The Washington times., 1904-05-09
Heavy Increases on Food.

and on thirty-five Of these there IS an
increase over the average for the pre-
-SeoihS thirteen years, ranging from Z
Per cent on bread, in the Washington
market, to z per cent on pepper from
Singapore.
a per cent increase is noted on dried
ccdiish and potatoes, 6 per cent on but
Ter and 10 per cent on canned salmon.
New Orleans rnoIasses Increased y z. nor
Centi crackers, Boston y, I25 per cent.
MIX lZS per cent; mess beef IL r,er
estern ham, Il per cent; taIIow
- per cent eggs, 23.2 per cent. New
a, oFK cheese, 23.3 per cent: mackereI
zoo per cent; eOrnmeal, g and q Der
cent smoked hams, 81 per cent: lara
% per cent, beans, IS per cent; bacon and
sstIl pork, 4 and AZ per cent and her
i-ns 81 per cent. There was a decree So
III sugar or from II 10 per cent in sod
crackers, 20 Ter cent; in -four. Ga Der
cent, IN vinegar. y per cent; in evap-
GRATED fruits. about 3 per cent. The
price OF coffee fell 574 per cent
OF seventy articles Of clothing the
IrIces or nfty-siX for 1903 were higher
ffhah the average price for the prectd-
ms peFloo since 1880. The increases
Iunged from 3 per cent. for elnghaTns
70 zOS per cent for sheetings Women c
oI ieS sT toes were lab per cent higher
Blankets lL9 per cent. higher
S-41 ASAl4AS LOST more.
The table Of fuel and lighting shows
an astonishing increase in the cost :,
the consumer The increase during 1879
over the average price for the proceed
ms ten Years Of petroleum. refined, 80
degrees IRE test. was 81 per cent
peu oleum for export. 325 Der cent
anthracite coal. 26.2 per cent. antbra-
cite stove coal. I'll per cent; anthra-
cite chestnut coal. 342 per cent: an
TIN acite egg coal 34-3 per cent The
only Item in this class showing a de-
S!n1e Is parIor matches, which fell or
10 per cent. The average increase for
per cent.
In another series of tables giving the
prevailing price for December. 1903 as
the year closed. the report shows a de-
cided upward tendency For instance
petroleum. refined. had Increased 10
~ per cent over the average for the
preceding period since 1880, and farm
PRODUCTS were l22 per cent higher.
Figures on the price of petroleum and
raw sugar are especially interesting
IN view or the contention made IN be-
half OF the trusts that they give the
public the advantage OF cheaper com
nCdtties.
Some STANDARD Oil Figures.
The lowest price Of the refined product
Of the Standard Oil Company 80 de-
grees fire test water white was in
March. lSs3-7lz cents a gallon-and the
highest was IN November and Deem !
Der, l903-l5 cents q gallon. This is an
increase Of 100 per cent in illumination
in ten years Crude petroleum also in |
creased from SIS cents barrel IN Octo-
Der 1892. 70 SLSs7s a barrel in Decen- |
Der. 1903. and this is the Standard Com
pany's excuse.
The lowest prices for sugar were IN /
1884. and the highest price was IN 1851
Sugar was about per cent and 10 pcr 1
cent lower in 1903 than during Tn. urc- /
ceding thirteen years.
Effective working Of the coal couE,Ina-
ton is shown IN the Comparison Of the J
highest and lowest prices during the Ue- /
ricd under discussion. The lowest rrfcc /
Of anthracite egg was in September
1885. In the latter part Of 1902 and |
throughout 1903 the wholesale price was
q %.
Commissioner Wright says no attempt
mas been made In any way 20 go intOl
the causes Of the rise and fail OF prices
ne aim has been 10 give the pricesj
as they actually prevailed in the market
ne causes. he holds are too complex
the relative influence too uncertain in
some cases involving too many eco l.
honlc questions 20 permit their discus i,
'IOh IN connection with the present ar