The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-10
WHAT'S ON ICE.

Some cold storage figures when doubtless will
be the subject of warm debate during the extra
first regular session or the Sxtysecond Con-
gress have been brought TO light by the Commit
tee on Manufactures of the Senate. The report
made late in the session just closed. but it
was lost In the shuttle and failed to command
any attention from the boiling and stewing rep.
resentatlves and senator's
The figures compiled in the report are stupen.
dous. They seem to establish the truth of the
allegation often made that the secret of the
high cost of living in this country has been iced
up in refrigerating plants for years The Sen.
ate Committee Manufactures makes some re.
concentrations for the regulation of cold stor.
age plants which look as though they contain
large measure OF relief from scant supply and
high prices. The statement is made that the
value of products which pass through the refrig.
Grating rooms OF this country in the course of
trade during year is more than $4,000 600 900
The present quantity OF food products stored
in the United States refrgerating plants is 21
5oo.0o0o0o eggs, equal 10 6o,ooo00O cases, five
per cent OF which is in 100000 cases, the guam
tity actually stored in 1907 from 80 900 900 to
100000 pounds of butter. about five per
cent OF the total production in the United States
in year; from 5000 900 to 5000. 900 barrels of
apples, cut of a total production of between Co.
100000 and 60.000,oo0 barrels, and one billion
frozen fowls.
The committee sets the value of the stored eggs
at s21.oo0,ooo; butter, s25.0ooooo apples $50.
100000; poultry s45.oooooo; cheese. $4,000
600. and frozen fish, 100000
Recommendation is made by the committee
that law be passed providing that once food
products are taken from cold storage plant
they cannot be returned under penalty of fine or
imprisonment; and that limits be set for the
storing of various articles OF food II the com.
Its will be for beef and its products, seven
months; pork and its products. four months:
veal and it's products, four months: sheep or
products four months; lambs or products, three
months: poultry or products, three months:
game or products, three months; and a similar
the committee recommends that eggs produced
in hot months be kept entirely out of cold stor.
age plants Suggestion is made for most rigid
inspection of the refrigeI ator rooms and exami.
nation of the employees
One OF the strongest planks In the Democratic
platform last fall that providing for a re-
duetion OF the high cost of living. and this re-
port places In the hands Of the Democrats dur.
ing the extra session of Congress some excellent
material upon which ~ base legislation of a
remedial nature, 1t can be readily seen that
the enactment into law IF the recommendations
Of the Committee on Manufactures would keep
a far greater supply of foodstuffs on the open
market at all times. and thus bring about low.
er cost of the necessities of lfa In this report.
whose accuracy Is sttested by tins refrigsratins
plant owners, the Democrats In Congress are
provided with a means Of making themselves
soiid in this country, which Is second only to
downward revision Of tbs tariff If not ahead Of
the attsr. l.