Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-26
RELIEVES SITUATION
CLAIM THEY ARE MAKING A FAIR
PROFIT.
Ten or More Establishments Refuse to
Enter the Combine-Con-
ditions Reversed.

five-cent bread Is still factor in the local
market, and that those who are responsible
for the increase In the price Of bread have
had their advance In a measure broken.
An investigation made by a reporter for
The Star developed the fact that ten. and
perhaps more. Of the smaller bakeries IN
this city continue to retail their bread at
the old rate of cents per loaf.
When an advance In the price Of bread
was threatened about ten days ago some or
the larger bakers contended that the rise
in the price Of flour would work great hard
ships on the little fellows as the small
bakers were termed. and that unless they
cthe little fellows'O increased the prize
of bread they would have to shut up shop
and go to the WALL The explanation given
for this was that the big bakeries had laid
IN large stores of -four when the price or
that commodity was lower. and that they
are naturally enabled to get flour at less
figure at any time than the small bakers,
because they purchased the article In larger
quantities
Now the predicted condition has been re-
versed. The small bakers. as rule. are sell
ing bread at cents a loaf wholesale and 8
cents retail. while the big bakers are uni
formly charging cents a loaf for their
product wholesale and cents retail
Small Bakers Sales Increase.
Talks had with several of the smaller
bakers by a Star reporter today resulted
in the discovery that their sales have been
largely increased since Monday. when the
6-cent edict went into effect. That they
are making a satisfactory profit on their
product at and cents a loaf they say.
and If the increase in their trade continues.
some of them declare. they will have to
erect larger ovens and add other facilities
to their establishments.
I'VE are not in the bread combine" said
one Of the bakers. who is still selling ms
loaves at five cents EACH and we don't
intend to go in it, We are making a fair
profit on bread at five cents loaf. and We
pay just as much for our flour as the six
cent bakers do. If anything they ought
to get flour at less price than we do, as
they buy 1t in larger quantities. The men
operating big modern bakeries as they
call them. say the improved methods are
more costly than hand labor. which We
largely employ. and that union workmen
are employed at higher salaries. To this
will say their output of bread. which is
many times greater than ours. should make
up for this difference in expense. Our out
put Is comparatively small. and each loaf
produced by us represents. besides the ma
terials a certain amount of manual labor.
The difference, therefore, II there is any.
should be in favor of the big bakeries
Dorsch Brothers, doing business at 1911
7th street northwest, stated that their firm
is selling bread at wholesale at and Az
cents loaf.
other bakers who are selling the five
cent loaf are said to be Charles B. AlthOff;
Joseph Bischof. 1899 H street northeast,
who is sending out his product to dealers
In two wagons: George Caspar. 12s7 18th
street northwest: John c. Ewald, M street
northeast; Klenk Bros. 1922 L street; Gus
tav Rupert. ODD and streets northwest;
f. GunderSheimer, 5l6 "a street northwest,
and several others.
1t should be stated that some OF the
bakers who are now retailing their bread at
five cents a loaf formerly sold II at four
cents.
Big Contract Proposed.
merchant who operates nine stores in
Washington in which bread is sold Is said
to be making a deal with a local baker,
whereby bread will be retailed in the mer-
chants nine establishments at five cents a
loaf This merchant handles more than
1900 loaves daily, 1t is stated.
The fact that many of the Wash
ington bakers will sell bread at cents a
loaf is good news to the poor of our city"
said South Washington grocer today.
When put that placard UP this morning
announcing that l was selling 0-cent bread
IT called forth many expressions of pleas
ure from those who have to work hard for
the pittances they receive. The continual
ton of the scent loaf is a veritable God
send to many"
A wholesale flour merchant stated this
afternoon that the small bakers who are
selling the 5-cent loaf have to pay about 80
cents barrel more for their -four than
the big bakers pay.
This" he added, 'ais suggestive
The largest decrease in the sales of 6-cent
ioaves of bread was reported by a dealer
on Indiana avenue. He stated that his
sales had fallen off nearly 30 per cent since
Monday, whea the advanced price went
into effect
There is one man in Washington who is
glad the price of bread has been advanced
to cents a loaf He Is an employee Of the
office N
ing the res son for his pleasure said:
My wife bakes bread that Is absolutely
delicious. 1t is almost equal to pound cake.
Now, when bread was selling at cents a
loaf she would only bake bread once a
week-on Sunday. Her bread is so good
that | was always longing for Sunday to
come. in order that l might enjoy her
creamy rolls for breakfast, and afterward
her loaf bread. until the supply was ex-
hausted, which was not long. When the
boss bakers advanced the price of bread
my wife and l held a little Indignation
meeting at our home. She was greatly
wrought up over the matter and declared
with emphasis. that she would bake her
own bread rather than pay the increase.
Il encouraged her in the stand she had
decided to take, of course. 1t was just
what 1 wanted. and now l enjoy hot rolls
for breakfast several mornings In the week
and there is always plenty of nice home
made bread on our table. It's an Ill wind
that blows nobody good.
Inspection Ordered
Commissioner Macfariand today directed
Mr. w. c. Haskell, sealer Of weights and
measures to institute thorough and care
full inspection of the bakeries in the Dis
trict for the purpose of insuring to the
citizens of Washington that they are not re-
ceiving short-weight bread and also to as
certain whether or not the laws of the Dis
trict are being violated by the proprietors
of bakeries. This action was taken as the
result of report from Mr.. Haskell to the
effect that one Of the inspectors of his Of
flee had discovered In a local bakeshop
fifty loaves of bread which weighed only
forty-three pounds and ten ounces or six
pounds and six ounces short of the required
weight. The loaves when weighed sepa-
rately. 1t Is stated were each found to be
ounces short of the required weight
The Commissioners believe that prompt
and thorough inspections of the bakeries
should be conducted. especially in view of
the fact that the bakers have Increased the
price OF bread from to cents per loaf.
IL the citizens are to be obliged to pay such
a price for their bread the authorities are
determined that the people shall receive
what they pay for so handsomely.
The sealer of weights and measures
stated today that he win at once begin the
inspection ordered. and the inspectors of
his office will work in conjunction with the
police officers in the attempt to insure the
prevention of trade In short weight hraad