New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-24
FIvE-CENr 1OAvEs MUCH LIGHTER
THE BREAD TRUST ADHEREs TO THE LEI DN VI
ITS PROMISE BUT SACRIFICES THE SPIRIT

FIVE-CENT 1OAVES MUCh LiOii XIV
THE BREAD TRUST ADHEREs TO THE LETTER OF
ITS PROMISE BUT SACRIFICES THE SPIRIT
1t is now a wel-assured fact that the DIE nakins
Arms in this city DO not intend TO lose any OF ther
usual profits by the rise IN the price Vi "0O'.
When -four hrst began TO go up they declared
with a great flourish OF trumpets that they would
not raise the price % bread. because they had op
posed a reduction when -four had fallen lower IN
nr,ce than at any other time in the history OF inc
country. This about two years ago wheh
wheat sold for 60 cents bushel somewhat less
than Ave bushels Of wheat are required 10 make
barrel OF nour which, therefore al tna' 'he' co''
less than s. to make.
Attention was called by The Tribune al that tiIne
70 the enormous profits the bread trust IN this city
was making but the latter steadfasty refused 10
lower the price Of bread This was IN the last
Democratic Administration. when times were ex-
ceedingly hard and there was much suherlhg
among the poor all over the country Ar'er
long fight waged by The Tribune and few othef
newspapers the bakers lowered the price OF bread
loaf. But as soon as the asNa'loh hao
queted down they raised IT again TO the Old rate
The recent magnanimous promises OF the preao
trust that It would raise the price OF bread. now
that -four had gone up. were only kept TOT re"
days Last week the trust raised the price OF the
large bread loaves cent. but declared that IL
would not increase the cost OF the small loaves'
as they were not good in quality. and were con-
sumed mostly by the poor. but "hlie lhey e'i'
sell the small loaves for Ave cents. they have re-
duced the weight OF them much that the largo
loaves which have been increased in price one cent
are probably cheaper now in proportion than the
small ones at the old price These small loaves
have been getting smaller and smaller until they
weigh from four ounces to half pound less than
those did which formerly sold for the same
price.
Thus It will be that the bread trust does not
intend TO relinquish any OF It's great profits. but
will probably Increase them. because when flour
begins to 20 down the trust will doubt hold out
for war prices for bread until the last gasp.
Fish continues reasonable IN price althOuyh TO
ports spread about that II would undoubtedly
be dearer because OF vessels were AFRAID 10
send them TO distant fishing waters. as they might
a representative of Eugene Blackford. Wholesale
dealer In sea food, in Fulton Market told
Tribune reporter yesterday that the talk OF Amer
lean fishermen being afraid Of capture by the
present all the fish In tho market were caught
near by. and that only few were coming In from
Southern waters. Cod and halibut are being caught
off the Newfoundland Banks.
Fish is most plentiful now. and consequently II Is
cheap. Another reason given for the low price OF
FISH is that neither the hotels and restaurants
the steamships are using much now and
the summer hotels have yet opened.
Some OF the hgh-prced restaurants have taken
advantage OF the war 10 raise their high prices
still higher The proprietors Of these places evil
lieving that they are justified in raising prices
merely because some articles have gone UP slightly.
The rise In the price OF -four, which is by far the
notable, does not affect these restaurants to
cent two a pound at the most. This certainly
does not justify the restaurant-keepers IN raising
extravagantiy high-priced places from fve to ten
cents each.