Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-29
FOOD WILL BE DEAR.
But There Will be Quite a Large
Salvage From Early Estimates.
FRUIT WILL HAVE A MONEY TASTE
Table Supplies Will be 50 Per Cent Higher
Than Last Year, but
THE LATE POTATO CROP WILL BE FAIR

Much complaint IL made in New York re-
gsrding the increased cost Of food and dire
predictions that it will 60 almost out Of the
reach of the poor next winter. The sltua-
tion, however, has been considerably exag-
Grated. While almost everything eatabie is
higher, some fruit more than twice as dear
as at this time year ago, there are indica-
tions that prices may have very nearly
reached the zenith.
Dealers in country produce in this city
are having pudding" as local farmers
have no fruit to enter into competition and
the local potato crop, SO far hasn't been OF
much account; but though dealers get the
handling of the principal part of such food
the supply is much larger than was ex-
pected three weeks ago and prices, with the
exception of butter, cheese and eggs, are in
clined to droop. Some dealers still hold
potatoes at s. 30 per barrel, but the majority
are glad to get $3 %. Greeh apples are also
coming forward in much greater quantities
than expected and are not so dear as was
anticipated
wATERMELoNs PLENTIFUL.
In the East complaint is made of the
high price of melons, but it is not abnormal
here. Good butter is very dear, but with
cold weather oleomargarine will compete,
and as it can be sold publicly in original
packages, despite the State law, all that
makers and consumers have to do is to see
that the packages are so small that they are
not beyond the requirements of families in
size. Cheese is high, but little can be
made 60 long way while price OF meat
does not 20 out OF sight Eggs are also
very dear for this time of year, but the hens
are at present moulting, and like most
animals of the feminine gender, they will
allow nothing to stand in their way of get
ting new dresses. As soon as the new crop
OF feathers is secured the galinR will get
down to business in genial climes, and win
ter prices are not likely to be much above the
ordinary. Sauer kraut will also be within
the reach of people OF moderate means.
Grain and -four will be high, but not so
high as expected, as the late rains have
done much good in the corn belt and the
extensive frosts expected did not fall. Hay
will be cheap, which will allow more corn
and oats Tor human consumption than
would be the case were it scarce.
Foreign fruits will be high, as importers
grasp the situation firmly, but the poor do
not eat much foreign fruit anyhow. and
they can substitute vinegar sling for lemon
ade, and q supply of vegetables will go far
to supply the dearth of fruit among those
whose purses are too short to reach 1t. and
those who have plenty of money will not
suffer anyway.
NOT so BAD AS REPORTED.
As to potatoes, it is estimated that the
crop is 100, 600, 900 short in this country and
233, 900, 900 bushels short in Europe. In
this country, however, these figures will
likely be revised in favor of the consumer.
The late crop is likely to be much larger
than promised when this estimate was made.
The later the plant the more likelihood of
3 large yield. Early varieties planted in
this county during the early part of June
are now as large as mans fist, with |
likelihood of at least two weeks more in |
which to grow. The writer knows this of |
his own knowledge. Aside from fruit the |
of prices is not likely to be |
more than 80 per cent. This is bad enough, |
but falls far within the estimate fortnight |
ago.
1t was urged three months ago that the |
price of board should come down, the rea-
sons then assigned cannot be found at |
present, and the hashery keepers may possi- |
bly, be able to look their patrons in the face |
and mt mn Drices ere the winter Ia over