New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-16
THREE CURES PROPOSED
Speakers at Republican Club
Attack High Cost Of Living.
INFLUENCE OF RAILROADS
Say the Farm, the Market and
the Gold Standard Are
Controlling Factors.

The High Cost of Living" was dis
day luncheon of the Republican Club BY
Professor Irving Fisher of the depart
mcnt OF political economy of Yale Uni
versty Mrs. Elmer Black. of the mu-
nicipal market committee. and Dr. Mil
ton Whitney. chief of the bureau of soils
q the Department of Agriculture
Dr. Whitney offered the back TO the
present increasing prices of necessities
Of Efe He declared that the real agri-
cultural development of the country was
controlled from New York rather than
from Washington or the state capitals.
and this control was exerted primarily,
although 10 large degree unconscious
Is. by the bankers OF New York through
the railroads and general development
agencies There was a great RESPONSE
biity resting on the railroads. said Mr..
Whitney, and a great need of more in
telligent development work.
The old idea that the soils OF New
York, the Northeastern states and Viz
gin.a are exhausted OF their mineral
plant food" he said. has been thor
oughly exploded by the researches Of
the Bureau OF Soils. from an exanna-
ton OF our own lands and those in much
longer use in Europe and Asia. The soils
Of the East arc as At to-day for inten-
sive agriculture as they were formerly
do
are enormous. The reasons usually as
signed are the loneliness of country life
and tie 1llurements Of the city. The real
reason is the lack OF initiative Of the
farmer
IN the United States there Is one per
son 20 every twenty-three acres of I'M
proved land. In France and Germany
there IS one person TO every I'VE or eight
acres Of improved land. Ky intensive
methods the productivity Il land row in
use can be increased two and a half
times. and with the proper utilization Of
ale land the production OF this area could
be increased al least ten times
William c. Brown. president OF the New
York Central lines. was a guest Of honor
al the luncheon and gave great attention
70 Dr. Whitnoy's address.
Professor Fisher discussed the subiec.
from the point of view Of the effect If
,he instability" OF gold as a standard
VI value on the high cost Of living. He
suggested a plan OF "standardzing the
gold dollar. so as tc make its purchasing
power commensurate with current prices
u commodities Though the size Of the
..s..r IL. -
present purchasing power was only Two
thirds OF what il was fifteen years ago.
lc aid
Professor Fishers plan for standardiz-
ing the dollar had been Endorsed by
prominent fnanciers and economists all
over the world. he declared. President
elect Wilson was much interested III H..
he said The plan Is 10 adjust the weight
Of the gold dollar. which Is now 23.s
grains. proportionately 10 the rise IN
prices. That did not mean TO change the
size oF the dollar itself. 10 recon II. but
10 change the weight in bullion in the
Tros surv which would redeem the dol
lar 1t would he necessary 10 DO TINS
probably once month. Il could be
easily ascertained whether prices had
risen. ana how much, oN Inv ihueN 90
prices as computed by the United States
Bureau Of Labor. based on 2J1 standard
commodities. or from "Bradsteet or
The London Economist tt plan
would convert the present gold standard
into multiple standard IN which
tho unit would not be a fixed amount OF
gold or any other one commodity. but
"A COMPOSITE unit made up of a large
number OF important commodities. IL
would merely increase the purchasing
power OF the dollar commensurate with
the increase Of prices.
Mrs. Black contended that municipal
markets would reduce the cost OF living.
First by oliminatin unnecessary MID
dlemcn; second. b. providing for the
direct delivery OF produce from freight
cars 20 the market and cold storage
cellars. obviating the use Of teams for
trucking: third. by avoiding waste;
fourth. by closer understanding be-
tween grower and consumer. and fifth
BY providing fresh. wholesome and
varied food. the dietary value Of which
would be higher and therefore cheaper
10 the family even at the same price.