The Marshall republican., 1913-12-05
COST OF LIVING REDUCED

can to a large extent be solved by a
municipality has been demonstrated
In Germany. A city can establish fish
markets and meat markets and un-
dersell the ordinary trade and at the
same time not lose money. This has
been demonstrated at Nuremberg. ac-
cording to report sent by United
States Consul George Nicholas Ifft.,
stationed at Nuremberg, which Is en-
titled. Keeping Down the Cost OF
Living in Germany" The report SAYS:
"The report on the trade OF Nurem-
berg, published in the Daily Consular
ond Trade Reports OF September 8,
1913. has led to a request for fur
ther Information in regard to the re-
teillng OF foodstuffs by The munlci-
lpality in its efforts to keep down the
cost OF living. In this connection T.
should be noted that municipalities
In Germany are authorized by law TO
engage In almost any kind of buei-
ness that may be regarded for the
welfare Of the community ns a whole.
ard opposition from retail dealers
has little effect In view OF the non
political character OF the municipal
Igoycrnment.
THE high prices OF meats in 1912
Induced the city council Of Nurem-
berg to encourage the use OF fish
among tho people. From October 10,
1912 TO May /, 1913. tho city pur-
chased tst,S19is pounds OF fish and
rctailed Il nt actual cost. The city
maintained n central fish market and
later made arrangements with two
green grocors IN outlying sections TO
handle the city wares at prices pres
oiihod by the city. The city council
also established free weekly courses
In iish cooking. TO which the wives OF
lworkingmcn were especially invited.
IN connection with these Lessons
many thousand copies OF n little fish
cookbook were distributed gratis.
Tho cost OF the schools last year
wos about $500. Special courses on
tho food value OF fish and courses In
iiph cooking were also arranged for
the city board girls continuation
schools.
The fish markets and the cooking
schools. discontinued during the
~ MINER. were resumed on october ~
ard tho former viii remain open dur
lng the entire year. n rcfrigcratIng
plant having been erected at the cen
tfal market. Arrangements have been
made for five additional markets IN
outlying sections OF the city.
Meat Markets Also.
In 1912 meat prices had advanced
nom 80 10 - cents per pound for a
good piece OF beef. with other meat
prices In proportion. The city decided
TO luy meat and sell Il TO the people
al cost, but at first deferred 10 the
butte hers guild 90 far as TO attempt
to cell the meat through the dealers
at prices fixed by the city. Meat prl-
oes dropped suddenly from 20 TO 40
per cent even before the first city
neat appeared IN the butcher shops;
but the city meat, AZ TO cents per
pound cheaper than that OF the regu-
lar retailers was showed to the back
ground or treated as recond-class
product. After two months the city
opened It's own retail shops. which
have increased In number from two
to fifteen.
Between October IS, 1912. and
October /. 1918. the city purchased
and sold i.93i.454 pounds OF fresh
mcats--beef. veal and pork-for
1909, ,i9G. This represented 149s beef
cattle: 45G calves and 5303 swine.
The supply. especially of pork, Is
purchased TO some extent In other
parts OF Germany. but most OF II Is
imported from Belgium. Holland aud
Denmark
The city's retail prices are figured
% include all elements OF cost. such
as freight. preservation, expense OF
handling, rent. fixtures, allowance Ia
saiosmen C2 cents per pound) on all
sales, etc. During 1918 beef was
retailed .at uniform average prices
Of 1874 cents per pound veal at from
II to IS l-2 cents PER pound and
FORK ut II TO is l-2 cents per pound
During this period the retail butchers
maintained their prices from { X tc
6h cents higher than the city pri
ces for ordinary meats and from G u
to II cents higher for the choice cuts
! The city meat and fish markets will
be continued indefinitely.
MOMENTS "DRY" VOTE LECItI.