The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1907-06-20

1897 and the highest in 1906; that
of fuel and lighting, the lowest in.
1894 and the highest in 1908: that
of metals and implements, the lowest
in 1898 and the highest in 1906; that
of lumber and building materials, the
lowest in 1897 and the highest in
1906; that of drugs and chemicals,
the lowest in 1895 and the highest
in 1900; that of housefurnishing
goods, the lowest in 1S97-and the
highest in 1908, while in the miscel-
laneous group the lowest average was
reached in 1897 and the highest in
1906.
The average for all commodities
combined was lowest in 1897 and
highest in 1906. OF the, nine groups,
it is seen that one reached its low
est point in 1894, one in 1895, three
in 1896, three in 1897, and n in
1898. The highest point was reached
by one group in 1891, by n in-190O,
by n in 1902, two in 1903, and by
four in 1906.
In 1890 and 1891, according to
the deductions of the bureau, the
prices of raw commodities were
higher than those of manufactured
commodities and remained so until
1898, when. prices of raw commod-
tiles declined and those of manufac-
tured commodities were slightly
above the price of 1892. From 1894
] to 1896, there was a marked decline
in both groups, the raw being lower
| than the manufactured in each Of
these years. In 1897 raw advanced
and manufactured declined. From
1898 to 1900 there was a decided adj
vance in both groups each year, raw
advancing to a higher point than
/ manufactured. In 1901 there was a
very slight decline in raw and a more
marked decline in manufactured. The
| following year both commodities adj
/ vanced in price, and last year both
reached the highest point during the
/ seventeen years considered.
No Reason For Rise Given.
The Bureau of Labor has made no
attempt to go into the causes Of the
rise and fall of prices. The aim has
been to give the prices as they actual
ly prevailed in the market. In ex-
planning why it does not discuss the
increase in prices, the bureau says:
THE causes are too complex, the rel
alive influence of each too uncertain,
in some cases involving too many eco
nomfc questions, to permit their dis
cussion in connection with the pres
ent article.
1T will be sufficient to enumerate
some of the influences that cause
changes in prices. Such influences
include variations in harvest;
changes in demand due to changes
in fashions, seasons, ETC.; legislation
ordering internal revenue taxes, inn
port duties, or bounties; inspections
as to purity or authorizations use of
substitutes-as, for instance, an adj
vance in the price of beef will cause
an increased consumption OF pork
and mutton, and, it may be added,
a probable increase in the price of
both pork and mutton; improvements
in methods OF production; eheapen-
ing of transportation or handling;
speculative manipulation of the sup
ply or the raw product; overproduc-
tfon; unusual demand owing to
steady employment Of the consum-
eEs; organization or combination of
mills or producers, thus enabling, on
the n hand, a greater or less con
troll Of prices or ON the other hand,
economies I'm production or in Trans
poTtation charges through the ability
to supply the article from the point
of production or manufacture nearest
the purchaser"