction of pence on each
wi of this description. Wild and
stend rabbits, both highly popular as
roviding an occasional and welcome !
lduSe III tnt uOHcStic menu, are hiSO
reaper by few pence. Cumberland {
inns are, however, 20 shillings hun {
more, the long summer j
wing diminished the supply, while :
'eventing any considerable addition 9
the stock, as hams have to be pre- G
red in the colder months. Geese, a
hich are chiefly from Normandy, n
ow a fall in price. A goose which q
st a customer shillings last year +,
now procurable for shillings.
sh, another substitute for meat, is on
3 average unchanged. On vegeta-
IS, potatoes especially, saving can p
effected, provided they are bought I
quantities of not less than a sack h
lerwise it is the retailer, and not the e.
1sumer, who gains by the remark k
e fall in wholesale prices, which ii
s brought about by the large yield N
he effect of the rain in the middle a.
the summer. In one variety there al
/ decline of nearly f2 ton, and the oil
all price for lmagnum bonums th
'uld be about half what was asked tn
live months ago. One halfpenny tn
ind is by no means an unusual OF
ce, and some potatoes are sold for ps
l.; Eipht ShillinUs less a quarter la