The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-09-14
COST OF FOOD IS
RAPIDLY SOARING
Coffee and Potatoes Are
Near Luxurics- Sugar
Is Still Squirting.
palladium SpociaD


NEW YORK, Sept. 14.--WhIe lhous-
ands are starving in China and France
IL being 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 IL years. that coffee
Is soaring and potatoes are selling as
high as $1.10 bushel in the field. In
view of this householders are asking
themselves. "Will this winter see
recurrence of the conditions OF 1909
1910 when the cost of living reached
it's apex and declined slowly only aft.
err many so-called boycotts against
meat and other high priced commodi.
ties were declared throughout the
land"
To this question. economic experts
seen here today. answer no. Prices
will be higher. they say, in soIne in
stances, above those of last winter,
hut they add that the man who sets
his table with plain, every day fare,
avoiding fancy brands and near-lux-
uries. may await the approach Of cold
weather without undue anxiety. 1t is
pointed out that, generally speaking.
with the exception of coffee, sugar
potatoes and a few canned vegetables,
the present month of September was
ushered in with conditions more fav-
orable to the consumer than was the
case year ago.
On Sept. 1, mess pork was quoted at
$40 barrel, wholesale, as against $24
on the same date in 1910. The whole
sale price Of ham Is little more than
Is cents pound, as compared with
Is cents In the early fall of last year;
western lard is selling at a fraction
more than nine cents, and butter and
eggs are both comparatively reasona-
BILE and few cents cheaper retail
than last September.
Flour Holds Firm.
Flour OF good quality is selling at
lowest retail prices at $5.95 a barrel,
the same price that prevailed at this
time last year, and bacon may be had
at some stores for 20 cents a pound
as against % and 25 a year ago. "The
average family" stew costs about 2S
cents a pound, as 1t did last year.
though experts say that with all feed
ing crops short 1t is not likely that
beef will go higher as the winter pro-
crosses.
The cost of poultry will be largely
determined by cold storage holdings,
Indications are that the shortage of
potatoes are serious, not only in this
country but in Great Britain and Ger
many. In the fall of last year one could
buy potaties in the field at 55 cents a
buahel; today the prices range from IS
cents to more than dollar. Canned
peas, beans and tomatoes also will be
higher. but rice remains cheaper and
unless there is a 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 to Fall.
Sugar and coffee are phenomenally
high. but those who are studying the
market predict that decreased con-
sumption which, invariably follows a
prohibitive advance, will soon restore
these two breakfast table necessities
to more norma! level.
No. standard Rio spot coffee
brought 1884 cents a pound, wholesale.
in New York last Saturday as against
1Oh cents year ago and the standard
grade of granulated sugar was quoted
wholesale at $40 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 SUI
gar market.
1t Is almost impossible to strike an
intelligent average of the price to the
consumers, SO much depending upon
the location of the dealers store.