The record-union., 1892-04-26
HIGH PRICES AND SAN FRAN
CISCO.

In these columns it has been said thai
an injurious adhesion to high scale Of
prices in California is a serious detriment
to the State; that the idea that in Califor-
mia a high scale is excusable because
this is California; is one without reason
or legitimate defense. We cited the case
of the sale of the hat in San Francisco
store for $40, which in New York would
fetch but So, the addition of 81 being put
on, in the words of the hat merchant,
because this is California, and higher
prices generally obtain here"
The maintenance of this generally
higher scale is due more to the San Fran
cisco than to any other influence. II
illustrates what we have frequently
charged, that the San Francisco mer-
chants are not solicitous that there shall
be lower transcontinental transportation
rates because of any concern they may
have for the welfare of consumers, but
simply that they, the dealers, may have a
still wider margin of profit. Ifthese trans
portation rates were reduced greatly to-
day, it is not at all probable that consum-
ers buying in San Francisco would ex-
perience any lessening of the prices
they now pay for imported goods
Another instance even more signifi-
cant than that of the $40 hat is that of the
prices paid for clothing in San Francisco,
which are regulated by the generally
high" standard, and the idea that s'this
is California, you know" Ready-made
clothing in the leading houses in San
Francisco to-day sells at a very much
higher price than precisely the same
quality and make of goods bring in Sac
ramento houses of equal importance.
though the San Francisco establish
ments enjoy the advantage of location in
the midst of large population.
In other words, suits of ready-made
clothing of the same grade, often of the
same make and from the same manu-
facturer at the East, selling in the large
establishments of San Francisco at $40.
S25, $50 and $50, sell in similar establish
ments in Sacramento for about SIT, S22 so.
$50 and $50, respectively.
Still another instance, and be it noted
these are but two of vast number: The
Dunlap hat sells in Sacramento for pre-
cisely the price for which it retails in
New York and in Chicago. But the San
Francisco dealer, though receiving his
goods under precisely the same condi-
tions and terms, adds 81 to the New York
price of the stiff hat and 81 to the price of
the silk hat. 1t is fact that Sacramento
mercantile establishments have CUSTOM
ers coming out of San Francisco to this
city to trade, for the simple reason that
here the San Francisco influence in
maintaining the higher scale is less fell.
But, nevertheless, even in this citv there
remains good deal of the high-price
sentiment, adhesion to the schedule of
the prices of a past era. But in great
many lines the Sacramento merchants
take the broader and better view of our
relation to the East and the past, and sell
upon the basis of fair margin of profit.
while the San Francisco merchant sells
upon the basis of the generally higher
scale, because it is California, YOU
know" The instances cited which are
types prove the proposition we have
maintained that San Francisco's conten-
ton about transportation rates is not di-
rected in the interest of the consumer.
but solely to the enlargement of local
profit, since it is fact that, save here
and there case, the rate for carriage
upon supplies cuts in single article no
such figure as should make the difference
between the Eastern and the California
retail prices as maintained.