Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-12
IRIS EXPENSIVE,
The High Cost Of Living Is
Something Terrific,
Sugar Highest for II Years.
Coffee Out Of Sight.
All The Necessities Up in The Clouds
LuyuSles Out Of Sight.

New Yora, Sept. IL. While thous-
tnds arc starving in CFiEsa and France
IS being torn with .iats IN protest
against the high Cost Of ta8G, there is
renewed attention in tats country to
he fact that sugar has reached its
highest point in L Ngars. that coffee
s soaring and that potatoes are SELL
ing as high as $f1a = aHshel in the
field.
Householders arc askls themselves.
VIII this winter see 4 recurrence OF the
conditions OF 19e9-la When the cost
| of living reached lis afeS and declined
slowly only after maI4 sa-called hoy
colts against meat aRd other hisl
priced commodities we're declared
throughout the land To this question
economic experts seen here today an
swered No"
Prices will De higher. they say. in
some instances, above those Of Last
winter. but they add that The man who
sets his table With Ftain, everyday
are. avoiding faneN brands and near
luXuries. may await thu approach of
cold weathe. without aadae anxiety
Il is pointed OF that. general
speaking. with the exception OF coffee
sugar and potatoes and a few canned
vegetables. the present month Of Sep
ember was ushered IN With conditions
more favorable to the consumer than
was the ease a year ago ON Sept. l,
mess pork was quoted 1t $40 barrel,
wholesale as against 81 ON the same
| 10 ,F=B,.fEenIN nfiT1 "a
ham is little more than Il cents a
pound as compared with Is cents in the
early fall Of last year; Western lard Is
selling at a fraction moro than cents,
as against more than l. cents in Sep
TENDER. 1910, and butter and eggs are
both comparatively reasonable and a
few cents cheaper retail than in last
September.
Flour of good quality is selling at
lowest retail prices at $5.93 barrel.
the same price that prevailed at this
time last year and bacon may be had
at some stores for - cents a pound as
against 2S and - year age. The
average family steak costs about y
cents pound as it did last year.
though experts say that With all feed
| ng crops short. it Is not unlikely that
| it viii go higher as the winter pro-
crosses.
The cost of poultry will be largely
determined by cold storage holdings
the mysteries Of which the layman
has not vet solved. Potatoes, it is held.
arc almost certain to remain q luxury,
cor although the main crop will not be
dug until the last of this month, in
iications are that the shortage is seri-
Gus. not only in this country but III
england and Germany. In the fall oil
last year. one could buy good potatoes
| in the field at 50 cents bushel; today
he prices range from IS cents to more
than a dollar Canned peas, beans and
tomatoes also will be higher. but rice
| remains cheap and unless there IS
marked advance in pork, it is argued
hat the man Of slender means can pro-
vide for his family without serious
strain.
Sugar and coffee are both phenone-
nally high. but those who are studying
ne market predict that decreased con-
sumption which invariably follows z
rohibitive advance, will soon restore
these two breakfast table necessities to
a more normal level Number seven
standard Rio spot coffe brought 13ss
| eents pound wholesale i'll New YORK
Saturday as against 1o1a cents year
| ago. The standard grade OF granulated
sugar was quoted wholesale at 6.le
cents per pound the highest level since
July, 1899. Failure of the European
sugar beet crop and poor prospects in
Cuba are given as the cause of the
abrupt jump in the sugar market
The price the consumer must pay Is
such a variable quantity throughout
the United States that it is almost I'M
possible to strike an intelligent aver
| age. Much depends upon the location
| of the retail dealer.