The Washington herald., 1907-06-16
FOOD PRICES SOARING
Dollar Balks in Rac2 for
Good Square Meal
HOUSEWIVES SEM u Wall
Declare Every Article of Diet, from
Spinach TO Straw berries and from
Eggs to Beef, Is AbnOrmaIly High.
Some Dealers Enter Denial.
Others Admit Its Claim.

Prices of fruits. berries, vegetables,
meat, and dairy products have scared
and with few exceptions. range much
higher than they did at this time last
year, the banner year for high prices,
Yet the fact is sWeep.ngiy denied by
majority Of meat and produce dealers all
over the city and by truck gardeners in
the vicinity. An authoritative statement
on relative prices on their testimony, is
impossible Every man approached in the
big local markets is possessed of a dlf-
ferent view. as are also the urge number
OF truck gardeners grouped along the
sidewalk on market days.
Some admit that prices are higher, and
in some few instances much higher than
usual for this time of year, but it is
claimed that they are not in excess Of
the seasonable average. Every increase
is laid to the prevailing bad weather.
II is likewise impossible TO give a pre-
vailiug price on vegetables, berries. and
the like They vary at almost every
other stand, according 70 the quality Of
fered and the individual supply. An aver
o-E DA tilf AAfAa At'llHr i-H fNNfNlr NAhA tAAS
the middle Of the market was: Aspara-
gus. Is cents a bunch, two for . cents;
10 cents a bunch three for = cents.
radishes, three punches for cents, good
lettuce. three heads for cents; green
peas. T. cents half peck: spring onions,
two punches for cents, Irish potatoes,
old. 10 cents a quarter Of a peck; new
potatoes. u cents a quarter OF peck;
fresh eggs, . cents a dozen, cold storage
eggs. by the crate Is and % cents a
dozen and cabbage 30 cents a head, three
heads for = cents
These prices. it is said are no higher
than the seasonal average. and i'm a good
many instances are lower than last
years. being on a par with the prices
quoted in July. 1906 Spinach is un-
usually high. and the supply is scarce. 1t.
was quoted yesterday AZ 500 n barrel.
whereas IN the past il has seldom gone
over 20 cents at this season. This great
shortage is unacccunted for
Strawberries Range I'm Price.
Strawberries range in price from 10
cents 10 - cents quart. according TO the
quality The smaller ones on sale by the
gardeners are quoted at three boxes. and
sometime four boxes, for q quarter. while
the bigger and more highly cultivated
Eastern Shore and hot house berries bring
enormous prices. TIE supply has been
unusually short and il is said by some of
the gardeners that practically a third of
the crop is still on the bushes unripened,
days IL is said. with hot sun viii ripcu
the entire crop and the market viii be
flooded and there is a possibility Of ber-
ries becoming abnormally cheap. Last
Tuesday. 10 is said. the prices We're down
10 the lowest average after the few days
of sun. but they have gradually gone up
during the week. Il is the first year in
the memory Of most OF those on the
stands yesterday that the middle of June
has seen the strawberry crop only two
thirds harvested.
BlaCkberries. which usually hold the
market at this time Of year. were scarce.
and We're offered for sale az but few Of
the stalls. Consequently they brought an
abnormal price.
Cantaloupcs are also far behind the sea-
son. and yesterday. with but a small sup
ply. We're selling for 20 and l. cents each
for melons that usually at this season
bring little over cents.
Yesterdays sun is regarded as disas-
trous by the local truck gardeners. They
say that it Will fully ripeu Il great num-
beor of strawberries that cannot be
brought 20 market until Tuesday.
Fish Are High.
Fish are unusually high in price. the in
crease being greater than that of any
other food product. Everything from
smoked herring to haltbut steak has in
creased on an average of more than one
third.
It is claimed by the meat dealers that
the increased cost has fallen almost en-
tirelr on the dealer and that i'm but few
instances are the consumers paying more.
The increase is laid to the unreasonable
weather
Poultry and dairy products are. it is
said, within q seasDnable average. These.
it was explained. are weather staples.
and the supply and price depends en-
tirely on the weather. A scarcity Of eggs
is expected, owing 10 the fact that the
demand is greater than it ever was.
because Of the increase in the price Of
fish. meat. and other staples The supply
has been good. but does not keep pace
with the demand.
Housewives declare that never before
has a dollar purchased SO small q part of
"a good meal They insist that the cost Of
every article of food consumption has
increased. and is several cents higher
than last year.
Consequently, the report Of the special
committee appointed by the Commission /
ers 20 report upon food prices and the
cost Of living is being awaited with in
terest The committee. it is said. has
completed its investigations and is pre-
pairing a report 10 be submitted to the
Commissioners and to Congress