The Detroit times., 1910-02-03
UNDERPRODUCTUN.
BOOSTS PRICES
&C. J. BOWMAN.
Cold Storage Conditions In No Way
Responsible For High Cost OF
Food, Says Business Man.
&C. J. BOWMAN.

That interpretation. and not cold
storage conditions, is responsible for
prevailing high prices for foodstuhs
was the declaration of &. j. Bowman,
of the American Butter a Cheese Co.,
in his address before the Wholesalers
A. Manufacturers association, at the
weekly luncheon in the Hotel Cadillac,
Wednesday noon.
Butter prices are artiflcially high,
he went on to explain, because OF un.
tair federal and state laws regarding
the sale of oleomargarine.
William c. Noack presided at the
luncheon and introduced Mr.. Bowman
as one who was not afraid TO give his
frank opinions.
There Is a widespread prejudice
against cold storage" began the
speaker. Then he went on 10 say That
there might as reasonably be preJu'
dice against canning factories, which
take the surplus production TO deliver
1t to the consumer again in the time
Of production. Grain elevators,
lie said, might as reasonably be the
object of prejudice.
IF supplies OF butter, eggs and sim
liar perlshable products had been
boarded in cold storage warehouses,
prices would have been lower assert
ed Mr.. Bowman. II have wondered
often within the past six months how
high prices could go, and | am glad
that the crest mas been reached ant
prices have begun 10 decline.
There is no secrecy about cold
storage plants. They will allow You
10 go through them"
He commented Oh published state
ments as TO immense quantities OF
meats and other articles held In cold
storage for high prices as being rldlcu-
lous. One statement that 10000 tons
OF turkeys were held in cold storage IN
Detroit was dismissed with the state
ment that the value of that quantity
would be $20,000,00O, more than the
total crop OF the United States. he
doubted If there, were 1000 tubs OIL
butter in storage IN Detroit at the
present zine.
In Is years experience, | have
never known of a time when the prices
of butter. eggs and cheese were hXed
except by the law of supply and de-
maud" ne asserted. at is the eX-
cess OF production over consumption
that goes into cold storage. If 1t wepS
not tor cold storage eggs would be
worth only 10 cents dozen in tine
spring. and 80 TO 90 cents dozen IN
the winter and very few OF them at
that"
we are on the wrong track when
We condemn an industry that carries
over the surplus Of production 10 the
time when il is needed.
The solution OF high prices is in
some method OF increasing produc-
ton
Mr.. Bowman went on TO argue that
the federal and state oleomargarine
laws are unreasonable and keep up
butter prices with the tax OF 10 cents
on colored oleomargarine, beside edu-
eating criminals. 1t is not illegal to
color butter, but is illegal 10 color
oleomargarine except when this tax
is paid, he said.
THAT Is why the price of butter i5
high" he said 1T hurts you to pay
il. and II hurts us TO sell 1t.
If cold storage is ever used TO raise
prices. II is because it is used as
tool of spectators. Sometimes tho
spectulator makes a profit, more often
he loses. There is a new crop of spec
uiators every year Established firms
in the business who store goods for
their own trade run little risk com
paratively, but even these sometimes
have TO pocket heavy losses
1T is mistaken idea that perish
able articles can be kept in cold stor-
age an indefinite length of time; in
fact, there is almost an established
rule as to the length Of time they can
10 hold -