The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20
THIGH FOOD PRICES
 SUbS|D|NG" "-TAFT I
Issues Statement Based on
 Wilson's Investigations
RESULT OF BIG CROPS
In Many Instances, However, Decrease Will Not Become Apparent to Consumer Until Several
 Months Have Elapsed

Beverly Mass. October 1a.--In d statement issued here tonight based upon reports from Secretary of Agri- culture James Wilson, President Taft declared the wave of high prices for food has begun to subside in this country.
 The wave of extremely high prices for food throughout the civilized world" read the Presidents statement has reached it's height in the United States and is subsiding The American people have cause to be thankful that because of our industrial prosperity Ii has not been attended here with tho great hardship which has prevailed in some of the countries where high prices have combined with low wages 10 reduce the working people to q point bordering on staryation.'
 Wilson Made Investigation According to the announcement Of White House officials. Secretary Will son made an investigation of the causes of the prices and the effect of the bumper crops In the United States upon such prices. The great prosperity of the American farmer, the report to tho President showed, has brought about a material decrease in the cost of food products although in many instances Inc reduction will not become appar- ent to the consumer for several months The report promises that the price of meat will decrease notably on account cf the bumper corn crop and after cat tie, sheep and hogs fed from that crop reach the consumer.
 Secretary Wilson advised the Pres ldent that on the nine great crops of the country, corn, wheat, oats, barley rye, buckwheat. potatoes. flaxseed and hay, the October l prices indicated a saving to the consumer of about 9 per cent.
 The crop increase will make up to farmers. however, reductions In price. Mir. Wilson shows that while the re- turn to the producers on October 1. 1911, amounted to s3,Sss. 100000 at the prices prevailing October l, of this year. their return will be s4454.000, ,0o0.
 Mir. Wilson's report, according to of- ficials here, shows that the aggregate crop fin the United States will be about 20 per cent greater than 1t has been for years He shows that tho wheat crop of the year Is nearly f0o.00o,000 bushels greater than last year. and says that one high grade flour is costing at the mills so cents barrel less than 1t did q year ago.
 Corn Prices Decrease The corn crop, MT. Wtifon points out, exceeds 3.000 100000 bushels. and there has already been a decrease n price of corn of ' cents per bushel. The hay crop. he says. has increased more than 100000 tons over year ago, and he declares that in consequence the price per ton has fallen $2.74. This decrease he maintains. will not only decrease the price of meats. but of milk, butter, cheese, etc. This years oats crop amounts to 1.4l7 o0G, coo bushels, an increase over last years crop of more than 50 per cent, according to the report. MT. Wilson declares the .n- creased crop and lower prices will also make for lower prices for meats and all live stock products.
 On potatoes there will be 4 saving of nearly $l00.O10.00O in the cost Of living On october l. the producers were getting Ell cents bushel for potatoes. the in- vestigatons showed, as compared with ss3 cents a year ago, The consumption of potatoes Is 350.coo0o0 and the actual reduction of cost is sei5oo,0o5, the report l states.
 This years cotton crop ia tiie largest on record, and although the price on Oc- taber l. was above last year 1t was 2.l cents less than the price of two years ] ago. and the new crop may bring re- duction in the cost of cotton goods.