The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-25
LIVING EXPENSES
lRE STILL SOARING
PRICE, OF Chickens Highest m
Nearly Fifty Years, But
Supply Good.
FRESH MEATS COSTLY
Local Market, However, Has
Splendid Stock of Fish, Fruits,
and Vegetables.
1 MEATS COSTLY

CONTRARY TO reports which have re-
Gently emanateu from several OF the
larger cities the price of fresh meats
in Richmond continues TO soar. and
butchers and dealers in the local
market say that the cost of living Is
going UP every day. No relief Ia yet
! In sight. according 10 remarks made
SATURDAY. some OF ths more optimis-
TIC are inclined 20 believe that prices
VIII be somewhat lower In about july
when grass-fed cattle viii begin to ar
rive
Exorbitant prices are being asked
for lamb and poultry, especially
chickens. In the latter case the high
cost In attributed to the war in New
York between the poultry trust and
Independent dealers
Chickens Now Deiicacie%.
This mounting of chickens into the
realm of food delieacies is despite the
fact that mere poultry is raised now
than Aver before in the history OF this
country. The Wholesale price of live
hens In Richmond was set at nineteen
cents a pound Saturday. For dressed
fczgls lss.ss s~.s..Tt pre-
portionately high. "broiler' whole
sales at from So to 40 cents pound.
making the cost of fair-sized spring
chickens to the consumer about seven-
ty-fise or eighty cents
In late years chicken raising has
become a science and many States and
the national government have estao-
lished breeding and experimental sta
tioris AT the Utah station experts
have hen that laid 204 eggs in one
year.
Several months ago fancier sold
white Plymouth Rock hen for 1900.
Her eggs are sold to breeders at $50
y dozen. IS apiece.
start chicken farm and get
rich" is the lure set forth in adver-
tisements read everywhere. Within
the past year many suburban residents
Of Richmond have become raisers
The same is true of all sections
Production Doubled.
The incubator and patent breeders
have increased many fold the produce
ton of chickens for the market 1t
h not uncommon to hatch from ninety
10 ntne-iye chicks from a 1o0-egg In
rubator. This Is as easily accomplish
ed In December as July. No hen could
do that work. But Notwithstanding this
I Increased production the price con-
isnues to soar. and therefore chickens
I have become scarce article upon the
tables OF many Richmond homes. The
xafne is true elsewhere.
Ten years ago, with hardly half the
chicken supply of to-day, the fowls
cuttid be bought for haff the price
they now command.
Not since the war. forty-five years
ago. has the cost reached the almost
prphihitive pinnacle it now rests upon
Receipts OF chickens IN the local
market are by no means light. Sat
urday morning great stacks of coops
Allied with cackHng hens were sen
! inpthe SHOPS Of commission merchants
on Cary and Thirteenth streets
Back 10 Farm"
Back to the farm" is the solution
of the high cost OF living problem
advanced by men who have made
scientific Investigations into prevailing
conditions. While the population OF
the great cities Of America continues
TO swell at an almost abnormal rate.
the number Of people In all rural sec
tions has decreased accordingly.
Market Well Supplied.
But residents OF Richmond are for
tunate in having a splendid market to
supply all manner OF seasonable foed.
u The cost of fish is not high, fruit can
be had at moderate prices, while veg
4 Gtables are plentiful.
A stroll through the Sixth Street
market Saturday morning would have
y convinced the most skepticat that the
supply of foodstuffs, aside from meats.
liz abundant and was available at 49,
& ssViASiS PtiSFS
In fact the stands OF hucksters
pearea unusually fresh and attractive.
The scene WAS mere adapted - June
than April. North Carolina ~ respon-
sthle for a large portion of the fruits
and vegetables.
New Potatoes Here.
New potatoes have made their ap-
pearance. but on account of present
scarcity were selling at so cents a
peck.
Stra wberries from the Old North
State, were much in evidence ana
brought 10 cents q quart
Florida egg plants were bringing 10
cents each Saturday morning. while
asparagus was valued at from rs 10
20 cents bunch The price aske
Tor sweet potatoes was IS cents a
peck. Snapbeans were sold a. two
quarts for % cents. Green peas, Is
10 30 cents per quart. New cahhages
10 cents a head.
Eggs are here in fairly plentiful
and the fresh country product could
be had at rs cents dozen
T. T.. A. Fleets Officers
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