St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-02-09

Wheat.-Taking first the case of wheat.
The returns are only compiled to the end
of 1908, and therefore do not show the
great increase that took place this sum-
mer, when wheat reached the astonishing
price of As. quarter.
The average price of wheat in 90S was
32s. quarter, or Is. sd more than in
1907, and higher than in any previous
year since 1898. Only twice in the last
twenty years has wheat reached an aver
age of 32s. a quarter.
Bread.-The price of bread, of course,
increases with that of wheat, and the IL
cures show that since 1906 the increase
has been equal to an extra halt-penny on
the 4-pound loaf. A halfpenuy on every
loaf is great hardship to the poor and
makes an enormous difference in the
working mans budget.
Meat.-The rise In the price of beef has
been just as remarkable as in the case OF
bread. While beef fell slightly between
1904 and 1906, it has risen rapidly in
the last three years. Since 1905 Scotch
beef has gone up from 55s. to SIS.
hundredweight, and English from SIS.
Cd. to 54s. British pork has risen from
SIS. to 55s. cd. and Irish pork from SIS.
cd. to Gas. English mutton rose from
Cos. hundredweight in 1904 to us. in
1907 and fell last year to Cos. again.
classes of butter was substantially high
er in 1908 than 1907. Irish creamery
butter rose from Ills. Cd. hundred
weight in 1906 to 116s. in 1908. Danish
butter from 11Ss. Cd. in 1906 to IBIS.
Cd. in 1908, Canadian from HOS. cd. to
116s., New Zealand from Ills. to 11Ss.,
and Argentine from 107s. Cd. to ITS.
There was a slight fall in the price of
cheese, and slight increase in the price
of eggs.
egetables.-Potatoes which were Cos.
cd. ton in March 1906, were COS. ton
in March 1908.
Prices are lower in the cases of aspara
gus, mushrooms, vegetable marrows and
parsnips.
Reports of Consul-General Grifiths or
costs of living in Great Britain Omitted
States Consular Reports, November 8
1909):
"These prices are to be found in re
port issued by the British Board of Agri
culture, and comparison in the report
is instituted between the prices for thu
years 1906. 1907, and 1908. The prices
for 1909 would not be lower than thos
given for 1908.
IAN examination of the report disclose
that, with the exception of mutton ant
pork, the prices of meat were higher il
1908 than in 1907. 1t will be noticed
that butter was very much dearer In 1905
than in 1907, and that bread was appre
ciably higher. With the exception of ap
Piles and pears, almost all fruits wer
dearer in 1908 than in 1907, while vege
tables, with the exception of onions ant
homes grown peas, were generally cheap
err
The following excerpt is from repor
of President Gompers of the American
Federation of Labor published in tn
American Federationist in January 1910
Living is cheap to the wage-worker ii
Europe only because he does withou
what in America soon becomes neces
sity to him-food in good quantity ant
quality, presentable clothes among hi
aspiring fellow-workmen and thei
families, and comfortably furnished
home in quarters responding to hi
awakened desires for equality with M
American neighbors, and In general ;
larger and freer life.
How often do these people eat meat!'
is a question the American in Europ
finds himself asking when looking abou
among wage-workers. Meat is usually
from rs to 100 per cent higher in pric
than in the United States. Naples ant
vicinity is often spoken of as offering
plentiful and cheap living. Within tn
customs-bonded district of the port o
Naples are large cold-storage ware