Evening star., 1895-01-18
Bakers Declare They Cannot Do
Business at Present Rates.
THREATEN TO RETURN NTOTHE old PRICE
Flour Figures Move Upward and
Profits Diminish.
A MEETING LAST NIGHT

The rumor spread this morning among
smaller uptown dealers in bread that be-
ginning Monday next the price would be
advanced to the old price. This rumor was
due to q meeting of bakers last night at
Saengerbund Hail. Any more inopportune
season for such action could hardly be
conceived, and inquiry was quick and keen
on all sides and in all parts of town to
learn the substance of the report. Tor
several weeks, it was learned on general
inquiry among grocers, luncheries and res
taurants, there has been talk of going back
to the old price, The argument for this,
as advanced by the bakers themselves in
discussing the matter with their customers
is that they are losing money at the pres
ent rate. They urge that Notwithstanding
the low price Of flour the balance would go
against them every time but for extreme
care and economy In every branch OF their
business.
1t may be true, they say, that flour is
cheaper at wholesale than formerly, yet
the cost of production and distribution is
no less, and now really eats up what was
profit under the higher price.
What One Baker Says.
LAS matter of fact" said one of the
largest bakers in the city, "the bakers can't
stand it. I could tell The Star Of half a
dozen that have gene under, badly involved
by this very cut in the price of bread. Just
the other day the bakery where The Star
discovered they were using poor lard in
their bread went under, and you will find
Chinese laundry there instead. On 1th
street last week a baker disappeared be-
tween two days and left big lot OF debts.
The fact is. wages are no lower. and 1t
costs Just as much as ever to put bread
all over the city where every consumer
can get 1t within half block
In the line Of this argument several
meetings of the Bakers Exchange of late
have been occupied more or less with dis
cusSions of the chances of restoring the old
price Of bread. The meeting of the ex-
change at Saengerbund Hall last evening
was given up wholly to the subject.
There were about twenty of The smaller
bakeries represented, and the general COM
plaint of all was that they could not hold
out much longer in what they alleged Is a
cess flour had gone up 25 or so cents a
barrel and that the trade had been wholly
unable to keep customers with any but
the best process flour. costing now $4.l0 a
proved wholly unavailable for a good quail
ity Of baking The lower grades Of flour,
such as are advertised at $2.75 and s.
barrel, while well enough for cooking pur-
poses in the family, would not. it was said
produce good white bread. such as the
baker in competition must furnish his Gus
toners.
No definite action was taken at the meet
restored, but the sense of the meeting was
unanimous in the opinion that q thorough
canvass of the trade should be made in the
effort to get a combined movement to re-
establish the price. Several speakers ex-
pressed the belief that the movement
could be undertaken successfully at this
time, and that within two months at most
the old price would be going again.
What Mr.. Schneider Says.
II do not know anything about the meet
ing" said Charles Schneider, when seen by
a star reporter. II did not go to any meet
ing and don't know anything about one.
have not heard from any one of any move
ment to put the price to dealers up from
to cents I do know that no bakers
can make anything at the present price,
and many are losing. Several have already
gone out of business"
"You say it is bad time to put up the
price of bread, but let ME tell The Star
that the poor are faring worse with low
bread than before. The bakers used to
give away thousands of loaves to the poor
where they cannot now. We used to do
nate to the church fairs, where now we
cannot. 1t is all the baker can do now
to make ends meet. Some of the poor may
get bread a little cheaper, but the very
poor are worse off than ever So far as
am concerned 1 say let this thing go on a
little lorger and we will see what will come
of it. 1t is certain that the bakers cannot
play a losing game long,.