The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1910-03-04
SOME CAUSES OF THE HIGH
PRICES.

surmises and conjectures made as to
the causes. Many blame the Tariff.
Others say the increase of the gold
output and some say the extrava-
gance Of the American people are
the petent causes. 1t is rather
unusual in this country, in times of
peace throughout the world and no
special cause to create an unusual
demand, to see farm products and
the things we must have to eat sell
at the prices they now bear.
increase of money circulation
has always, under all conditions,
had tendency to advance prices.
During the war, when greenbacks
were plenty and the demand extra
ordinary, prices were high.
If money is very plentiful and
easy to get the man values it less
and spends it more freely for the
things he needs for use or pleasure.
Interest rates decrease and money
is invested in manufacturing enter
prises, the laborer is given employ
ment and thereby his capacity to'
buving is increased and the demand
becomes greater.
The farmer boy is attracted from
the farm by the alluring wages
offered in the factories and re
ductlon of products on the farm
results, Thus we have the two
elements of higher prices working
together. The increased demand
and the decreased supply. These
two conditions have prevailed for
several years. How has it been IN
our own locality for the last five
years?
The discovery Of oil and gas here
in large quantities started many
enterprises in our midst. The
demand for labor was great and the
supply scant. The result was high
wages and hundreds of our farm
Bows we're lured from the farm tc
find employment in oil fields and in
factories. Results; less land cult
waited, less stock raised and naturally
an advance in prices.
What is true of this locality il
true to a greater or less degree IL
every other locality and the logica
results must follow. With money
coming easy The Americap people
have become reckless and extrava
gait in their demands for luxure
even beyond their means. Ou
mode of living and systems of busi
ness have grown more expensive.
In talking to premlnen
business man of this city he toll
me the expense of running hi
business had almost doubled in til
last four or five years. Sllarie
had greatly Increased, rents ha
doubled and all incidental. expense
were much greater
The telephone is gre'
convenience bat did you ever sto
to think what a great expense 1t
to the merchant who delivers hi
wares. Before wehad the telephon
the lady of the house would max
out an order for what she NIGH
want for the day and send 1t Q
take it to the merchant in tn
morning and one trip ofthe deliver
wagon would answer for the ga
and many times for two or thre
days.
Now if the lady of the hous
discovers she is out of soda sh
phones to the grocer to send her
box at once. She afterwards had
she is out of eggs and orders
dozen. Thus it goes all throug
the day and the delivery WACO
frequently makes half dozen trip
or more to one house during a day
All this costs money and must b
made up somewhere in added COS
of the goods to the consumer.
New when the labVring man c
clerk goes to settle his MONTH
grocery bill he ands such items
N. these:
ch.lIed means pound s