The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-29
DOMESTIC PRICES
DECREASE SLOWLY
Exceptions: Cotton, Cereals,
and Petroleum.
IMPORTED ARTICLES HIGHER
Interesting Facts Bearing Upon the
Cost of Living in This
Country.

Prices of nearly all the great classes
of domestic production have materially
fallen during the past year, the chief
exceptions being cotton, wool, wheat,
corn, oats. and refined petroleum. On
the other hand. prices of imported ar
tiCles for use in manufacturing have
advanced during the same period. This
statement summarizes in a few words
the picture of prices today compared
with those Of a year ago, as presented
by the Department of Commerce and
labor
The Bureau of Statistics has for many
years published quotations of prices Of
about fifty leading articles entering into
the markets of the Unite i States. One
fourth of these, perhaps. are imported
articles, and include rubber, hemp, sisal,
jute, raw silk, raw sugar, and coffee.
The articles of domestic production
which it quotes include pits iron, bars
of iron and steel. steel billets, steel rails.
tin plate, petroleum, refined sugar. cop
per. lead, zinc, and leather.
The quotations presented are IN each
case those for a given day of each week
III the leading market for the article
named-in most cases New York,
though in a few articles, s1ch as beef
cattle. Chicago prices are named. and.
iron and steel, those Of Pittsburg are
presented.
Study Of Prices.
The latest publication of the depart
ment presents a study OF these prices
and shows the prices from week TO
week. running back through the entire
year. and thus enables a comparison Of
prices in March, 1904, with those of
March, 1903, for certain dates In that
month, in many cases as late as the
25th.
A study of the prices thus presented,
comparing those Of the latest available
date with those of the corresponding
date one year ago, shows an increase IN
prices OF about one-half of the imported
articles named and a decrease in but
two OF the number, while In the articles
of domestic production, numbering some
thirty, prices are less in March, 1904.
than those of March, 1903.
Cost of Meats.
Curiously, while beef cattle show an
increase in price, family beef shows a
marked fall in price. Texas steers are
quoted IN the Chicago market at $3.50
per hundredweight for the fourth week
of March. 1903, and at IS for the fourth
week Of March. 1901; and native steers
are quoted at $3.50 in the fourth week
/ of March, 1903, and $5.75 for the CORE
| spending week in March of this year
Yet family beef, whirh was quoted at
$15 per barrel in the New York markets
/ in the fOJs-th week of l<arch, 1903, is
quoted at $3.50 per barrel in the fourth
/ week OF March. 1904. Mess pork. which
was quoted at $40 per barrel In March,
1903. Is given at $3.50 in March. 1904.
Manufactured Articles.
Turning to manufactured articles,
practically air those quoted show a re-
| duction. Pig iron (Bessemer) shows a
fall form S23 10 per ton in March. 1903. TO
| $1435 In March. 1904: southern pig iron.
! from 81 per ton in March, 1905. to So. "a
in March, 1894; iron bars, from cents
per pound in March. 1885, to IA cents
in March, 1901; steel bars from 10 cents
per pound In March, 1903, TO LIZ cents
| In March, 1901; steel billets, from 80. D
per ton in March, 1903, to S23 IN March,
1901; tin plate, from 81 per box or 100
pounds in March. 1903. to $685. per box In
| March. 1904; leather toak, middle
| weighD. from 80 cents per pound In
| March 1903, 20 IS cents in March. 1904,
while steel rails. as already Indicated,
| featuring show In most cases slight
decrease-copper, from 10 cents per
pound in March, 1903. 10 12.Slh cents In
March, 1901; lead, from 4.6I1z, cents IN
March. 1903, to 4.s21z cents in March,
1904; zinc, from 81 cents In March, 1903.
to 5121s cents in March. 1901.
Imported Articles.
Imported articles do not show the gen.
eral reduction apparent in those OF do
nestle production. Coffee CRio, No. q
shows an advance from 51z cents or
March p, 1903. TO 6A cents on March 26
1904; Japan tea. choice, from 26 cents
per pound on March %. 1903. to Is cents
on March q. 1904; sugar, centrifugals OF
! 96 degrees polarization, a very slight re-
duction- from 3.621z cents per pound or
March 20. 1903. TO $50 cents per pound or
| March "a 1904; manila hemp shows :
slight increase-from 8 cents per pound
on Nara %. 1903. TO 91s cents on March
81 1904
Sisal hemp decreased in price. from
S1s cents per pound on March %. 1903
to ~ cents on March q, 1904. Jute
Pshows no change in price during the
year India rubber, Para, fine. new. ad
vanced in price from 81 cents per pound
on March p. 1903, TO Slip on March %
1904. Raw silk and pig tin show in eacf
case a Slight decrease, silk from 81. q
per pound In March, 1903, to $3.50 il
March, 1904, and pig tin from S0.5 cents
per mound in March. 1903. TO 2S.91z cents
in March. 1901
GRANT HOME GIVEN