The Washington times., 1912-06-26
FRESH MEATS IN
DISTRICT HIGHER
THAN EVER BEFORE
Retailers Declare They Are
\ Not Making Profit At
Increased Prices.

The steady rise in the price Of fresh
meat which has within the past month
caused two hundred butchers in New
York to go out of business is being
keenly felt in Washington.
Beef and lamb have reached the rec
ord prices and passed them. Ribs Of
beef and round steaks are selling at
Center Market as high as 25 cents a
pound-a price which has not been
asked before in the last forty years.
Sirloins run as high as 2S cents, and
porterhouse from 30 to 80 cents.
Lamb cuts are steadier, though they,
too, show a decided rise in price Chops
are selling all the way from IS to %
cents, and hindquarters at % cents.
Mutton legs bring 16 cents.
Spring chickens show probably the
greatest rise over former years of all
meats, but this Is not regarded as seri-
ously as the other quotations, because
It is not a necessity.
Chicken Brings High Price.
Chickens usually sell for about % cents
at this time of the year. but they are
now bringing from 2s to 80 cents. They
are steady at this price. Eggs remain
quiet at 10 to 20 cents, and hens are
firm at Is cents.
Both wholesalers and retailers admit
that the fresh meat prices are the high
est on record. but they declare that
these prices are regulated solely by sup
ply and demand.
The retailer claims that he is not
making anything like as good money
as they do when prices are lower. Cit
Ing beef as an example, he shows that
1t costs him wholesale 15 cents. BY the
time he has cut off the bullion, the cost
has, he says, been increased to 20 cents.
Another loss of 2 cents is claimed on the
skin, making the total cost about q
cents.
In this way. therefore, he shows that
ne cannot afford to sell for less than Is
cents. He even argues that the cents
Is not clear profit, for in cutting a piece
or beef he Is more than likely to cut an
ounce or two too much
Losses In Cutting.
When he cuts too little he has to cut
more, but when he cuts an ounce or two
too much he generally let's it go. It Is,
of course, impossible for him to cut each
piece Of meat exactly to the fraction of
an ounce, and the retailers claim that
a good percentage of their due profit
goes this way.
No immediate relief from the local
situation Is expected; Some of the
prominent retailers think prices may
fall about the middle of July. when a
great many people will be out OF
town and when the supply will prob
ably be increased. certainly not dimin-
ished. Others do not look for any
relief at all unless some progressive
legislation is enacted by Congress.
Fear Butchers Forced Out.
So far very few butchers In the mar
kets house have been forced out of busi-
ness. Many OF them are still doing
business merely to hold their trade.
But a great many grocers who run
butcher shops in connection with their
groceries have cut out the meat busi-
ness for the present. This is especially
true in places where the trade Is de-
pendent upon the laboring classes.
AS, to seasonable fruits. apples
peaches. and raspberries are becoming
abundant on the market Cherries are
almost gone:@ Meat prices are some
times affected by the appearance OF
these fruits. but so far this has not
been true this season.