The daily Republican., 1902-12-03
BOARD BILLS
ARE INCREASED,
Housekeepers Obliged to Add
81 a Week to the Bills of
Their Customers, \
INCREASES STILL GO ON.
Cost of Living One-Fourth
Higher and Quotations
Show No Sign Of
a Break,

! comparison VI Lne retail prices OF
sucn household supplies as are com-
mon articles of purchase in grocery
stores and butcher shops shows
there has becn Il sharp increase in
the cost to consumers of a very
large number of commodities IN th Q
last four years and that a consider
able portion of the increase has
occurred during the last year.
1t was estimated Yesterday that
the cost Of living had increased
about twenty-five per cent since the
new century began. While many
of the staple food ARTICLES have re.
mained steady in price there have
been advances in much more than
half the list. and these advances
have not been counterbalanced by
declines elsewhere.
There is every ir,lication that
prices will go higher before they de-
cline. The advance has been felt
by housekeepers, and it is being rec
ognized by the proprietors of board
ing houses in this city by general
increase of 81 week in the price of
board.
Investigation Of the wholesale
markets yesterday showed that
there are special reasons to account
for much of the advance in prices.
Milk has been advanced. two cents
a quart by many of the farmers.
Butter went up yesterday, and
dealers expect it will go higher, be-
cause the West is finding difficulty
IN supplying its own needs and has
little to spare for the East.
1t was expected there would be
a decline Of ten cents a pound in the
prico of tea when the war tax was
taken off on January 1st. The Eng
lish dealers who control the mar
ket, however, have announced that
they will make no reduction. Lip
ton, Tetley and Saada have agreed
that they will add the amount of
the tax to their profits, to be ex-
pended in the further development
of their business and they have so
informed their customers.
There was shortage of five mill
lion cases in the supply Of canned
tomatoes when the season began.
This has been made up, but owing
to the damp weather this yeara
crop of tomatoes, strawberries and
WAS unsuitable for the
Gamers and comparatively little
first class stock was obtained.
California fruits are up from ten
% fifteen per cent. The GERRY crop
was practically failure, and the
price has risen on that account.
There has been slight decline in
he price of coffee, and further re-
luction is looked for.
While there was good prospect
'arly in the season of large pota-
o crop it was injured in some i'm
'ortant sections by excessive damp
less. This years crop abroad was
Il failure, and the de-
land for export is keeping prices
p in this country. The quotations
Or all fresh vegetables are high,
nd there IS no prospect of their de-
Inc
There are Indications of decline
: the price Of smoked ham and
aeon in the near future. Wheat
our shows little, if any advance,
Though cornmeal and oatmeal are
p on Il shOrtagein the crops. Hero.
me oil is higher than it has been
efore III months The price of
gg5 is advancing on account of the
lding of the laying season, and
eavy drafts are being made on the
0cks in storage.
Despite the enormous apple crop,
h:Ch caused the farmers so much
II barrassment in harvest time, the
ice of apples is holding trmer
an was anticipated. This is due
the enormous exports Of apples.
thousands of barrels are going to
lgland and to Europe from New
Jrk every day, and there is every
ospect that the surplus will soon
disposed of by export
Cgrn suitable for packing was
arCe last summer The packers OF
aine aud Northern New York are
'usng to accept orders excepting ~,
the basis OF a twenty-five per cent
livery. They have already agreed
advance the price at The factory
zen aud one. half cents per case at
e beginning OF the next season.
There are practically no French
dimes ia the market. The run OF
] small enough tor canning wasa
al failure in the last season. A
'ewd dealer, foresceing tha
arcity that was to come, bought
that were offered and s now re,
ing bids Of SO a case more than
paid for them.