The Detroit times., 1910-02-05
BREAD LEADS IN
INCREASED PRICES
Retail Cost Has Advanced 4S.4
Per Cent in Ten Years-Other
Interesting Figures.

/ WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-A general
ard substantial increase in the price
lof food during the ten years from
llA59 TO 1905 is shown in the answer TO
the resolution OF Senator Crawford
/ CRep. s. D., received by the senate
| nom the department OF commerce and
labor yesterday.
The percentage OF increase in the
wholesale prices of a few necessaries
OF life IN the ten-year period Were:
Bread 25 per cent; Elgin butter, 2S.S;
Rio coffee, 80. new laid eggs, S9s;
fresh beef. lis: slat beef. 4l.s; bacon,
545; ham, 21.9; milk, 80; potatoes.
706; beans, 597; cheese. 26.9; lard,
1913 and dressed mutton, 2l.4 per cent.
The percentage OF increase in the
retail prices OF these articles was
Bread. 49.4: Elgin butter. 30,6; Rio
coffee, 8; new laid eggs. $50; fresh
beef, 149: salt beef. 1916; bacon, 52.9;
ham, BIS; milk. 1871; tea, 81; potatoes,
25.5; beans. 1872; cheese. 20.S; lard,
1871 and dressed mutton, 21.5.
Some comfort is offered the consum-
er by the report showing the whole
sale price OF sugar dropped 81 and the
retail 81 per cent. The wholesale
price OF tea was reduced 31.6 and Of
spices 35,9 per cent.
Declaring the farmer to be the last
person considered in any conflict In
which the agriculturist Is involved
Senator McCumber, of North Dakota,
yesterday delivered a speech in the
senate 10 demonstrate that the farm
ers are not receiving a fair share OF
he hfohV. ri nrNHVfnfu
command. He said that bills such as
had been presented in the house for
the removal OF duties on farm articles
were equivalent TO an effort 10 estab-
lish a legislative boycott against the
tiller OF the soil.
This boycott was always to be ex-
peeted when food prices increased. he
said But the discrimination would
not always continue. for the time was
rapidly approaching when the farmer
would receive proper compensation for
his labor
This prediction was made by Mr..
McCumber upon the theory that the
day OF over-production was rapidly
passing. which would insure still bet
ter price sthan were now paid 10 the
producer. Contrasting the prices re-
ceiYed by the farmer with those paid
by the consumer. he said that l.
year-eld steer which in North Dakota
would bring $40. would sell for $4,000
when retailed AT senate restaurant
steak prices-enough TO buy half 4
farm.
Mr.. McCumber declared that n
.brshel of wheat which brings the farm
er only 80 cents retails for three or
four dollars when made up into bread
and sold al five cents loaf. and al
$3.50 when served in a good restaur-
ant. Potatoes. worth 80 cents a bushel
In North Dakota. served flashed
brown bring an advance OF $50 per
cent, he declared.
He said there should be no objec-
ton BY the city people 10 higher prices
for farm products by what law he
asked, have the deniZens OF the cities
greater right 10 Injuries than the
tillers OF the soil p" His sense OF
equal justice TO all was outraged. he
said, when he heard OF meetings in
the palaces OF the rich TO devise boy
colts against the farmer He attrib-
uted the enhancement OF prices TO the
increase Of the volume OF gold; 10 the
increased demand and the diminished
supply; TO control by the trusts and 70
the increased ability on the part Of
TIE consumer TO buy.