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

That interpretation. and not cold
storage conditions, is responsible for
prevailing high prices for foodstuffs
was the declaration OF c. j. Bowman
OF the American Butter a. Cheese Co.
In his address before the Wholesalers
* Manufacturers association, at tid
weekly luncheon in the Hotel Cadillac
Wednesday noon.
Butter prices are artihcially high
he went on 10 explain, because OF un'
tair federal and state laws regarding
! the sale of oleomargarine.
I William G.. Noack presided at the
luncheon and introduced Mr.. Bowman
as one who was not afraid 10 give his
frank opinions.
There is a widespread prejudice
against cold storage began the
speaker. Then he went on TO say that
there might as reasonably De preJu-
dice against canning factories, which
take the surplus production to dellYe:
II 20 the consumer again In the tine
Of non-production. Grain elevators,
lie said, might as reasonably be the
object OF prejudice.
If supplies OF butter, eggs and sim
liar pershaole 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 70 decline.
There is no secrecy about cold
storage plants. They will allow You
to go through them"
He commented Oh published state
ments as TO immense Quantities or
meats and other articles held in cold
storage for high prices as being ridlcu-
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 $20,000,0O0. more than the
total crop OF the United States. lie
doubted If there were 1000 tubs Of
butter in storage IN Detroit at the
present time.
I'm 15 years experience, | have
never known OF a time when the prices
OF butter. eggs and cheese were fixed
except by the law Of supply and de-
mand" he asserted. 1T Is the eX-
CO.'S of production over consumption
that goes into cold storage. II it We're
not for cold storage, eggs would be
worth only 10 cents dozen In the
spring. and 80 to 60 cents dozen In
the winter and very few OF them at
that"
I'VE are on the wrong track when
we condemn an industry that carries
over the surplus Of production TO 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 colured oleomargarine beside edu-
eating criminals. 1t is not illegal TO
color butter, but is Illegal To color
olcomargarine except when this tax
is paid, he said.
THAT is why the price OF butter is
high he said. 1T hurts you to pay
It, and 1t hurts us to sell IT,"
IF cold storage is ever used to raise
prices, il is because 1t 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 a 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
no hold