The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-11
Slightly Lower Quotations in
Southern Cities, But
Washington Higher
FIGURES GIVEN TO
SHOW COMPARISONS
Sweet Potatoes Are Considerably
Lower in Other Places, Though
Birmingham Has Advantage
in Poultry and Eggs
by ELLIS c. HoLLuMs

Viewed from many angles, the people
of Birmingham viii find that they are
paying somewhat higher prices for their
foodstuffs than is the case in other south
crn cities. Taken on an average, the
prices in Atlanta, Memphis, Nashville and
Mobile are a little lower than the Morris
avenue quotations. The local consumer
has the better OF the prices when 1t comes
to poultry and eggs, but on other house
hold goods there is some little difference.
Comparing prices in the national cap
ital to those in this city, one can begin
to understand why Mr.. Bryan had to 80
on the lecture platform. Practically ell
commodities in Washington are listed at
prices far n advance of local quotations.
The prices OH poultry and eggs are from
to 10 cents higher than in the local mar
ket and other prices are in keeping.
Frying size chickens are quoted in Wash
ington at % cents a pound, which is but
8 cents higher than the Birmingham
price Hens, however, sell for % cents IN
the capital, while Morris avenue quotes
them at Is cents
Figures on Produce
The produce market of Washington
would probably hold more interest for the
local consumer than any other. Sweet
potatoes sell 5here for SLIGO a bushel, aus
against $2.75 on Norris avenue Irish po-
tatoes sell for 81 20 a bushel in Washing
ton and are listed in Birmingham at N
cents less. String beans disappeared
from the local market some time ago, but
they are still being qouted in the Wash
ington papers at 10 cents for one-fourth
peck Caulifiower made it's appearance al
the Centre street market in Washington
on Friday last and is quoted at 80 aud
35 cents head. None is yet to be had
on Morris avenue. Pineapples are also
quoted in Washington, but the season is
yet early for the Birmingham trade.
The prices on cses In Washington call
to mind the many jokes about burglars
stealing one egg and having fortune
This poultry product is quoted at % ana
40 cents a dozen in the District OF Co
lumbia, while birmingham merchants sell
them at prices ranging from % to y
cents.
Compared With Atlanta
birmingham prices compared to Atlanta
quotations give the decision TO the 1eor-
gia metropolis Hens are quoted In At
lanta for only u cents pound as against
L. cents in Birmingham and fryers are
selling for Is cents in the Georgia city
while Morris avenue gets q cents EGGS
are selling in Atlanta at 26 cents DOZEN
which is about the average price pald
in Birmingham Sweet potatoes In AT
lanta sell for almost 81 less on the bushel
than those sold in Birmingham, and other
prices are from to 25 cents lower than
the local quotations.
In Mobile creamery butter sells for 81
cents while the Birmingham price Is %
cents. Produce sells for about the same
as in this city, and there Is but little
difference in the price of meats. Corn
is quoted at 81. .05 a bushel in Mobile, which
is the Birmingham price.
Memphis has decidedly the better OF
our city when ii comes to produce sweet
potatoes are quoted in that city at 81 a
bGshel as against $275 here. Celery sells
for 20 and So cents in Memphis While the
Birmingham price is 80 cents. Oranges
arc quoted at $3.50 and So in Memphis
While Birmingham merchants get 81
box Eggs are quoted in Memphis cents
less than the Birmingham price. but Try
ing sized chickens are cents higher than
i'm Birmingham. Butter is quoted IN
Memphis at a price slightly in advance
OF the local quotation.
Prices in Nashville
In Nashville the prices are about ON a
EAR with the quotations in Birmingham.
Creamery butter is quoted at 80 cents, the
LEGAL price and sweet potatoes are the
same as the local quotation. Other prices
are about equal. In some cases Blrmins-
hs ms price slightly lower and in others
Nashville having the lowest price
The average quotations for all the cities
here given would be to the slight disad-
vantage of birmingham, but Morris ave-
nue. dealers are having no difficulty In
selling their wares and no complaint OF
excessive prices has reached them. The
consensus OF opinion is that the people
Of Birmingham, generally speaking, are
prosperous enough to pay the local prices
and are too broad minded to complain of
the price so long as the quality Is all that
car be desired-and quality is a cardinal
rule of the Morris avenue merchants.