Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-12
COST OF LIVING IS
| SERIOUS problem
To HOUSEHOLDERS
With Thousands Starving in
China and Europe People
of United States Are Begin
ming to Feel Anxious
tBy Associated Press. }

NEW YORK. Sept. u.-While thou
sands are starving in China, and France
is rent with riots in protest against high
food prices, there is renewed attention
in the United States to the fact that
sugar has reached is highest point in u
years. that coffee prices are near the
zenith, and that potatoes are selling as
high as S1.10 a bushel in the field.
Now householders are asking: ''Will
this winter see recurrence of conditions
of 1909-10, when the cost of living reach
ed its apex and declined only after many
so-calied boycotts against meat and
other high priced commodities were de-
clared throughout the land?"
To this question economic experts seen
here today answer NO
Prices will be higher. they say, in some
instances above those Of last winter. but
they add that the man who provides
his table with plain everyday fare,
avoiding fancy brands and near-luxnries,
may await the approach of cold Weather
without undue anxiety
1t is pointed out that, generally speak
ing. with the exception of coffee. sugar.
potatoes and a Few. canned vegetables.
September began with conditions more
favorable to the consumer than was the
case year ago. on September / mess
pork was quoted at SIS a barrel whole
sale, as against s24 on the same date in
1870 the wholesale price of ham is a
little more than Is cents a pound as com
pared with IS cents IN the early fall OF
last year. Western lard is selling at a
fraction more than cents. as against
more than u cents in September. 1910
and butter and eggs are both compare
lively reasonable and few cents cheap
er at retail than in last September.
Z Flour of good quality is selling at low
est retail prices at $685. a 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 Is
cents a pound, as 1t 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.
A POTATO SHORTAGE.
The cost of paulffv win be largely
determined by cold storage holdings IN,
dications are that the Shortage Of pota-
toes is serious, not only In this country,
but in Great Britain and Germany. In
the fall Of last year one could buy good
potatoes in the field at 55 cents a bushel;
today the prices range from IS cents to
more than a dollar.
Canned peas, beans and tomatoes also
win be higher, but rice remains cheap
and unless there is marked advance in
pork, 1t is argued that the man OF slen-
der means can provide for his family
without serious strain.
Sugar and coffee are phenomenally
high, but those who are studying the
market predict that decreased consump-
ton. which invariably follows a prohibi-
tive advance, will soon restore these twp
breakfast table necessities to a mofe
normal level No. z standard Rio spot
coffee brought 10 5-Sc a pound wholesale
in New York Saturday as against 10 IL
cents a year ago, and the standard grade
of granulated sugars was quoted whole
sale at $50 cents per pound, the highest
level since July, 1899.
Failure of the European beet crop and
cane in Cuba are given as the cause of
the jump in the sugar market. 1t Is al
most impossible to strike an intelligent
average of the price to the consumer, so
much depending upon the location of the
Dealers store. The following table
shows the prevailing wholesale prices
when the month of September opened.
These figures have changed only slightly
since:
Sept 1911 Sep 1910.