The evening world., 1888-01-23
WORDS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE RECENT RISE IN COAL A SERIOUS
NATTER TO SMALL DEALERS

sugar Mt Cost-Kerosene Oil Up n Cent a
Gnilon-Talks with Retailers.
A blue-eyed German lad was beating a
merry tattoo with n pair of ~cleavers as an
EVENING WORLD reporter, still following up
east-side business conditions, entered the
market of Theodore Rettsteadt, at 2O2 East
Thirty seventh street. ue was cutting up q
Hamburger steak for a waiting customer.
Business is pretty fair" said Mr.. Rett-
steadt. but he gets some small orders, even to
a half pound of short steak, which would cost
six cents.
Halo, little baby !" was the first remark
which came to the ears Of the reporter in the
little grocery store of p. L. Gallagher, one
step dow from the sidewalk at 2O3 East
Thirty-seventh street. 1t was addressed to q
little one who had a bad cold and was held
close to the breast of a woman who was Just
finishing a small purchase. To the reporters
usual question, Plenty to eat and little to
do" was the reply, backed up by q smiling
remark that he might better send green
backs than questions"
A small and sleek brown dog gave welcome
at Mrs. Glennon's grocery and candy store at
236 East Thirty seventh street. Mrs. Glen
non appeared next from her living rooms in
the rear or the store. Trade isn't much
Just now" said She. so many are out of
work it makes business quiet" Still she had
some good customers and it wasn't so bad for
a small store. Then there entered a very
little boy with a very little voice, who tightly
elntched two cents for the giving up of
f. G. Whiting and his cheerful wife de-
clared that at their store, 219 East Thirty
eighth street, business was very quiet. Mr..
Whiting went on Everything is high, no
matter what it is, Kindling wood has gone
even lamp chimneys and glass. Bottled soda
is the only thing that stays where it was.
Prices go up for us, but we can't raise on our
customers. Eggs are 20 and 26 cents a dozen
for fresh ones, and onions are 81 O barrel.
Potatoes have gone up to 49, 5 and are going
higher"
Mr.. Whiting sells coal at 10 cents a pail and
kindling wood, by the peach basket measure,
at five cents.
At 2l5 East Thirty-eighth street Mrs. Boyls-
ton has sold small groceries for twenty years,
A pleasant girl behind her counter said that
business was much affected by the rise in coal
and other things, but was better at some times
than at others. A great many people in the
neighborhood were out OF work. I'VE
couldn't get on EVENING WORLD last night"
added the girl. They were all sold out up
this way
Mrs. ID. White. at 214 East Thirty eighth,
has for six months carried on a business
which was established years ago. She sells
groceries and is n licensed dealer IN oil. She
said IT'S a bad time for trade. People
a Re-. out OF work and It comes very slow"
lunches at the rate of two for five cents or
one for three. A bunch contains about fifty
blocks of perhaps 2 inches by SO, and the
wholesale rate is fifty punches for 80 cents.
months run the market at 210 East Thirty
eighth street. Trade is a little better. but
generally quiet" the reporter was told. "Of
course, the people in this locality are many
weather they find themselves unable to work.
Some of our orders are very small, but we
know the people need something, and we
have to give it to them, even if it doesn't
pay"
A barrel of turnips blocked the entrance
for a moment at Mrs. Margaret Carroll's little
grocery, at 211 East Thirty eighth street, but
it was soon clear and the philosophical pro-
p~rietress said Business is just middling,
but We manage to get along. OF course,
everything is dearer than it used to be. but
we must expect things to rise and fall. There
are n good many people out of work, but
many o. them wouldn't be 80 hard up if they
had carried their money as they ought to
when they had it,"
At the orderly grocery of Hauschild &
Tietjen, 203 East Fortieth street. business
was reported quite slow. In regard to the
rise in sugar one of the proprietors said /:
~ tllt & NIlty III buBdT III CObI
prices, and we have to hold it low, too"
In addition to the high prices prevalent in
coal and kinding wood, complaint is now
made about the recent rise in kerosene oil.
1t has advanced one cent on the gallon, and
he small dealers are compelled to make q
corresponding increase.
John Schillo, who keeps a neat little gro
Gerry store at 2lS Chrystie street, said II am
glad to See that TuE EVENING WORLD il let
ting the people know the condition of the
poor people on the east side. The recent rise
in coal is n serious matter to the small deal
Why, sir, | often lose from 10 to % cents on
n ton. for when my customers buy O half pail
at Il time, as most of them do. they feel that
they are cheated unless l fill the pail two
thirds full.
Another thing that is affecting us is the
recent lise in kerosene oil. 1 have been get
ting it at six and eight cents q gallon, now |
have to pay seven aud nine cents, and as |
sell it for nine and ten cents it leaves q profit
of one cent on the gallon. l sell groceries in
very small quantities; in fact, as small as my
customers wish. 1t would not pay me to give
credit"
Christopher Boun keeps a grocery store at
10 stanton street. Yes" said he, "busi-
ness Is pretty dull round here, and the peo-
pie are poor. Many of them are out of work.
five cents q half pail to six cents, and now
make hardly anything on a ton. sometimes
give credit"
Henry Engel has a little shop at 212 Chrys-
tic street. His wife was behind the counter
when The EVENING WoRLD reporter entered.
the reporters question. well, dull is
not the name for it. What, with coal and
kerosene going NJ in pric,, l don't see what
we small grocers are going to do. We give
credit to n few customers; we have to for the
people are very poor In this part of the city
and too MANN of tlApn T,1f nf xvnrl "