The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-09-23
Is Shown During the Past Ten
Years in United States
finds A FEDERAL BUREAU
Fifteen of the Most Important Articles
of Food Were Investigated, as Well
as Coal, in Industrial Centers
of Thirty-Two States,

| Washington, d. c., Sept. 9th,
most marked upward trend of the cost
of living is disclosed in the federal
bureau of labor's report of an investiga
ton of prices for the past ten years con-
Quoted in the important industrial cen.
tiers of 80 states. Fifteen most import
ant articles of food, as well as coal, COM
prising two-thirds of workingman's
needs were investigated. In many cities
the investigators gathered statements OF
merchants ON the cost of living and spec
linens of these are published in the re-
port.
On June Is, 1912, the report shows,
/ fourteen of the fifteen articles of food
were higher than year before, and ten
| had advanced in the past ten years
more than fifty per cent. over the aver
age retail price for the ten year period
| 1890 1899.
| During the last decade prices of pota-
| toes changed most and sugar the least.
/ Their advances were lilo and S.5 per
cent, respectively. During the last year,
bacon, which decreased just one-tenth of
one per cent, was the only one OF the
| fifteen principal articles of food that
showed decline in price. while nine of
| the fifteen advanced more than ten per
cent, varying from "a per cent. for milk,
to 1876 for round steak. OF the fifteen,
only eggs, butter, milk and sugar We're
lower, but the price OF three of these
four is normally lower during summers
than during winters.
Specimens of the statements of mer-
chants in various cities, published in the
report follow:
New York-"Meats in general are so
high that if prices continue much longer
will be obliged to close up business.
Have already lost about 5000 since adj
vance in prices"
Chicago "Jobbing prices on -four have
advanced so cents per barrel and unless
there is decline in the near future re-
tail prices will advance
Baltimore-"If 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 so 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
90 per cent. higher" A third THE high
price of meats is causing us to close our
places of business on or about July A."
New Haven Beginning this week we
will advance two cents a pound on all
meats, as we are paying the highest
price for beef and lambs in my time. |
cannot say the reason; the iobber bames
the farmer; the farmer blames the high
price of corn"
Philadelphia no money in meats at
the above prices A second) I'VE paid
June IL. l5la cents pound for rumps
and rounds and y cents 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 de-
cline"
Remarks of merchants accompanying |
the price reports for May Is told the
same story. These are examples:
Probably this is the last |
month we win be in the provision bust
ness. The high prices of meats are driv-
ing us out We have been in business |
Is years but must get out before we are
put out"
Fall River-"The high prices of meats |
have cut our meat business almost in |
two. The cheaper cuts, which we ordi |
narily sell for six to ten cents a pound, |
now we have to get 10 to IA cents"
Atlanta-"The wholesale cost of fresh |
meats, flour and butter has advanced but |
we still are holding at old prices"
Indianapoli Owing to the high price
Of feed, the milk supply this month is
the lowest for May on record" "a sec
ondl Meat prices have made a sharp
advance owing to the scarcity in the me-
lium grades of meat and we have been
to handle higher priced meats"
Milwaukee are compelled to
raise our price of beef because of the
raise in the wholesale price"
Los Angeles-"The decline of price on
potatoes is due to spectators losing
their grip on the market. Shipments
new potatoes Will come in freely in few
weeks they had to let GO"
Memphis have paid more for
meats this year than | ever paid since
rave been in business. ! can't see any,
'hange for sometime to come"
Cincinnati"The recent floods have
tent cattle TO market Defofe their ma
urity and grain being the highest in
fears has had the tendency to give us
he highest meat we have handled in :.
7ears. May 10 we paid sA cents a
POUND for steer cattle; ten years ago, ga !
ents."
Pittsburg--"Good beef is scarce and
high and is cause of driving other meats /,
Up. Long, severe winter and high price
II grain supposed to be reason" :
Portland RAISE of prices for beef
nd pork is due to shortage of stock.
This was the showing made for the !.
God prices in the last year. according to !.
he report, on the foods investigated:
Decrease in price: smoked bacon, L : :
er cent.
Increase in price: fresh milk "a; ,
moked ham, ri; hens, 3.S; graduated
ugar, 9; Irish potatoes, 7.6; wheat flour, :,
OF pork chops. liz; pure lard, ll.3; =
utter, 1873; sirloin steak, III; rib roast,
IS; round steak, 1876
The advance during the decade, com !
airing the price jane Is last with the =
verage for the ten years. was as fol- h
,ws: granulated sugar. s.5 per cent; =
trictly fresh eggs. pol; fresh milk, 32.9 :,
roo Yporx- h,,ttar ,ybaat flour 90 q. y