The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-02
WANT OPERATIVE GROCERY UNLESS
 PRICES COME DOWN James Bswron Says Plan Would Be Success and Would
 Mean Lever Prices
FOX COMMENTS ON THE
 REDUCTIONS IN PRICES
Railroad Men Say Atlanta Pays Higher Freight Rates From the West and Has Cheaper Groceries
 Than Birmingham.

The wisdom and practicability of es- tablishing, Or rather the advisability of the inauguration of a movement for a CO., operative grocery company in Birming- ham to supply the people with the neces- saries of life in event reduction in prices IS not brought about immediately, was widely discussed by citizens yesterday.
 Among the men prominent in business circles who favor the plan and advocate such movement is James Bowron. MT BoWron commented on the suggestion very fayorably, and expressed his enthus- iasm in the proposed movement last night.
 Ned Braces suggestion is identical to the plan which l have considered a num- Der of times; in fact suggested a co- operative grocery company to some Of my friends only a few days ago as a means of remedying the high price problem" said MT. Bowron
 The cooperative societies have met with the greatest success in England and there is absolutely no reason why the same plan should not prove successful in Birmingham. The stores in England have attained enormous figures and i'm mense size
 T favor the plan highly. There is no question that it is a great need. Food for the worlSingman at cheaper price is of much more importance to Birmingham than are new steel mills and the attain ment of this condition is the biggest fac tor for the larger and greater prosperity and growth of our city. A reasonable cost of living would do more for the welfare and rapid growth of Birmingham than anything of which I know.
 ''I believe the success of cooperative grocery store would depend upon its be- ing placed under the management of a de- tailed man, thoroughly acquainted with the keeping of retail store and for this reason some successful retail grocer should be placed at its head. He must be man who knows how to buy the best goods. and not an ornamental fgure-head. In other words, he should be a practical SlOTeheeper.
 'The suggestion is entirely practicable and could be carried out without the least difficulty It has been done elsewhere and can be done here.
 Would Mean Reduced Prices.
 With reference to the economy of a store operated on the cooperative plan, there is no doubt that it would mean greatly reduced prices I suppose the re- tail grocer loses something like 10 per cent, probably more, in bad debts. The people who are willing to pay their debts pay these bad debts to certain degree through the high prices. By selling goods on the cash basis to those who are not stockholders it does away with the bad debts, and 10 per cent is knocked off of prices at one stroke. The expense of book keepers and collectors will be done away with and there are a number of other expense items that will be avoided, therc- by enabling the store to sell to the cus- toner at prices much lower thar those which now prevail.
 Every stockholder will be a customer per SC, and as his dividends will be paid on the amount of his purchases he will naturally trade exclusively with the cooperative store.
 ''The plan Is an entirely practicable one, the principle is undeniable, and I will be glad to assist in the operation of such store. It Is bound to be success"
 Lard and Meats Reduced.
 Getting back to the high price proposi- ton a grocer called attention to the fact yesterday that looks like good sign. It was stated by David J. Fox that within the last three weeks there has been reduction of from 21a to cents a pound on lard and meats. MT. Fox said that the best lard that sold for 15 cents three weeks ago is now being sold in the re- tail stores for 121a cents. He also said that Kingan's breakfast bacon, which sold for 30 cents is now selling for 271a cents a pound, while some brands of bacon can be bought for 171a cents Asked if he thought prices would be re- duced further, MT. Fox~replied that he could not tell, as the price on meats and lard is fixed in Chicago every morn ing at 10 o'clock.
 Effect of Freight Rates.
 The question has been raised as to whether or not discriminating freight rates have anything to do with the high price of groceries in Birmingham. When asked for an expression on this ques- ton last night Lee Clary, general agent of the Louisville and Nashville Rail- road company replied that, proportionate- ly, the rates to Birmingham are not higher than those to other places.
 Birmingham draws from the west for her fuor and other grain products, and meats, and has a better freight rate than Atlanta" said MT. Clary.
 Commenting further Mr. Clary said: "The rate of freight on the necessities of life. such as groceries and meats, when estimated on the pound, or on to- matoes by the can, is so infinitesimal that it could have no bearing on the retail prices. Even if the freight rates were reduced 50 per cent it would make no difference In retail prices because the freight on a pound of sugar, or a can of tomatoes or pound of meat is so small that 1t can hardly befigured out
 Other railroad men when question on this subject made replies corroboratins MT. Clary. One stated that while Bir- mingham has better freight rate from xt.- i& fo 1f nm