Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-09-16
FOOD PRICES SOAR.
But Most Staples Won't
Reach 1909 Mark.
MEAT LIKELY TO 60 HIGHER
Coffee, Sugar and Potatoes Take
Sensational Jump, But Experts
Think Other Staples May
Hold Steady.

New York. Sept ~ While thou
sands are starving in China, and
France is torn with riots in protest
against the high cost of food. there is
renewed attention In this country to
the fact that sugar has reached its
highest point In twelve years, that
coffee is soaring and potatoes are sell
ing as high as s1.10 bushel In the
field.
In view Of this, househoders are
asking themselves: VIII this winter
see recurrence of the conditions OF
1909-10, when the cost of living reach
ed its apex and declined slowly only
after many so-called boycotts against
meat and other high-priced commodi-
ties We're declared throughout the
land?
To this question economic experts
answer no. Prices will be higher.
they say, in some instances, above
those of last winter, but they add that
the man who sets his table with plain,
everyday fare, avoiding fancy brands
and near Injuries, may await the ap
proach of cold weather without undue
anxiety.
1t is pointed out that, generally
speaking, with the exception of cof
fee, sugar, potatoes and a few canned
vegetables, the present month OF Sep
TENDER was ushered in with conditions
more favorable to the consumer than
was the case year ago.
On Sept. l mess pork was quoted
at $40 barrel wholesale. as against
$24 on the same date in 1910; the
wholesale price of ham is little more
than ID cents a pound, as compared
with Is cents in the early fall of last
year; western lard is selling at a frac-
tion more than 3 cents, as against
more than u cents ia September, 1910,
and butter and eggs are both COM
paratively reasonable and few cents
cheaper retail than in last Septem-
Der.
Flour of good quality Is selling at
lowest retail prices at $685. barrel,
the same price that prevailed at this
time last year, and bacon may be had
at some stores for 20 cents pound,
as against % and % cents year ago.
The average family" steak costs
about rs cents a pound, as it did last
year, though experts say that with all
feeding crops short it is not unlikely
that beef will go higher as the winter
progresses. The cost of poultry will
be largely determined by cold storage
holdings.
Indications are that tise shortage of
potatoes AZ seriJus. MOI only in this
country, bS-1 ia Great Eziita.n and Ger
I many Ia the fail of last year one
could buy good potatoes in the field
at So cents a buslael; tot&y the prices
| range from SJ cents TO more than 81.
Canned peas, beans and tomatoes also
will be higher, but rice remains cheap.
and unless there is a marked advance
in pork it is argued that the man OF
slender means can provide for his
family without serious strain.
Sugar and coffee are both phenome-
nally high. but those who are studying
the market predict that decreased
consumption which invariably follows
a prohibitive advance. will soon re-
store these two breakfast table ne
cesities TO a more normal level. No. z
standard Rio spot coffee brought 18ss
cents a pound wholesale in New York
Saturday, as against 1015 cents a year
ago, and the standard grade Of granu.
lated sugar was quoted Wholesale at
go cents per pound, the highest level
since July, 1899. Failure of the Euro.
pean sugar beet crop and poor pros
poets in Cuba are given as the cause
of the abrupt jump in the sugar
market