Daily Kennebec journal., 1912-09-23
WHERE WILL HIGH
COST OF LIVING END?
to Report Of Federal Bureau
OF Labor 10 out Of IS Articles Of
Food Have Increased so per
Cent. Over Average Price.

Washington. Sept. 22.-The most
MAJ, l;ed upward trend of the cost OF
living is disclosed in the Federal bu-
reau of iabor9 report of an investi-
cation of prices for the past 10 years
conducted il the important articles
Of food, as wcll as coal, comprising
two thirds Of a worl,ingman' needs.
were investigated. In many cities the
investigators gathered statements of
merchants on the cost of living ami
specimens of these are published in
the report
On June l., 1912, the report shows.
Il o. tie Il articles of food were high
er than a year before, and 10 had adj
Fanced IN the past 10 years more than
50 per cent. over the average retail
price for the 10-year period 1S90-1s99
During the last decade prices of po-
tatoes changed most and sugar the
least Their advances were 111.9 and
S5 per cent. respectively. During the
last year, bacon, which decreased just
one-tenth of ] per cent, WAS the only
one OF the Is principal articles of food
that showed a decline In price, while
nine of the 15 advanced more than 10
Per cent. varying from "a per cent.
for milk. to 1876 for round steak. OF
the 70, only eggs. butter, milk and
sugar were lower, but the price of
three OF these four is normally lower
during summers than during in
ters.
Specimens of the statements of mer-
chants in verious 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 bus
mess Have already lost about soc
since advance in prices"
Clieago-"Jobbing price on -four has
advanced SO cents per barrel and un-
less there is a decline in the near flu
tere retail prices will advance"
Ralt!more-''If the present high
prices prevail much longer in the
wholesale market l do not know
what will become of the retail deal
ers"
Roston-aCheap sirloins are so hign
and noor that | am not cutting any at
present. Both grades of cattle have
gene up and the above prices just
about let me out without profit" CA
second) Beef, especially on cheaper
cuts. l 0to 20 per cent, higher q
third) "The high prices of meats is
causing us to close our place OF bus
mess on or about July A.
New Beginning. this week,
we will advance two cents pound on
all meats, as we are paying the high
est Price for beef and lambs in my
tinle | cannot say the reason: the
iobbcr biames the farmer; the farmer
blames the high price of corn"
Philadelphia-"N money in meats
AT the above prices" GA seeond) I'VE
paid, June II, 15i5 cent pound for
rumps ard rounds and 1112 cents a
ponnd for chucks of beef, the highest
price in the history of our business
Salt Lake City-"Everything seems
to he at the top, but nothing shows
anv decline"
Remarks of merchants accompany
ing the price reports for May 10 told
the same story. These are examples:
Boston-"Probably this is the last
month we will be in the provision bus
mess The high prices of meats are
driving us out. We have been in bus
mess Is years. but must get out be-
fore We are put out
Fall River-"The high prices of
meats have cut our meat business al
most in two. The cheaper cuts, which
we ordinarily sell for to to 10 cents a