New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-10
The AGIT4TION FOR CHEAPER BREAD.
NO ACTION KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY
THE WHOLESALE BAKERS

Several of the members of the Wholesale Bakers
Association said yesterday that they had received
no notice yet of another meeting OF the associa-
ton for the purpose of discussing advisability
OF lowering the price of bread The proceedings of
the association. however, have heretofore been kept
50 quiet that there is telling what Il may do.
1t Is likely to hold meeting any time and in
any place. The chief object OF the Wholesale Bak-
ers Association seems to be to keep from the pub
lie all knowledge OF Its proceedings In relation
the cheap-bread question. 1t would appear from
the actions Of the association that dreaded open
investigation of the profits Of its members
That the profits on the bread sold large is be-
yond dispute. The bakers even acknowledge that
they were large in the days when -four cost them
or IS a barrel or about twice what 1t does now.
There has been reduction in the price OF the
loaves. although months ago the weight OF
the loaves Slightly increased.
The retail dealers of bread generally in favor
OF a reduction being made in the price. a number
OF them told Tribune reporter yesterday that they
thought the wholesale bakers could afford the re-
duction and that If IL was made the business would
be largely increased.
curious feature of the bread business is that the
retail dealers make the profit a 1O-cent loaf
as on 5-that is cent Henry a. Dunkak, a
Third-ave. grocer who sells a large quantity OF
bread IS not in favor OF lowering the price of bread
but thinks the public should receive the benefit Of
the present extraordinarily low price OF -four by A
the loaves HIS argument for this Is that when the
price of flour goes up it will be easier to decrease
the weight OF the loaves again than to raise the
price. The grain men say however, there are no
indications of wheat going materially higher In
price for many a day 10 come
The bakers who sell most OF the product of their
bakeries over their own counters are generally of
the opinion that the wholesale bakers should lower
their prices and that they could well afford TO do
Among them ia c. c. Ellis. of No 93i Third
ave. Yesterday Mr.. Ellis SAID there was nearly,
II not quite. half a pound difference in weight be
his scent loaves of bread and those sold by
the wholesale bakers. His loavcs weigh about
and half pounds while the others weigh only
pound. To be sure. the wholesale bakers sell
their loaves for cents to the retail trade and
have TO take all unsold bread back from day to
day. But. nevertheless. when the wholesale baker
sold his one-pound loaf to the retail trade for
cents. he certainly making more money than
Mr.. Ellis who got over his own counters only b
cents for his pound and half loaf.
Just now these small bakers are making de
cided hustle for some of the big bakers trade by
reducing their prices. or at least by making de-
cided increase in the weight OF their loaves. This
cutting into the business of the big fellows In the
trade is likely to have more influence with them
in reducing their prices than all the expressions Of
public opinion that could be printed