Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-23
LIVING COST NOW
IS HIGHEST EVER
Fifteen Articles of Food, as
Well as Goal, Investigated
by Government.
INQUIRY FOR TEN YEARS
Potatoes Advance HE Per Cent
Provision Prices Drive Mer-
chants Out of Business.

Washington. D. c., Sept 23.-The
most marked upward trend ever |
known In the cost of living Is dis !
closed In the federal bureau OF labor's
report Of an investigation Of prices
for the last ten years, conducted in
the important industrial centers OF 81
tstates.
Fifteen most important articles Of
food, as we'll as coal, comprising two
thirds Of the workingman's needs
were Investigated. In many cities the
Investigators gathered statements of
merchants on the cost Of living and
specimens Of these are published in
the report.
On June Is, 1912, the report shows,
II of the 15 articles of food were high
er than a year before, and ten had
advanced in the past ten years more
than so per cent over the average
retail prices for the ten year period
OF 1890 1899.
During the last decade prices of po-
tatoes changed most ahd sugar the
| least. Their advances were 111.s and
s.5 per cent, respectively. During the
last year, bacon, which decreased Just
konetenth of one per cent was the
only one of the 10 principal articles
ottfood that showed a decline in price,
white nine of the Is advanced more
than ten per cent, varying from "a
per cent for milk to 1875 for round
steak. OF the Is only eggs, butter.
milk and sugar were lower, but the
price Of three of these four is nor
mally lower during the summer than
during the winter.
REPORTS FROM CITIES.
Specimens of the statements Of mer-
chants from various cities, published
in the report, follows:
New York-"Meats in general are
80 high that IL prices continue much
longer will be obliged to close up bus
mess. Have already lost about 5000
ksince advance in prices"
Chicago-"Jobbing price on flour
has advanced 80 cents per barrel, and
unless there is decline in the near
future retail prices will ADVANCE"
Baltimore-'Tf the present high
prices prevail much longer in the
wholesale market, do not know what
will become of the retail Dealers"
Boston-"Cheap sirloins are so high
and poor that / am not cutting any
at present. Both grades of cattle have
gone up and the above prices Just
about let me out without profit" "a
second) Beef, especially on cheaper
cuts, 10 to 20 per cent higher" CA
third) "The high price of meats is
causing US to close our business on or
about July A."
TRYING TO PLACE BLAME.
New Haven-"Beginning this week
we will advance two cents a pound on
all meats, as we are paying highest
price for beef and lambs in my time
cannot say the reason; the jobber
: blames the farmer; the farmer blames
the high price Of corn
Philadelphia-"No money In meats
at the above prices" CA second) 1--WE
paid June II. 15h cents a pound fol
rumps and rounds and 11h cents q
pound for chucks OF beef, the highest
price in the history of our business
Salt Lake City-'Everything seems
to be at the top, but nothing shows
any decline"
, Remarks Of merchants accompany
4 ing the price reports for May Is told
the same story. These are examples:
Boston-"Probably this is the las
month we will be In the provision
business. The high prices of meats
are driving us out. We have been IN
business IL years. but must get ou
> before we are put out"
, HOLD AT OLD PRICES.
Atlanta-"Ths wholesale cost o
, fresh meats, -four and butter has ad
, vanoed, but We still are holding q
old prices"
Indianapoiis-"Owing to the higi
> price OF feed. the milk supply thil
month IL the lowest for May on rec
;, ord" "a seoond) "Meat prices hav,
. made sharp advance. owing to IN,
. scarcity In the medium grades o
= meat, and We have been compelled 4
handle higher priced meats."
MiiWaukee-+We were compelled u
raise our price of beef because OF thu
idlsc III lnS NhOiosalo price,
Los Angeles-"The decline of pric'
on potatoes is due TO spectators los
ing their grip on the market. Ship
2 ments have arrived from other statei
and as new potatoes will come in free
: ly in few weeks they had to let 60
Memphis have paid more fo
: meats this year than ever paid sfnc'
: / have been in business. | can't SCI
: any change for some time TO come"
Cincinnati-"The recent foods havt
: sent cattle to market before their ma
:, turity, and grain being the highes
III years has had the tendency 10 Civ,
us III highest meat We have handlet
in years. May Is We paid IA cent
v a pound for steer cattle; ten years az,
/ 3 ii cents"
g Pittsburgh-"Goed beef is scare
D. and high and is cause of driving othe
is meat up. Long, severe winter an
n high price Of grain supposed TO b
IT reason"
a sTOCFL SHORTAGE CAUSE.
PoTtland-"Raise Of prices for bse