Arizona republican., 1906-12-27

Why bason should cost $5.1O more in
 Benson than Yuma seems odd. though
 the difference between Phoenix and Benson might be accounted for by the
 fact that Phoenix is a competitive
 point. the more SO when the price on
 corn meal in both Benson and Yuma is
 the same. Another strange fact is re-
 vealed on coffee which costs $25O
 more in Phoenix than in Benson and
 $360 more than in Yuma, while PhOe-
 nix is a competitive point and uses
 more coffee many times over, than
 both the other places combined. In
 dried apples Yuma, which is nearest
 the California market, asks S11.40.
 considerably more than Benson and $2.f0 more than Phoenix. The same
 facts approximately. exist in respect
 of prunes. which are grown in Califor-
 mia and which can be had here s1.90
 cheaper than in Yuma. But in apri-
 cots and dried peaches the conditions
 are reversed again. Hominy in Phoe-
 nix costs more than anywhere. while corn meal is cheaper. due no doubt to
 the fact that meal is made here 70 some extent. In lard compound. both
 Phoenix and Benson are high. Phoenix
 being well toward twice the Yuma figure. while on onions raised in Cali
 fornia. Phoenix is cheap and both the
 other towns are high. In soap. Phoe
 nix and Benson are a stand off. while in Yuma there don't seem to be any
 as no figures are given.
 But what is still more interesting.
 IS a mass of figures that have bee worked out at the capitol building.
 showing the differences fin the cost of
 living now and three or four years ago
 It is generally acknowledged that the cost of living is higher. especially where goods are bought at retail and also that wages are higher. two facts that go together. Whenever mention is made of republican prosperity there is always someone at hand to say that the increased cost of living eats up the increased wages, so there is no pros perity, a statement however, that is pure sophistry and cannot be borne out by the figures That the cost Of living is some higher must be admitted and on some things a great deal high | CT. but not as much higher nor so gen orally higher as might be supposed
 The governor has caused to be worked out a table including thirty | eight articles bought for these institu | tions. It shows the price paid for these | articles for the year ending June 90. | 1901, and for the four succeeding | years. It also shows the percentage Of | increase or decrease each year. over the figures for 1904. which are takeT | for a basis of calculation. Without going into the details of the fluctua- tions during the intervening years, of figures for 1904 and 1907 is interesting. By the year 1901 is meant the present fiscal year.
 Of the thirty-eight articles.Nthere is an increased price on twenty-three. a decreased price on thirteen, while tha figures remain the same on the other two. The prices have raised on less than two-thirds of the articles and lowered on the other third and the per centage of decrease on those articles that are now cheaper. averages about the same as the percentages of increase on the other articles, both being quite large.
 Those articles on which the prices are higher show the following per of increase over the 1904 prices: Pink beans s; green Salvador coffee No. 1 2S; corn meal :; dried peaches 30; dried apples 39; dried prrnes 27 dried apricots 6; Minnesota hard wheat flour No. l. :; Eagle milk }; onions 20; ground black pepper IS; potatoes 31a rice l3t German fami;y soap II; granulated beet sugar :; : syrup 30; tea 22; chewing tobacco : md ?; smoking tobacco '; rolled oats II; vingar 23; hay '.
 Those articles on which the prices Ire lower than in 1904, show the fol- owing percentages of decrease: Bacon , B: Salvador green coffee No. ?. 2; 'aisins 26; grapes 13; Phoenix flour ?; ( iominy IA lard compound 25; molas- les g.; dried peas 37; whole pepper 19. { able salt IS; white star soap 3; fresh h )eef. fl. h
 This of course is not an exact reflec- l ion of the retail markets for numerous I easons, but it ought in a measure to { ,e a reflection of the ratios in the re- lN ail markets. Furnishing supplies for C