The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-08
PRICES ARE HIGHER
DUN's INDEX NUMBER IS NOW
CLOSE TO THE HIGH WATER
MARK OF 1900
ADVANCE IN BREADsTUFFs
Were A Per Cent Bearer Sept. ]
Than Aug. I, the Principal
Cause Being Injury
to Corn Crop.

NEW YORK, Sept. 7.-Dun's review
says: Dun's Index Number on Sept /
was S96.911, making the cost of living 1:8
per cent higher than on Aug. l. The
present range of values, based on the per
capita consumption of $50 quotations, Is
higher than at any previous time this
year, and only about SOC lower than the
top point of 1900, when the index num-
Der was at the high-water mark of the
decade. Changes during the last month
were exceptionally interesting, since they
faithfully reflect the only two untoward
influences of the year. Following the
usual method of classification, 1t appears
that in breadstuffs there was rise OF
"A per cent in August, almost entirely.
due to the advance in the price of corn,
as other cereals varied little, although
beans and peas reached a higher level.
The effects Of the decreased yield of
maize were more pronounced during the
early part of August than at the open
ing of the new month and wheat also
reached a much higher level These
fluctuations were largely due to specu>
lation, and could not be maintained in
the face Of corn exports averaging less
than half a million bushels weekly.
Meats also advanced to an abnormally.
high point, surprising all recent years.
The gain for the month, however, was
only about what might be expected in
the light Of corn prospects. Dairy ana
garden products were slightly lower; the
advance in eggs, apples, milk and miscel-s
laneous vegetables being more than. bal
anced by the decline in potatoes, butter,
cheese and hay. A trifiing loss was also
recorded in other articles of food, due
to the decline in both raw and refined
sugar and hops.
The small advance in the clothing class
Was the most gratifying feature of the
months variations. Here there was no
speculative nor other unreal influence at
work. Just a wholesome expansion in
demand for both cotton and wooden
goods, and small rise in the price OF
raw wool after discouragingly long
period of dullness. Raw cotton advanced
on less favorable conditions in Texas, and
greater activity at sthe mills. SILK
reached the best price of the year, and
goods were generally firm, while through
out all branches of textile and kindred
lines the situation distinctly improved
Boots and shoes were well maintained.
but the net change in leather and hides
was downward, although the last week
of August brought a partial recovery of
earlier losses. A moderate advance oc-
Cured in the rubber market.
An advance of 40 per cent in metals
was mainly artificial. Owing to the in
terruption in certain branches of the
iron and steel industry by the strike,
there was general tendency to harden
quotations. This was especially notice
able in tin plates, where the available
supply was soon exhausted, and manu-
facturers of cans were forced to pay
big premiums until imports could be Sc
cured. Easier markets for the raw ma
ter1als naturally prevailed, as the mills
We're consuming less, and both pig iron
and tin weakened extensively. Another
factor in this divisions rise was the ad-
vance In anthracite coal. In the mis-
cline, mainly on account of the heavy
fall in linseed oil. Drugs also averaged
lower, despite gains In many items, but
paper, lath. turpentine and hemp were
higher.
Prices for the last three months are