The suburban citizen., 1902-12-13

more. MlllCfS ana J0DDCrS III inns
country have always proceeded on the
suppositlon that barrel Of -four is con.
sumcd annually for every man. woman
and child. Although the last census
gave larger figure, they still trust the
old 'rule of thumb" in preference.
While the baIrel-aplccc average holds
good for the whole country. the large
cities, where fresh vegetables ana
other foodstuffs are available IN great
en- variety and for longer period of
each year, consume slightly less than
their proportional share of plain wheat
flour. 1t is probably fair to allow
100000 barrels year for the $500.
600 or more inhabitants of Greater
New York. This makes about 5000
barrels per day There are no figures
which show the amount on hand in the
numerous warehouses, but men Of eX-
perience in the business say that ii will
average something like 100000 barrels.
AS to the raw materials from which
-four could be made there are definite
statistics. The "vlsible supply" Of
each grain is known at all times with.
in narrow limits. The quantity stored
in this city should reach its maximum
within the next few weeks. and will
then fall irregulnrly until next years
crops are harvested On October 20 OF
last year there were in store in Man.
haitian and Brooklyn warehouses ATOP.
Ala bushels of wheat, 1,01G, 1876 Of corn,
S93 1872 of oats, S0,293 Of rye and 14S,-
622 of barley. On August . Of this
year the accumulaiions had shmunk to
$4,000 bushels Of wheat $4,000 OF
corn, 10000 of oats, 10000 of rye and
10000 of barley.
BREAD AND BUTTER FOR MONTH.
After bread and brcadstufis the
thoughts OF the eater naturally turn
towards butter. Unfortunately, the
butter supply would be exhausted long
before the bread gave out II is doubt
ful If there is ever much more than a
months supply on hand.
SHIFTS or THE EGG SUPPLY.
"Butter and eggs and Il pound Of
cheese went together in Mr.. Calver-
lcy's ballad. Eggs are stored in so
many places in and about the city and
in such varying quantities that accur
ate information, except as to the re-
ceipts from day 10 day, cannot be oh.
tanned The proprietor of n large cold.
storage warehouse states that in his
opinion the supply Of eggs in storage
ut one time would never suffice for the
city's needs for more than fortnight
and he doubted if the accumulation
would last so long If all other sources
were cut Off.
The fact that the weekly receipts of
cheese quadruple between March and
July is alone sufficient to show that
there must be large accumulation in
summer to supply the. winters needs,
and this is the case, There is probably
enough cheese to last for more than
two months.
When prohlbitiye prices are the rule
for fresh provisions housekeepcrs usu.
ally resort to canned goods. 1t would
seem that the city could do the same.
Canned peaches and pears, peas and
green corn could still be had, supposing
that people did not try TO live on them
exclusively. after flour and water por-
ridge became Il luxury. Canned goods
are almost the only edibles the whole
supply Of which the dealers receive at
the same time. The strawberry season
being over. for instance, all or practi-
cally all of the Strawberries that three
and q quarter million people will eat
until the fresh fruit comes again are
packed away in brightly labeled tiers
within carting distance Of the retail
counters.
The fresh fruits and vegetables milk
and cream Except, Of course, the
canned, condensed variety, and fresh
fish would not be expected to last very
long. At the same time there might be
enough Of some less important food
products OF which the usual consump
tion is small to last long time 1t
might easily happen that the city had
seasoning in plenty, for instance, with
no substantial food to put it on.-New
York Post.