Evening star., 1911-06-04
Do NOT RAISE PRICE
Cold Storage Warehouses
Benefit to Public Is Plea.
SAY THEY KEEP COST DOWN
Statements to Senate Committee De-
fend Storing Foodstuffs.
CONCERN EGGS AND BUTTER
Figures Show That Prices for Prod
ucts Are Less Since Storing
Was Begun.
SAY THEY KEEP COST DOWN
CONCERN EGGS AND BUTTER

Statements to show that cold storage
warehouses have not been utilized to force
up the prices of eggs and butter. but
have. on the contrary enabled those liv-
ing in cities to get eggs and butter cheaper.
on yearly average. have been filed with
the Senate committee on manufactures
And very ingenious plan has been fol-
lowed by the representa- OF the cold
storage interests in the preparation of
the statistics. Figures have been pre-
sented to show the receipts Of eggs and
butter at New York. and the prices for
which they sold during the decade from
1880 to 1890. when there was practically
no cold storage Of these necessities, and
during the decade from 1900 to 1910. when
the cold storage system was working in
its present perfection.
For the period Of little or no cold stor-
age the figures show that eggs sold in
New York for an average Of 15l4 cents
per dozen during the months of fresh
production, and for 26% cents per dozen
For the period of ample cold storage, 1t is
shown that eggs sold I'm New York for
liza cents per dozen during the season of
flush production, that fresh gathered eggs
eggs sold for 21A cents per dozen during
the months Of short production.
Advance Very Slight.
From the figures produced for eggs the
statements argue that the average price
Of fresh gathered western eggs during the
period from 1900 to 1910 shows only q
very moderate advance as compared with
the period from 1880 to 1890. notwithstand-
ing the well known fact that the latter
period brought a general advance in prices
for nearly all articles of merchandise, and
that during the period from 1900 to 1910
the market was provided with large guam
titles of storage eggs during the season
OF natural scarcity at prices far below the
average value Of eggs during that season
in the years from 1880 to 1890.
Tables showing the number Of eggs in
storage at the various seasons of the
year are presented, and from them is
drawn the conclusion that all but IAN
Insignificant remainder" Of the cold stor-
age eggs accumulated during the season
Of natural surplus production are put
succeeding period of natural shortage.
which usually extends to March /.
'The supposition that cold storage OF
eggs Is used to elevate prices" the state
say. is utterly refuted by the statistics
Of prices. since 1t Is shown that the cold
storage product is sold during the sea-
son OF natural shortage In egg produc-
tlOn at materially lower prices In0n arc
obtained during that season for the limit
ed supply Of fresh gathered eggs. all
OF which at that season are put into
prompt consumption upon arrival at dis
tributing markets"
Enables Families to Save.
A similar plan has been followed to
show that the cold storage warehouse
men are benefiting the families Of New
York and enabling them to save money.
in keeping butter over from the season
Of flush production to the season Of short
production.
For the period from 1880 to 1890. when
there was little or no cold storage. 1t is
shown that the average price Of butter
during the months OF overproduction was
2Ox cents per pounds and for the months
of short production 33A cents per pound
During the period from 1900 to 1910. when
there were ample cold storage facilities,
teh tables show that fresh butter sold for
ON cents per pound during the flush
production months and the fresh butter
sold for 27A cents and storage butter for
25h cents per pound during the months
of short production.
From these figures the compilers OF the
statements draw the same general con-
clusions as In the case OF eggs.