The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-13

ons, apples and other fruit, have be-
gun to increase in price. There is a
big difference in meats. Sweet corn is
rare, the little that is for sale that
is raised in this part of the country,
being in a bad condition.
This time last year the crops were
in a good condition and everything was
in a much more prosperous condition
Last winter the prices scared up TO
prohibitive figure; this year the mar
ket prices may go even higher. 1t gen.
orally costs about twice as much to
live during the cold months as it does
during the warm ones and no more
money - in circulation The affairs
this winter may approach a crisis if
the cost of living is too much in ex-
cess of the average mans purse.
In looking over the market quota
lions for September, 1912, compared
to September of this year, there is
marked difference. Butter. quoted in
now sells for So cents Home grown
lima beans sold for 10 cents a pint
last year and now cost % cents.
Other foods have increased in cost
articles have decreased-sugar, pota-
toes and Concord grapes. The grapes
this year are inferior to those last
year Other items cost a great deal
more: many Of them cost as much to-
day as they did in the most expensive
periods of last winter.
Cost Increases Anyway.
The drouth probably had a good
deal to do with the sending up of
prices. but every year there has been
a gradual lifting of the cost of living.
Some give the reason because of coun-
try people moving to the city; others
say the population has something to
Go with it, and perhaps all of the rea
remains no doubt that a family
has to pay very much more for their
household expenses than it did ten
years ago. A family which could live
1908, now does well if it can exist on
s25. When family incomes remain
stationary, and the family increases
in size, then it is up to the different
ia milies to economize-
If a workman earns 50 day this
winter, and has wife and children
TO support. he will have to do away
with such luxuries as meat. fruit, and
perhaps little oatmeal as a change.
With a large family to buy winter
clothes, shoes. pay house rent, fuel
and other expenses, the head of
ford to spend very much for food.
Heavy Coal Bills. Too.
With those who are better off"
men who are earning fair salaries.
life this winter will not be a joke. In
fact it may be a calamity Heavy gas
mails every month, cutting a deep
cash in the pay checks. And above
all of this is the question of a large
increase of the cost of food supplies.
Many people could live comfortably
in winter with the small average in
crease of their food. but the gigantic
prices which are threatened for the
coming months will cut down their
bank roll.
High prices are predicted for this
winter by table given out recently
by a leading Topeka grocer. OF quo
tations there. cantaloupes and sugar
are the only articles that have not in
creased heavily in price since last
September For 81 a person can buy
20 pounds of sugar, compared to Il
for last year. Cantaloupes are quoted
at so cents a crate for this year and
81 last. However. they are of a much
inferior quality this season
Following is the table given out by
the grocer, nearly every article of
which corresponds with the average
prices