The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-08
STAFF OF LIFE
SCARS IN PRICE
ALL FOOD STUFFS ADVANCE.
SHORTAGE IN WESTERN WHEAT
CROP ACCOUNTS FOR FLOUR.

Within the Last Few Weeks Flour
Has Gone Up $1.25 n BarreI-FIOur,
Grits, Hams. Dry Meats, Canned
Goods and Practically Everything,
Except Fresh Meat, Has Gone
Way Up-Mr. Joseph Ferst, Presi-
dent of Wholesale Gr0cers, Says
He Expects Lower Prices Soon.
Food stuffs of all kinds. especially
flour. have advanced greatly in price
Flour has gone up to $1.25 on the bar
rel within the last few weeks and the
prices on almost all foodstuffs have
advanced. Canned goods, hams and
meats, cost more than they did a few
weeks ago.
Mr.. Joseph Ferst, president of the
Wholesale Grocers' Association, says
practically everything has advanced in
price He accounts for the advance
in the price of flour by the shortage
in the Western wheat crop, which is
estimated at from 50,000,000 to so 600, 900
bushels short.
The enormous advance in flour is
illustrated by the increase in the value
of cargo bound for San Francisco,
which was delayed in transit three
weeks. BY reason of the delay the
flour was worth 100000 more at the
time it arrived than if it had reach
sed it's destination on time.
Though the advance in the price of
flour is easily accounted for, the cause
for the increase in the prices on other
articles is less obvious. Mr.. Ferst ex-
plains it simply by saying that the
demand has increased. There may be
various reasons for the increased de-
mand, the war in the East probably
having something to do with it.
May Drop Later On.
Mr.. Ferst says there has been a
steady increase in prices for some time.
He thinks there will be a drop later
in the fall in most articles. The corn
crop is believed to be good and this
will have a tendency to lower the
price of grits, which has gone up
along with the other articles.
Practically all canned goods have
advanced, whether meat or vegetable.
Hams. sailed meats and bacon have
also gone up, yet the price of fresh
meat has been put back to where it
was before the packing house strike
was started. There was an advance
here for a time in meat shortly after
the strike was started, but within the
last ten days it has dropped back to
the price prevailing at the beginning
of the strike. This move is not ex-
actly understood here. 1t would tend
to show. however, that the packers
are winning their fight.
More Meat Than Usual.
According to the dealers, the packing
companies are furnishing even more
meat than can be handled in Savan-
nah, and at the normal prices. The
only difference is that the products
are not quite so skillfully dressed as
before the strike the new men not
having got the art down as fine as
their predecessors. AS far as the quail
ty of the meat is concerned, there is
no difference.
1t is figured by the local butchers
that even this slight difference will dis
appear when cool weather comes, as
the new men will have acquired great
er adeptness in their work by that
time.
There is no danger of a meat FAM
inc said local dealer yesterday. 1.-The
butchers can get all the meat they
want, and more, from the packers.
Prices are normal for this season OF
the year. The prices fell when the
strikers were replaced"