New-York tribune., 1912-01-24
COST PRICES TO RULE
Dr.. Peters Discusses Shop TO Sc
Opened for Poor Saturday.
BUTTER AT LOWER LEVEL
Housewives League Continues
Activity-Tired of Testing
Butter Substitutes.

In accordance with his plans to fight the
high cost Of living by establishing stores
a. which the poor might buy at cost price
the Rey Madison G. Peters announced
Yesterday he would open the first store at
No 40 East 23d stret. Associated with
Dr. Peters is Mrs. S. Ludlow Neidlinser'
of No 622 West 18th street and both have
IN. sl.pport of the Professional Woman
Ielcpe. the Housewives League and the
congregation Of Pilgrim. Church.
Br Peters said the first store would le
omen only two days i'm the week-Wednes-
day and Saturday and only from 10 a. m
until noon. The opening will be on Satur-
day Of this week. January 2L DR.. Peters
explained his plan in detail yesterday by
saying:
"My plan is to establish "a store which
will be open during certain hours on Ger
tain days, when the poor can buy their
supplies at wholesale prices. ! intend TO
sell coal as well as food. ! want - break
up this system which conpels the poor
person, who is forced to buy coal by the
bucket, to pay from SIS TO SIS ton for
coal 1t is estimated that there are l4S
ordinary sized coal scuttles in a ton. and
nowhere can scuttle of coal be pur-
chased lOf less IMAM ~ NCllNSs AiiNN tH'''
the price at Sl4 50 a ton, and in some caset
It is even higher. because some merchants
aren't satisfied with that system of rob-
berry, and resort TO short weight even In
the selling of a scuttle Of coal.
"The price of potatoes is another serious
proposition. Potatoes bought by the hushel
H.. the wholesale market do not cost more
than 81 25 at the highest-more often the
price is about 81. AS sold In 1O-cent and
ol..er small sized lots the retailers receive
lrom 81 TO $3 for potatoes
lie said last night that he had called on
the Bureau Of Licenses, and was told he
yould not have to pay any fees to the city
for stores of the character intended, and,
on the other hand, would receive hearty c.
operation from the city. There Will be a
Brooklyn store soon.
drop Of two cents a pound has been
recorded on the wholesale butter market
this week, the price quoted yesterday being
Is cents. against 40 Saturday and 43 cents
Tuesday
The decrease was said to have been
caused by the recent mild weather 10
rether with refusal OF the dealers TO buy in
large quantities while the prices were high.
The dealers yesterday seemed TO be OF
the opinion that if mild weather prevailed
throughout the Middle West for any length
OF time the markets will be stocked sur
hcientlv to hold them over until spring.
In that case prices would go lower than
at present.
on the other hand, if a sudden cold snap
set in. prices would be apt to soar again.
end butter would become more expensive
than ever.
The Housewives League reported that
in some sections Of the city, at least but
Ter has gone down in price from three TO
five cents a pound.
Mrs Randolph Green, secretary Oh the
organization. said yesterday that she Kne"
several dealers on the upper West Side VINO
were selling the commodity at five cents
less than they did last week And If that
IS the case in this locality 1t must GER
.alrly be so in the poorer districts, she
observed.
IF think we have the interests that are
keeping food prices up pretty well fright
cned"
professional faster of substitutes for
butter is badly wanted by the league. Mrs.
Julian Heath, the president, tried several
at her breakfast yesterday, but she is
being overwhelmed with specimens Of but
terines, etc, sent her by deferential man.
ufacturers, ard, her stomach being but
human, she cannot taste them all.
Miss Emma Bossong, the leagues ex-
pert on food is enlisted in this work also,
but her stomach is giving out, too Any
one wanting the job should apply to Mrs.
Heath.