The Washington times., 1912-12-19
warm WEATHER
FORCED EGG PRICE
down, IT IS SAID
Dealers Declare Storage Men
Are Losing by Big
Decrease.
why are eggs % cheap7"

why are eggs % cheap?"
Aehy are asking this question fol-
lowing the recent drop in price to about
y cents . dozen. Tho explanation is
stven a. follows:
y. T. Whiteford. president Of the Gen.
trai Market Association-"There has
been drop in the price Of eggs dur.
ing the past two or three weeks
amounting to about cents for strictly
fresh eggs. At Wholesale. these eggs
are now selling for % to 30 cents and
stored eggs are about 10 cents lower.
or from is to 20 cents . dozen.
AT these prices for stored eggs, the
dealers are losing about $50 q case.
As between 800 and 1000 cases Of eggs
Are consumed in Washington in a day.
this viii represent considerable loss.
The drop 10 mainly due to the warm
weather and the consequent lack OF do.
nend. Dealers have been well stocked.
probably Q little heavier than usual in
ANTICIPATION Of a natural increase in de-
lead.
"A. great many eggs are stored In the
CITY by dealers, but the number ID slight
compared with the total number con.
here come from Chicago. Pittsburs and
deorse N. Oyster. jr.N"The general
drop In the price of sEGs has come as
few weeks. This applies especially to
packed eggs. however. since the pres
ent month 10 the time when storage
seg! are put on the market. Most Of
the best eggs stored are packed In April
Of the year. II the demand Is light.
e Il 70 this year. II H. to be expected
that the price will be low.
1--WE handle very few storage eggs
and recently refused to join q confer.
to M the price Of storage eggs at %
cents, retail. The price Of storage eggs
10 unusually low just now. and II warm
weather continues II may 20 still lower.
!! believe that storage dealers are SELL
ing at loss now to get rid Of their last
James r. Oystcr-"Most OF the eggs
now on the market are packed eggs.
those purchased last spring and kept In
storage until now. when they can be
owing to warm weather conditions.
these eggs are being sold at price
which will probably scarcely cover the
expense Of carrying the eggs In storage.
Ihe storage on case Of eggs for the
eight months will amount to about $50.
ana this. with the loss In price. will
make the total loss per crate for stor-
age eggs about $50. There are said
70 De 1850 900 cases Of April eggs In the
warehouses Of the Chicago Warehouse
Association In Chicago. Philadelphia.
and New York at the present time"
April put into storage could have
oeen purchased for 10 to q cents n
dozen. according to dealers here. While
the eggs have been In storage. the mar
ket prices has dropped 81 cents. instead
OF advancing. The cost Of storage per
case for the light months Ia $780, The de-
crease in price on each case il about
case Of $40 to &2.S. The result Is that
the speculators. who have stored their
eggs are out StS2l. 900 already, and as
there are indications that there will be
a further fall in price to 10 cents in
January. there may be still further
loss.
"what Is the percentage Of profit in
cold-storage eggs?"
This question Is agitating the mind OF
an official OF the District government.
The other morning at breakfast he was
about to break an egg into his cup when
lie noticed on the shell the name and
address Of girl In Wisconsin. He Is a
married man. but nevertheless ne de-
foolish romantic motive. but simply to
cality.
An answer was returned In a few days
stating that the egg was shipped in
May. 1912. and the price at that time
was Is cents a dozen. The government
OFFICIAL paid y cent. a dozen. Taking
Into consideration the cost OF mainte-
nance Of cold-storage plants. the official
10 wondering just how much Of q profit
ment.