The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-26
WILL NOT LIVE
As FOREFATHERS
MAJORITY OF CONSUMERS OF
TODAY ARE INDUCING IN
HIGH LIVING.
CITIES CAN REGULATE
By ENFORCING RULES IN MAR
KETs, OTHER RETAILERS IN
CITY WOULD HAVE TO
FOLLOW SUIT.

HS Qalfy anu LCVu NiSAco "a |ho
State department of agriculture has
undertaken an investigation for com
parison of the prices charged by the
wholesaler or JJbber and the retailer
for food products entering into the
daily consumption of the people.
These Investigations were made in
various sections OF the State on the
18th of May by inspectors OF the de-
partment. The best prevailing cash
prices in the different localities were
asked for by the inspectors. aud the
quotations are from reIia bic whole
salers or jobers; the retail prices were
obtained in the open markets from
the retailers. and are supposedly the
lowest prevailing cash prices for the
commodities quoted. The department
has issued as follows:
Tt must be borne in mind that
large part of the profits of the retailer
is consumed In the demands made
by the retail purchasers on their gro
cermen and marketmen. In the pres
ent day system of ordering by tele
phone for immediate delivery. the re-
taller Is required to keep for the sat
isfaction OF his customers. horses and
wagons or motor vehicles for quick
deliveries. the purchaser also re-
quires many of his purchases to be
uStiS eta 10 3IAllk Az PdNhu6C la Ilt al
of which entails an extra cost to the
retailer for the services rendered, and
OF course, must be added to the
charge hA makes for the goods deIiS-
/ cred.
/ The majority Of the consI mers
| OF today are not satisfied to live as
| their forefathers have lived. and in
| dulge in high living. which fact must
| be set against the theory of the UNI
| warra nted high cost OF living for most
! things used
Weather Partly to Blame.
The unusual dryness of last years
/ growing season curtailed the produe-
ton Of hay for stock as we'll as many
| articles OF human food, and created b
| larger demand for wheat, corn ami
/ other cereals and grains for feeding
| TO cattle as a substitute for hay: this
demand has materially lessened the
! supply Of these grains for human con-
Z sumption. ind as consequence In
creased the price fer them. The short
/ crop of hay produced is therefore re-
sponsible In part for the high prices
4 of human foods.
The severity OF the past winter has
/ also had its effect on the prices Of
I food products None of these in
stances. however. would justify the
/ PE2lAS Al SoifiA ttlsba1tSE tpAkNEa NItF
/ consumer by the retailer for the pro-
| ducts sold TO him. The question
| arises. is there a way TO correct the
/ uniustifiable profits sometimes
charged by the reail dealer. Public
opinion will in a measure be effective
In controlling this condition. Com
petition may do the rest. If these are
not effective In correcting the trouble.
/ then possibly the remedies which
/ have been applied successfully in
some localities may have 10 be re-
sorted to. This remedy is, TO some
/ extent, with the municipal authori-
! ties or councils of the cities, and II
! may be that Anal relief will have to
| come through markets established
! under municipal authority. or regu-
I lation of prices by the various ma
inequalities.
J Cities Can Regulate Markets.
/ The obstacles To regulation or
prices are appreciated, hut when
city or town owns its market place,
! the right 70 sell products In the mar
ket place could carry with 1t an
agreement as a prerequisite to rental
! uf space thar SUCH ruies and regula-
=. iions as were duly adopted for the
( management of the market place
should be observed Provision could
! be made in the regulations for prices
| which the dealer would not be per-
| mitted 10 exceed. This arrangement
would not exclude the right To sell
/ at any price at other places, but
would prove a practical determining
/ factor for reasonable prices on the
| majority of food products the aver
| age consumer used.
THE average gross profit of ths
retailer in Richmond is shown below
for the different commodities. 1t must
+ be borne in mind, however, that the
retailer sustains losses from spoiiage
| $n .aar!shshla faodstGxs, aaa fssed shi.a
losses materially curtail his profits:
Richmond Retailers Profits.
On coffee, from 90 to 20 per cent.
On teas from so TO $50 per cent.
Sugars. graduated, ,0e per cent.
Sugars. other than granula ted. from
~ TO 80 per cent.
Provisions.
Pork, ~ per cent.
Breakfast bacon. sides and hams.
/ - per cent.
Flour, from I to IL per cent.
Lard. 20 per cent.
| Lard. compounds. 81 per cent.
/ Cheese, 81 per cent.
Eggs. So per cent.
Cereals. As per cent.
Fresh beef average for all cuts,
! ~ per cent.
Veal, average for arr cuts, 81 per
! cent.
Lamb, average for all cuts. so per
cent.
| Vegetables. fresh fonions. cabbage,
snaps. lettuce. cymblings, tomatoes),
! from 100 TO goo per cent.
Green peas, SO per cent.
! Corn, so per cent.
1 Corn. 76 per cent.
Potatoes (oid), 76 per cent.
Potatoes new. % per cent.
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