The Washington times., 1902-04-17
Enormous Increase in Price
of All Things to Eat.
END NOT YET IN SIGHT
Meats and Vegetables Higher at This
Time Than in Many Years - Other
Foodstufs Affected - Fish and Eggs
Popular.

Foodstuffs have been advancing in price
at such a rapid rate that the situation
from the standpoint of the consumer is
becoming alarming.
All the early spring vegetables that
have in former years been sold at a rea-
sonable price have for some reason beec
SO high thus far that they are beyond the
reach of most housekeepers.
Meats have taken a rapid rise in price
and the choicest cuts are quoted at al
most prohibitive prices.
The retail dealers state that the end
OF the high prices is not in sight, as they
are compelled to pay more for their sup
plies than for years past.
Within the past few veeks-and before
that almost everything was abnormally
high-meats have risen on an average of
5iz cents per pound, butter has jumped
more than cents per pound. and yegc-
tables have advanced from 80 to 100 per
cent. In one day beef went up cents
per pound. wholesale. and. in fact, all
kinds of meats have kept abreast with
the onward movement Round steak. as
an example. is now selling for IS and %
cents per pound A short time ago it was
10 cents
At this time there is no better
outlook for prices ahead. Butchers ana
dealers say that prices are being infu-
enSed solely by the big wholesale houses
II Chicago, Kansas City. and elsewhere,
from which the meats are obtained. These
houses have almost absolute control OF
the meat supply OF America. and prices
practically rest in their hands. There are
tsE butchers in this city who kill and pre-
pare theiT own meats They cannot meet
tAe lcczi demand. and are obliged to pur-
ease 1Tc- the Wholesale houses at the
sEos-Gl z5TzCee5 price This rise in meat
= sl5 20 - ssi1 everywhere throughout
-az cr---T- zz1 particularly in New
EE-E E.s-s V-icss have scared even
tlEtsz- -ezE- II Washington Baltimore is
z4ss .I-15tltz-ly Elected by IL
Eggs aad Butter.
EEE and tz-1e. have jumped up in the
same rapid fashion Butter that a Few
days ago retailed for % or % cents per
pound now sells for So and Ss cents.
Wholesale prices on butter retailing for
So cents are 32ia and 80 cents The adj
vance in dairy products of all sorts is
due to a combine among local wholesale
dealers, the retail men claim.
well-known merchant in the Center
Market said TO a Times representative
yesterday morning:
THE only thing in the world that is re-
sponsible for this rise in dairy products
in Washington is the formation of the
local wholesale houses into sort of
trust. They make the claim TO the retail
men that there is a natural scarcity of
butter and cheese all over the country.
But, to my personal knowledge. there
is enough butter stored upstairs in the
Center Market to feed the entire National
Capital for two months without the store
being exhausted. There is plenty of but
ter for the people, and 1t could be sold at
normal prices, If the wholesale dealers
would put it out on the market"
The Wholesale Side.
A representative of one OF the wholesale
firms, however, made the statement that
the supply is in reality limited, and that
the vast store of butter over the market
is being held in reserve in case the mar
ket should become barren. He denied the
accusation that the wholesale dealers are
in any way responsible for the general
advance in prices, more than to protect
themselves from loss.
The advance in eggs is aScribed to nat
ural causes. Local dealers who handle
fresh country eggs are made to suffer from
the influx of Western eggs, which retail
for Is cents per dozen, a price several
cents lower than country eggs, fresh on
the market every day, can be handled for.
The most noticeable and rapid rise in
prices has been felt in the vegetable mar
ket. Tomatoes, that only few weeks ago
sold at wholesale for s1.50 per crate, now
bring SO and $3.50. String beans have
risen in the same brief interval from $3.50
TO $3.50 and So. And the quality of the
vegetables at the present time is very in
ferior to what it was when prices were
lower
This rise is due to the present protract-
ed cold snap throughout the South. Deal
ers say that when the weather moderates
vegetables of all sorts will be rushed into
the market SO rapidly that they cannot be
handled, and the bottom will drop out of
all present prices. Even potatoes are now
retailing for rs and 80 cents per bushel
more than usual.
Comparison of Values.
The following comparison of values
shows how complete the advance in all