Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-24
TAFT SEES FOOD
PRICES RECED|NC
Bumper Crops Mean Saving OF
$500, 600, 900 to Consumers,
Secretary Tells Him.

Beverly. Oct. 2o-In a statement issuet
here last night. based upon reports from
Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson
President Taft declares that the wave
high prices for food throughout the
world has begun to subside in this coun
try.
The wave Of extremely high prices
for food throughout the civilized world
read the Presidents statement, "ha:
reached Its height in the United States
and Is subsiding. The American people
have cause to be thankful that because
OF our industrial prosperity. it has not
been attended here with the great hard
ship which has prevailed in some for
eign countries where high prices have
combined with low wages to reduce the
working people to a point bordering on
starvation
According to the announcement Of
made an investigation OF the causes of
prices and the effect Of the bumper
crops III the United States upon such
prices. The great prosperity of the Amer
lean farmer. the report to the President
showed. has brought about a material
decrease in the cost OF food products.
ton will not become apparent to the
consumer for several months The report
promises that the price Of meat will
decrease notably on account Of the big
corn crop and after cattle. sheep and
hogs fed from that crop reach the con-
sumner.
SAVING OF SoooOoo.0oo.
Secretary Wilson advised the President
that on the nine great crops OF tho
country, corn. wheat. oats. barley, rye.
buckwheat. potatoes, faxseod and hay.
the October prices indicated . saving
to tie consumer Of about n,ne per cent
of nearly 36v0.oo0ooo.
The crop increase will make UP 70
farmers. however, the reductions in
price. for Mr.. Wilson SHOWS that while
the return to the producers on October I.
1911. amounted to saess 100000. ct the
prices prevailing October l Of THIS year.
their return will be eAt5&.cOo.ooo.
Mr. Wilson's report. according to off,
Gals here. shows that the aggregate
crop In the United States will be about
20 per cent. greater than 1t has been for
years, He shows that the wheat crop
Of the year is nearly lOO.ooO,o0o bushels
greater than last year and says that
one high-grade flour is costing at the
mills so cents a barrel less than it did
a year ago.
The corn crop. Mr. Wilson points out.
exceeds Sooooo,oOo bushels. and there has
been a decrease In price OF corn of seven
cents per bushel.
The hay crop. he SAYS, has increased
more than 100000 tons over year ago,
and he declares that in consequence the
crease. he maintains, will not only de-
crease the prices of meats but of milk.
butter. cheese. etc.
POTATOES WILL RE CHEAPER
This years oat crop amounts to l.i1,.-
| O000O bushels an increase over last year..
crop of more than SO per cent. according
TO the report. Most of this crop is used
as food for stock. Mr. Wilson declares.
and the increased crop and lower prices
on October a bushel OF oats cost S3.6
cents as compared with 4e.5 year ago,
will also make for lower prices for meats
and all livestock products.
on potatoes there will be a saving OF
nearly 100000, 0oO In the cost of living. On
October the producers were getting Sill
cents bushel for potatoes. the investi.
cation showed. as compared with S.,
cents a year ago. The consumption OF
potatoes is $50. 10000 bushels. and the ac.
tual reduction of cost Is S9i5Oo.0OO thu
report states
This years cotton crop is the larges
on record. and although the price on Octo
her was above last year, It was 81 cent
less than the price Of two years ago. and
the new crop may bring a reduction in
the cost of cotton goods.