The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-08-07
GOLD WORKS WOE
IN PORTO RICO
Riots May Result From
Adoption of Standard.
BLOW AT SILVER
RAISES PRICES
Gives Combines a Chance to
Squeeze the Poor.

Z Correspondence of the Associated Press@
San Juan. Porto Rico, Aug. Ito
day marks the beginning of a general
raising of prices throughout the island,
caused by a misunderstanding of the
exchange of currency. Until a week
ago it was widely known that after
August l no more Porto Rican silver
would be exchanged, but the notice of
the indefinite extension of time was
published far and wide. Still the idea
prevails that hereafter the peso will
be of no value. Yesterday the banks
were crowded after hours.
1t is feared that riots and bloodshed
will result
A combination of traders throughout
the island caused an advance in prices
of foodstuffs and other necessities.
With a large number of persons il
was moving day-a day for fitting
from excessively increased rents to
cheaper lodgings. 1t was also a day
on which money that usually bought
breakfast and dinner bought breakfast
alone.
Eggs that heretofore were bought for
two or three centaVOS, cost ten cen
tavos; the carbon for boiling these
eggs instead Of costing ten centavOs
costs twenty-five centavOs. The cost
of every other article of food was
raised in about the same proportion.
The wall of complaint was general.
House Rent Goes Up.
Houses which have rented for fifty
pesos $500 are now supposed to bring
$50. Furnished rooms al ten pesos 1861
now bring SO. The laborer who has
been getting q peso q day (siXty cents
nd { 10 hof NIL
across the bay heretofore got ten cen
tavos, but today they ask ten cents
And so it is right down the line.
According to circulars which have
been distributed about town all car
penters and masons who belong to the
Socialistic union will go on strike to-
day and demand 50 per day.
IL was commonly reported also that
all laborers would strike today for the
same amount in American money for
merly paid them in pesos.
This rise in prices is the result Of a
gradual increase, a cent8vo or SO at
a time, commenced month ago Tt is
evident that a combination exists, as
proprietofs of stalls at the market were
! asking the same prices. and the in
| crease is uniform about town among
the stores selling staples.
Merchants Buy up Stock
Several instances were brought to
the attention of the newspapers where
purchasers were told that commencing
with today all prices will be in Amer
lean money. There were few country
! produce vendors in town yesterday and
| it is currently reported that the mer-
chants have gone out into the country
and bought up all available stock thus
controlling. the market and leaving
| them free TO ask their own prices.
According to kilograms received in
this city from many interior towns the
shops are closed and the peso is re-
fused in payment for goods The more
ignorant of the people believe that the
dollar tomorrow will be of no more
value than the peso. In other words
that the dollar which has always been
worth 166 centavos Will deteriOrate in
value siXty-siX centavoS.
II is feared that riots and bloodshed
will result before the matter is ad-
justed