Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-10-03
COST OF FOOD IN
PAST DECADE HAS
GROWN over HALF
Federal Bureaus Report Shows
That Ten Articles Have Adj
vanced Fifty Per Cent.

Washington. ID. Especial: The
| most marked upward trend of the cost
of living is disclosed in the federal
bureau Of labor's report of an inves-
! tisntion of prices for the last 10 years
conducted in the important industrial
| centcrs OF SO states. Fifteen most inn
portant articles of food. as we'll as
coal. comprising two-thirds Of Il work
ingnian's needs. were Investigated. In
many cities the investigators gathered
statements of merchants on the Qucs-
ton and specimens of these are pub
lishcd in the report.
On June Is. 1912, the report shows
IA of the articles of food were higher
than n wear before. and 10 a adj
Vanced in the last 10 years more than
30 per cent over the average retail
price for the 10 years period. 1S90-9s.
During tho last decade prices of po-
tatoes changed most and sugar the
least. Their advances were ILL.,? and
80 per cent. respectively. During the
last year bacon. which decreased just
j of I per cent. was the only one OF
the Is principal articles of food that
showed a decline in price, while nine
of the Is advanced more han 10 per
cent. varying from "a per cent for
milk, to 1876 for round steak. Of the
Is. only eggs. butter, milk and sugar
We're lower, but the price of three OF
these four is nominally lower during
ulnmers hi during winters.
Meats Too High.
Specimens of the statements OF mer-
chants Of various cities. published in
the report. follow:
New York-Meats in general are so high
that If prices continue so much longer
We will be obliged to close up business.
!siave already lost about $500 since advance
In price.
Ch~icago-Jobbing price on hour has adj
vanced so cents per barrel. and unless
there IS a decline in the near future retail
prices will advance.
Bostor-Cheap sirloins are so high and
Door THAT I am not cutting any at present.
the above prices Just about let me out
without profit. Beef. especially on cheap
er cuts 10 to 10 per cent higher. The high
cost of meats liz causing us to close our
place of business on or about July 4.
Facing Wall.
The remarks of merchants accom-
panying the price reports for May Is
told the same story. These are ex-
an1ples:
Boston-Probably this is the last month
we will be In the provision business. T'he
nigh prices OF meats are driving us out.
We have been in business IS years. but
'n Fsi7 sg R,9 out before hive I'VE are ns,d put out or
have cut our meat business almost in
two, The cheaper cuts. which we ordi-
SSdlliy SCH 1OT y W ~ cents a DOUnO, now
we have to get 10 to II cents.
Los Angeles-The decline OF price on po-
taioes IS due to spectators losing their
grip on the market. Shipments have ar
rived from other states. and as new pota-
toes will come in freely In a few weeks
they had to let go.
Piasburgh-Good beef is scarce and high
and is cause of driving other meat UP:
Long. severe winter and high price Of
grain imposed to be reason.
Porttnnd-Raise Of prices for beef and
pork is due to shortage of stock,
Huge Advance Shown.
This was the showing for the food
prices in the last year. according to
the report on the foods investigated:
Decrease in price-smoked bacon. "a;
Increase in Price Fresh milk. "a:
smoked :. ham AMI, IL; hens IS; g=ranusatea
strictly fresh q lis: cornmeai, 12.f:
creamery butter. 1853; sirloin steak, III;
rib roast. IFS: round steak. 1871.
The advance during the decade, COM
pairing he price June Is last with the
average for 10 years. was as follows:
G%ranulated sugar, s.5 per cent; strictly
fresh eggs: 26.1; fresh milk, 1923; creamery
butter. s3.s: wheat flour, 1913: pure lard.
@.3: hens. 5s.1: sirloin steak, SOS; smoked
hams, GLIB; cornmeal, 63.7; rib roast. 63.s:
round steak, 81; pork chops, &c; smoked
bacon, &.7: Irish potatoes, 111.9.
cities. The price o April is. as Compared
with a year before, was high for Pennsyl-
valia anthracite, stove size, in Is out of
~ cities from which reports were secured.
and there was no change of price in the
remaining four cities. During the same
period Pennsylvania anthracite, chestnut
slit. advanced in Is out OF q cities, and
bituminous advanced in IL out Of 80 cities,
the price remained UNCHANGED in 10 cities
and declined in fhpon rff3no