The morning journal-courier., 1908-06-29
Retail Dealers Find Themselves
at Bay With Wholesale
Prices Doubled Since
February.
NOW DEMAND DUTY OFF,
Resolution Passed az State Convcn-
ti0n Calling on Congress TO Abol-
ish Charges on Cattle and
Dressed Meats.

On top OF continual rise In the
price of beef which has brought the
Wholesale figure up about 80 per cent
since the first Of February and has all
the retail dealers throughout the state
and even the country on edge comes
the intimation of the big dealers that
there will be another increase In the
wholesale price this week Of from fifty
cents to 81 a hundred pounds The Sit
uation Is regarded by the local retailers
as extremely grave and serious not on
ly for themselves but for the consum-
ers who must bear the brunt OF the In
creased price. Not only has the price
been sent soaring during the past few
months with no sign OF a return 10 rea-
sonable rates but the quality, say the
retailers. is of the poorest. In fact 1t Is
felt that the dealers are palming off on
them the worst meat they have in
stock and putting up an exorbitant
price under the excuse of scarcity,
which is the only reason alleged.
Here are some figures as they affect
the local situation. In February local
retailers were buying beef, OF the best
quality at 81 hundred and for the
same supposed quality the price is
around sl3 with poorer meat bringing
as high as $l1 for the lowest price. Ev-
cry raise of dollar In the wholesale
price per hundred OF course means a
raise Of one cent pound In the whole
sale price. but in order that the retail
er may maintain his same profit 1t
means raise of more than cent a
pound In the retail price or else the
retailer has to sacrifice his profit This,
Is because the wholesale price is a
gross price and the inferior parts OF
the meat and the absolute waste are
paid for at the same rate OF cent a
pound while for the good meat, which
alone brings the regular retail price.
the actual raise In cost Is more than a
cent pound. The e,result Of the raises
has been that beef which sold here az
retail In February for 20 to 25 cents/a
pound Is now being sold by some DIAL
ers for 80 cents at a large reduction In
the margin OF profit and for Others at
q to 3s cents per pound where the profit
remains the same per pound. Most OF
the increase has been packed into this
one month too. For instance, the price
! Of the best beef has gone up from $3.50
to SO this month alone. And on top OF
this Is the promise Of another raise.
Many of the local dealers, In fact, most
OF them, have suffered diminution OF
their profits and have not kept the re-
tail price UP IN proportion with tho
wholesale But the poirt OF safety In
this regard has beensreached and If tho
further increase comes that Is threat
ened this week there will have to be q
raise in the price of selling. The in
crease at wholesale has been about so
per cent. while at retail the average in
crease has only been from 20 to 40 per
cent.
The increase in the retail price has
already had great effect on the trade
In this city, in the state and even In
the country at large. The chief effect
has been in the great reduction in the
amount OF meat and especially beef
which is being consumed. Fully fifty
per cent 1t is estimated is the decrease
In the amount of beef which Is being