The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-09-23
Governments Investigation
Finds Many Facts but Few
Reasons for Conditions.
BACON IS ONLY ARTICLE Of
Fifteen WHICH DECLINED
One-tenth Of One Per Cent Decline on
That Article, While Round Steak
Advanced Eighteen Percent-Four
Lower Than Year Ago.

Washington. Sept. 23.-The most
marked upward trend in the cost Of
living is disclosed in the federal bur-
eau of labor's report of an investiga-
tion of prices for the past ten years
conducted in the important Industrial
centers of thirty-two states. Fifteen
of the most important articles of food,
as we'll as coal, comprising two-thirds
of a working mans needs, were in
vestigated.
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 ober
the average retail price for the ten
year period 1890-1S99.
During the last decade prices of po-
tatoes changed most and sugar the
least. Their advances were 111.9 and
last year. bacon, which decreased just
one-tenth of one per cent was the on
ly one of the fifteen principal articles
of food that showed a 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. or the fifteen. only eggs. but
ter, milk and sugar were lower.
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 advance in prices"
Chicago-"Jobbing price on -four
has advanced so cents per barrel and
unless there is decline in the near
future retail prices will advance"
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"
Philadelphia-"We paid June IL,
15k cents a pound for rumps and
rounds and l1h cents pound for
chucks Of beef. the highest price in
the history Of our business.
decline"
Remarks Of merchants accompany
ing the price reports for May Is told
the same story. These are exam
pies:
Boston-"Probably this is the last
month we will be in the provision
business. The high prices Of meats
are driving us out. We have been in
business fifteen years but must get out
before We are put out"
Atlanta-"The wholesale cost Of
fresh meats. -four and butter has ad-
vanced but we still are holding at old
prices"
Milwaukee--"we. were 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"
high and is the cause of driving other
meats up. Long, severe winter and
high price Of grain supposed to be
the reason"
Portland-"Raise of prices for beef
and pork is due to shortage of
stock"
This was the showing made for the
food prices in the last year. accord
ing to the report. on the foods in
Decrease in price: Smoked bacon,
Il per cent.
Increase in price: Fresh milk "a:
smoked ham, 81: hens, 3.s; granulat-
ed sugar, 6; Irish potatoes, 7.6; wheat
flour. 10.7; pork chops. 11.2; pure
lard. lib; strictly fresh eggs 11.s;
corn meal, 12.7; creamery butter,
6lTlOln STEAK ! IL IT'D roast. l7.5:
round steak, 1875.
The advance during the decade,
comparing the price Junt Is last with
the average for the ten years, was as
follows:
Granulated sugar, 1886 per cent;
strictly fresh eggs. 26.1: fresh milk.
32.9: creamery butter. 33.7: wheat
-four, 1913; pure lard, $50; hens, 5s.1;
sirloin steak. 59.5; smoked hams, 61.3:
corn meal. 63.7: rib roast. 63.S; round
steak. 81; pork chops. Sc: smoked
bacon. 96.7; Irish potatoes. 11.s.
The price of coal on April is, as
with year before, was
higher for Pennsylvania anthracite.
stove size in twenty-five out Of twen-
ty-nine cities. During the same pc
riod. Pennsylvania anthracite. chest
nut size advanced in twenty five out Of
twenty-seven cities: and bituminous
advanced in seventeen out of thirty
two cities. the price remained un-
changed in twelve cities and declined
in three cities.
The net price Of gas for household
use on April IS. compared with the
previous year. showed that reductions
ranged from 5 to Is cents for manu-
factured gas among fifty-four COM
panies in thirty-six cities and practi-
cally unchanged among the natural
gas plants.
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