New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-11
THE COURSE or PRICES.

Prices on September / were about 3.3 per
cent higher than on July /, Of which nearly
per cent was in iron aud It's products nclud-
ing tinplatcs. with tin and coal Articles being
recLoncd according To their relative Importance
there is a decline in all food products, not quite
half as much in amount as the increase in the
mineral class and not much over half as much
ms the increase in the lumber and miscellaneous
class The advance in articles OF the clothing
class WAS not quite AS much in amount as IN
fine mineral class. and not half the decline in
all articles Of TODD. which include nearly all
farm products There is so general misun-
derstandlng OF the actual meaning of changes
constantly noticed in prices that little eX-
PLANTATION may be Of value. In order to de-
termine the relative importance OF quotations
the quantities actually consumed at some point
Of fair prosperity and nearly normal prices are
ascertained While consumption varies from
wear 10 year as articles OF one class or another
Income cheaper or dearer. the effect Of prices
is shown by comparing what the normal con-
sumption would have cost AT the prices Of diff
fcrcnt dates.
In normll times and on January I all arti-
cles Of food taken together cost more than all
other products quoted Bur since early this
wear they have not, because Of the great rise in
manufactured articles. Although the food
products including nearly everything taken
from the farms the gardens and the sea, aver
aged only about , per cent higher September l
than November J. the advance in other products
ha. been 23 per cent. But the impression com
monty prevailing hat manufactured products
generally have risen somewhat in harmony
is far from correct. On all articles taken to-
rether costing .g07 November ]. the en-
tire advance has bee 50 7G5. but over half OF il
has been in iron and its products. including tin
plates and in tin. the rise IN these alone
amounting 10 81 500. But another large share,
81 400 has been in lumber and lath, not manu-
featured beyond saving. and, with $40 more
I'm bricks lime. glass paints. linseed OIL ana
turpcntine we have in building materials over
two-thrds Of tn entire rise In all products
The other metals. copper and lead, belonging IN
the same class advanced S277 more SO that II
per cent OF the advance in all articles rcckoned
according to their importance appears In these
building materials and only % per cent in food
farm products, liquors and tobacco. clothing
drugs and all other articles
This directs attention 10 the fact that the
cause Of the advance has been mainly an IN
preccdcntcd demand for new structures and ma
chlnery 10 be used in manufactures. mining
transportation and trading Farm machinery
has been IN good demand with wire for fcnc
ing and dwellings in cities and towns. but The
key Of the business has been the expansion and
reconstruction Of Industries This it is whicf
has advanced prices Of everything required
In building. and also Of coal and OIL used foi
fuel. power and lighting. making more thar
three-quarters ~ the entire advance in prices
and leaving only a quarter for all other com
modties The following shows the cost Of the
articles above enumerated as building materials
| at different dates, with coal and oil, and OF al