The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-26
CAUSES OF THE HIGHER COST OF
LIVING.

Much OF the talk concerning the higher
cost Of the necessities of life appears to be
uttered without intelligent appreciation of
the situation. One paper, which is inclined
to find fault generally with all human con-
ditions, finds the cause in the ability of
those who control certain classes of prod
ucts TO increase their profits To some ex-
meats. Those who supply the markets
have been so unwise as 10 increase the price
beyond natural increase incident to the
high price of the grain essential t. fatten
cattle. hogs and sheep. All the papers
which complain of high prices and make
complaints and assumptions rather than
fair inquiry. ignore the fact that, with the
exception of wheat, the season of 1901 was
the leanest in many years. In all this part
of the country the products known as
"truck"-cabbages, turnips, tomatoes, beets
and garden stuff generally-were not half
a crop. What was true of this section was
true of the larger part of the country The
crop of the leading vegetable, potatoes, was
a failure not only in the States of the CEN
trail West but was very short all over the
country. This failure of itself, added to
the scarcity of other vegetables, tended to
advance the cost of living. This scarcity
was not due TO the manipulation of specu-
lators. but to a supply below the reasonable
demand. which always means higher prices
The corn crop was but little over one-half
a bountiful yield. Hundreds of thousands
of farmers who usually have corn to sell
season to keep their stock alive. The
scarcity of corn would cause prices TO ad-
vance under any conditions, but when farm
ers who have always had enough are COM
PEELED to purchase for their own stock no
price that they could obtain for cattle or
possible. Hay has also been scarce and
consequently high.
Few people, until they give attention to it,
realize the difference between a bountiful
and a lean crop Of corn and the effect corn
crops have upon prices. The difference be-
tween IS and 7O-cent corn must make the
difference between low-priced and high
priced meats, butter. poultry. eggs. milk
and other articles of food produced by the
feeding of corn. Take butter; does the
slight advance which has taken place in a
fair article OF butter bear any comparison
10 the almost doubling OF the present price
OF feed compared with last year? Poul-
try must be fed. and when it costs nearly
twice as much TO feed il this year as il did
last is that not reason for higher prices?
When we come TO consider that the drought
Of 1901 reduced the supply of corn and vege-
tables nearly 50 per cent. how could II be
otherwise than that prices should advance
that even the price OF meats. lard and but
ter should advance. without the manipula-
ton OF the beef trust?
The rains OF the past week AFFORD cause TO
believe that there may be an abundant
corn crop and that in a few weeks the
markets will be filled with an abundance
of vegetables thus affording relief to those
who have been paying high prices for near
ly year. and. at the same time. give a
reasonable profit 10 the producer. II such
hopes are not realized high and even higher
prices will prevail for the reason that the
cost of production and the supply have
everything TO do with prices The wonder
is that men who write for newspapers fail