The evening star and Newark advertiser., 1907-09-24
COST OFLIVING
A SERIOUS
MATTER
Present Prices Worry the
Average Citizen $ Even
BreadstuffS Go Up.

|
more and more serious problem. Wages
do not increase in proportion, many
complain. Foodstuffs, clothing and fur
nishihgs have scared to an altitude of
price never reached before.
The latest development of the situa-
tion is the advance in the cost of
bread. The actual price of the loaf
has remained the same, so that bread
is still sold at five cents. But the
| weight of the loaf has been decreased
from two to three ounces, or by 15 per
cent. The same conditions hold true in
regard to the price of cake and fancy
pastries, which have not only decreased
in weight, but increased in cost, in
some cases as much as 25 per cent.
According to bakers who are making
the smaller loaf and who, for obvious
reasons, did not wish to be quoted, the
increased cost of bread is due to the
higher prices demanded for flour,
which, they claim, have advanced sfrom
20 to 25 per cent.
A canvass of several large wholesale
grocery establishments in the city
seemed to confirm their statement.
According to the information given at
these establishments, flour has ad-
vanced from IS and $5.25 per barrel in
1906 to $3.50 and 81 per barrel at the
present time, price unattained before.
This is attributed to the high price of
wheat, now selling at $1.o2 bushel.
compared to 88 cents last year.
"There has-been general advance of
at least 10 per cent. on nearly every
staple we carry" declared the head of
one of the largest and best known
wholesale grocery firms in the city.
hoo aIx eli
The consumer is paying but little more
than last year, but the middleman is
not making the same profit. Coffee and
tea are slightly higher, and the same
rule applies to the middleman. Canned
goods have gone up all along the line.
Some canned vegetables have advanced
20 per cent, and none has advanced
less than per cent. over last years
prices. Canned meats are higher than
they were last year.
THE prices of fresh vegetables are
now higher than local markets have
ever witnessed. This is due, however,
to the small yield. Potatoes, for
instance are selling for $1.25 to $1.40
per bushel. This is considered a stiff
| price during the winter. Last year
they could be bought for 81 bushel.
| The crop in Maine, / am informed, is
only go per cent. of what it was last
year, and prices are likely to go the
limit this winter.
Apples are selling at So to 81 per
barrel and hard to get even at this
fancy figure. Corn is selling for 70 cents
per bushel, and twelve months ago we
paid 60 for it.
II don't know where we will land
when 1t comes to the question of feed
stuffs," said this informant. Many
farmers, am told will not attempt
to obtain milk from their cows this
winter eimply because the price of feed
is prohibitive. I will cite you few
instances
Here he took from a pigeonhole of his
roll-top desk a typewriter schedule.
It was placed before the reporter and
the principal items copied, as follows:
Bran, per ton in 1906, $22 to $24, now
selling at $2s to $50.
Feed, per ton in 1906, $26 to $2s. now
selling at s33 to $s5.
Hay, per ton in 1906. SIS to S20 now
selling at $3.50 per ton.
Wheat, sold for 81 to SO cents pei
ebushel in 1906. now $1.02.
Corn, sold for so cents per bushel In
1906, now 20.
Oats, in 1906. 81 per 7o-pound bag
now $140
Feed has never in my experience OF
twenty years been so high. Hay is sell
ing higher than ever before, too, ant
this is for hay that farmers are usually
glad to get rid of now. 1t does no
mean that they will have to keep 1t t.
get these figures. If there is any ha.
on the market during the early sprini
it win be so high that everybody will
be astounded.
There is another thing / want tC
call your attention to. and that Is th'
condensed nailk business. To my GER
tain knowledge many factories in New
: York State have closed down becaus'
of their inability to secure a supply o
milk. They usually run until thu
, last of November. During tn,
summer a supply is usually laiS
in, but not so last summer. a
' it was difficult to keep pace with TIN
) demand. Again, this was due to short
age of supply. I know of two con
denseries who have contracted 70
milk at higher prices than they nsFv'
ever paid before, and they cannot ge
so per cent. of their requirements, ever
: at the fanciest price ever offered I
, farmer"
: On account of the increased cost o
Z feed local lyerymen have advances
! the prices charged for boarding horses
This advance became effective early il