New-York tribune., 1912-01-22
POTATOES AT So A BARREL
This Price Foreseen Unless Bermuda
Crop Is Admitted Free.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: You were good enough TO print some
remarks OF mine about fourteen days ago
concerning the high prices OF potatoes.
which are still advancing. At that time I
gave you some figures concerning the po-
tato crop ~ the United States for 1911, and
ventured 10 make n forecast as to tho
quantities remaining on January /. 1912.
The Bureau OF Statistics OF the United
States Department Of Agriculture. under
date Of January 49, has issued It's opinion
as 10 what stocks were left on January
/. II says: The stocks on hand on jan
uary / appear 20 be about % per cent
smaller than n year ago and Il per cent
smaller than the stocks on hand two years
ago" One year ago the whole Of the pota-
toes IN this country was about through in
May, and the Florida potatoes all through
May made as high as s. Il barrel on this
market, or s. n bUshcl. Many people think
they are going 20 mako more than that
this year. and already statements have
been made that as Bermuda is likely 10
have n short crop OF new potatoes owing TO
dear seed. and as they generally sell around
s. n barrel they expect 10 get s. for the
Florida potatoes
IL was through your remarks that Con-
gresham Steven j.. Ayres introduced bill
this week TO have this duty abrogated for
a short time At first he thought six
months, but knowing the opposition that
would come from the South when their new
potatoes would be ready. | suggested that
the bill be amended from six months to
three months, starting from February
and finishing May /. have been asked TO
get representatives Of the New York trade
TO sign a petition I'm favor OF this abroga-
ton. but It appears that the principal sell
ers I'm New York are so much interested IN
the South-in many districts being growers
themselves and In some places partners
with the growers-that they do not care for
their names TO go forward as desirous OF
having the duty temporarily suspended.
Every one knows OF the present high
prices Of vegetables and that presently the
worIingman will have very little 10 eat
except canned goods. II is a we'll known
fact that the late cold snap has damaged
the crops, even down as far as New Or
leans. Carrots, cabbages. turnps and all
kinds of salads are now selling at almost
prohibltIve prices As for eggs and butter.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. tlt QUANTITIES ono lcduS
about being I'm cold storage, venture to
predict that prices will keep on advancing
II was well known to- many people that
last years crop OF hay was short and
that many people had parted with their
cattle Butter Is to-day selling at higher
prices than II has made for many years.
| have no wish To argue the merits or
the demerts OF protection or free trade.
Every protective country In the world,
when 1t comes to question OF the food OF
the masses going TO famine prices through
drouth or food. always comes to the as
slstanCc Of the worklngman by taking OF
the tariff for Il short time. | refer your
readers to what has been done in France
and In Germany, and here the other day
we read of Mexico taking Off the duty on
corn because they want the corn.
w. n. WHITE