The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-26
Retailers Say | Is Not Thei , Fault is Their PrORIS
 Are Small
QUOTATIONS ON PRICES
 FROM OTHER CITIES
Local Grocers Contend They Have Had To Stand Continued Advances By Wholesalers Without Rais-
 ing Their Prices.

The current prices on staple groceries are unreasonably high in Birmingham. There is not a grocer in the city who does not agree that this is a fact, although it is their common statement that they are absolutely unable to reduce prices and make money in the business. Most of the dealers claim that they are putting their goods on the retail market here at prac- tically the same price at which they are being sold in other southern cities, while one has come forth with the statement that he is underselling five out of every six towns in the south by small per cent.
 If prices are exorbtant, then where does the fault lie? It must be somewhere. ''The grocers invite an investigation" said a representative dealer yesterday. '1t is not the retailer who is making the enor- nous profit It is asserted that if cer- tain necessities sell cheaper in other cities compared with Birmingham the big profit between the two prices is gobbled up by wholesale dealers or some one else before the goods go into the store and on the shelves of the retail grocer
 The price of staples, like everything else is, of course. governed by the demand and supply. Every man who handles the goods must make his profit, and there are several in a great many instances. Is the manufacturer making a great. big profit and are the wholesale dealers and com mission merchants charging exorbitant prices that they, too, may get a big per cent. of profit? Is this the reason the re- taller must run his prices up to pitch that a great many can barely reach? It is presumed that this is so.
 Is There Remedy?
 Then is there a remedy? Can the re- taller buy in larger quantities, get, at least, some of his goods direct from the factories and avoid the middleman and in this way enable himself to sell at a more reasonable price and still make a fair profit? Every man is dependent upon every other man in some degree. and for this reason consideration is due at all hands. The people are growing weary of paying high prices and are in unison cry ing and striving for some relief If labor Is high everywhere, as it is claimed is the case in Birmingham, 1t should not take a mans entire salary to eke out an ex- istence.
 Rigdon E. Orr, of Orr and Roberts, stated yesterday that within the last three months prices on meats and canned goods have advanced from 10 to 15 per cent. He stated further that the grocers have stood for a number of the increases with out raising the retail price, thereby reduc- ing their profit. He gave as an instance a particular brand of butter, known as the Fox River butter which, he said, was wholesaling at S7 cents and is being sold in the retail stores at 40 cents "Of course we average up on this to certain extent" said MT. Orr. "When butter goes down to 35 or even 32 cents we sell it at 40 cents, but when it goes to. 30 cents, wholesale, we put it on the market at 35 cents.
 With reference to bacon and other cured or smoked meats, there are a num- Der of brands and grades. There is one branda of bacon. smoked, not cured which we buy at 12 cents and sell at 1t cents pound, while the meat we pay 2l cents TOT we sell TOT 70 cents.
 Fine Bacon Bought In Cleveland.
 A bill for several pieces of meat was sent to The Age Herald office yesterday, the sight of which would induce an ordi- nary person to send out of town for his meat. A copy of the bill follows
 Cleveland, Ohio, January 10, 1908.
 Cleveland Provision Co.,,
 Cleveland, Ohio.
 3 Wilt. Bacon, so 23 lb............17 3.91 2 Wilt Ham 4.16 30 lb.............11h S.45
 7.36 Paid Feb. 1T, 1908.
 The word 'WiIt" means "Witshire'' brand, very satisfactory brand of meat. The established brands of meat sell in Birmingham for from 25 to 271a cents a pound, and the very fancy brands, put up in jars, sell for 3S cents a pound.
 Claims To Undersell Others.
 An interesting statement was received yesterday from T. A. Wilson, manager of the grocery department at Drennen x