The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-27
PRICE AND WEIGHT
 OF LOAF OF BREAD
SOME LOCAL CONDITIONS FIX. PLANNED AND DISCUSSED BY A
 PRACTICAL BAKER-DEALER'S
 PRoFlT-MATTER OF QUALITY.

Clearinghouse keepers and housewives of Birmingham have been complaining that they did not get as heavy a loaf of bread here for De as could be bought in northern cities, where the 16-ounce loaf is the rule.
 Regarding weight and price of bread and local bakery conditions In general practical baker throws light on the trade In the following letter:
 To the Editor of The Age Herald:
 As you have made editorial comment on the discussion as to the weight of loaf bread in this city l take it that you invite further discussion upon this subject. This is as 1t should be.
 There is a grievance somewhere. Admit ting this, let us reason together and fix the blame if possible. The short weight loaf of bread is a direct result of too much competition among the several bakeries in this city. Three years ago, when preparing to start our bakery, we found that dealers in bread only paid the baker from 215 to 3ls cents per loaf an inferior article to be sure, but 1t net ted the dealer 100 per cent prorit. Did he want a better bread for his customers? Yes. But he was not satisfied with 25 per cent profit when he could make 100 per cent. Did the baker want to make a better bread? Yes. But 1t could not be made for the price the dealer was willing to pay.
 So the dealer got his profit, and the consumer a poor article of bread This was the condition three years ago when flour could be bought at s4 per barrel Since then a better bread has been made In this city, but 1t had to be sold largely to consumers direct since the dealers mostly refused to be satisfied with small profits. Then came the advance in the price of flour and the baker was caught in a dilemma. He could stIll make a stan dard loaf for cents, but he could not for 21s or cents. Not being in a trust, (there being nc organization whatever among bakers in this city) it was like pulling teeth to raise the price, and even now, when flour Is selling for s6 to $6.5O per barrel, the wholesale price per loaf is only from to 3m cents. Yet the baker had to live. Life is sweet even to him; so he did the only thing he could do-he cut the weight.
 Now, 1 challenge any baker or any other citizen to prove that tine above Is not correct statement of existing con ditions. And who is to blalue? The con sumer. There being a better and larger loaf for sale in the city let the consumer demand 1t from his dealer, and he the dealer) will have to handle 1t, even If he don't make any more profit than tne baker does on that same loaf. The ~ealer has scales on his counter, note the weight of the loaf you buy and buy the best; then the honest baker will get his dues, and the dishonest ones If there be any) will have to improve or go out of bus mess.
 The statement has been made that in northern cities 1b-ounce loaf is sold for cents. This Is true; and there are two reasons for 1t, ole being the fact that the larger bakeries there can make bread somewhat cheaper and the other and most important reason Is the northern dealer handles bread at a small profit the wholesale price being not less than 1 cents.
 Now. MT Editor, in conclusion let me say the bakers of Birmingham hate to re- sort to Dingleyism as much as any other good citizen, and I have made fair and square statement of the facts as l know them. If our City Council in It's wisdom deems 1t best to regulate the weight Of loaf bread by ordinance we will welcome 1t and abide by it. Yours truly.
 THE HIGHLAND BAKERY,
 By H. Malchow
 Rfrminpharn January 26. 1905.