The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-05
Government Ordered Large
Quantities of Cold Storage
Products to Be Placed on
Market Immediately.
THIS, WITH WARM
WEATHER, WAS CAUSE
Reduction in Other Commod-
tiles General, Butter Even
Affecting Lard Prices
Coffee Higher.

When the bottom fell out OF egg
prices the other day. resulting in that
commodity dropping from 35 to 40
cents dozen to 25 cents. housewives
heaved big sigh of relief-fried eggs
and cake began to appear with regu-
larity on the table. If the open wealth
er continues warm, eggs will remain at
a low figure, grocers say, but in case
of snow or a freeze there will be an
other advance. Eggs are not as plen-
tiful at three or four days ago, but
there is no present reason to antici-
pate a shortage.
Prices of eggs got their first blow
when government inspectors ordered
severa; million dozen placed on the
market from a Chicago cold storage
house, a few weeks ago. Farmers
say that local prices are due to the
warm weather. Country eggs have
been very plentiful until a few days
ago.
Besides the egg drop heavy down.
ward fluctuation was manifested in
butter prices when three million
pounds were suddenly thrust on the
market The drop is not marked to
any great degree here, the price on
first class country butter standing at
80 cents and on first class creamery
butter at 80 cents. Prices six months
ago ranged from to 10 cents higher
on the pound. Creamery men say that
a further drop in butter is probable
provided the warm weather continues.
This three million pound lot Of cold
storage butter, also is said to be re-
sponsible for the drop in heavy hog
prices. because a cheap grade butter
is being used instead of first Class
lard The sale of lard has decreased
several percent within a month, ac-
cording to Richmond butchers.
A drop of few cents is shown on
all grades of pork, a great quantity OF
which is now being. disposed of by To-
cal meat men. Pork chops are now
being sold at retail at Is to Is cents,
while year ago the prices ranged
from Is to 20 cents. Hams and shoul-
der meats are going at Is to Is cents
per pound a drop Of four cents from
this time last year. Bacon ranges at
Is, IS, and 20 cents pound. In 1910
it was selling between 20 and 80 cents.
Cattle prices are not changing greatly,
although steaks are one or two cents
cheaper than last winter
Coffee Increased.
Only one important grocery commo-
| tlity shows an increase of price, this
| being coffee, especially in the cheaper
grades. Cheaper grades have gone up
| from 10 to Is cents pound and the
more expensive grades, over 80 cents
per pound, have increased about )
cents on that amount.
| Wholesale grocers say this raise is
due to bad crops in Brazil. where
most of the American coffee is grown
Several years ago, caused by big de.
cline in price, the Brazilian coffee
planters, let their plantations run
down considerably. In the last two
years. the government of that country
has offered money to planters to re
| new their coffee fields.
Grains have declined only a few
cents. The present quotations are
| corn, 45 cents per 20 pounds, No.
wheat, 80 cents per bushel; rye, 65 to
20 cents per bushel. Flour made from
winter wheat retails at 70 cents, and
spring wheat flour at 80 cents.