The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-27
DINNERS ARE HIGH
Thanksgiving Meal the Most
Expensive in Is Years.
The Cost Has Advanced From
IS to 100 Per Cent.

Washington, Nov. 27.-Thanksgiv-
Ing dinner today is the most expensive
meal the average American has eaten
during the last twenty-five years. 1t
cost from IS to 100 per cent more
than it did ten years ago and from 10
to SO per cent more than any Thanks
giving day during the last six years,
according to recently gathered govern
ment statistics.
Thousands Of turkeys spoiled by
having been shipped to market dur
ing the unreasonable warm wave
which overspread the country week
ago; the drOuth Of last summer, which
shortened crop yields. particularly
white potatoes; an alleged cold stor-
age combination, which Attorney Gen.
eral McReynolds is now investigating
to find If millions Of dozens OF eggs
sand millions of pounds OF dairy prod
uts have been withheld from the mar
ket by middle men to force high prices
and the steady soaring OF prices gen.
orally during the last decade. are
among the contributing causes TO
which economists point.
The great American hen, however,
is somewhat responsible for the ex-
traordinary high price OF eggs, ac-
cording to department OF agriculture
officials. VINO are reluctant TO pace
all the blame upon cold storage. Heat
and drouth of the last summer. they
say, caused the hens to stop laying
sooner thar usual.
The Advance in Turkeys.
As to turkey, the rise in price seems
TO have extended along the route to
the consumer, beginning at the barn
yard, where the farmer received an
average of Is cents pound for his
birds-about half a cent more than he
got last year. But turkey Is not a
Thanksgiving bird at all, according to
the experts.
be the Thanksgiving food of the coun-
try generally" says DR.. Mary E. Pen
nington, the expert in food research
in the federal bureau OF chemistry.
"Christmas is the time for turkey
and is generally used In Europe;
where st. Martins day is celebrated
about this time of year. In colonial
days in New England. where the win
ter season sets in early, 1t was differ-
ent and more favorable to turkeys.
but such conditions do not prevail
over the United States as whole.
Other Meats.
The family which turns from turkey
to chicken, pork or beef finds prices
uniformly advanced. Hens show an
average Increase OF cents pound,
pork 2 to cents, rib roasts 2 to 10
cents. Sweet potatoes are about the
same price as last year. but the white
potato crop is 1OO,OOO.OOO bushels be-
low last years and dangerous plant
diseases abroad which have checked
imports, have forced an increase
there.
Apples. oranges and grapes are scarce
because OF a short crop. Cranberrics.
with a normal crop are a little higher
than last year. Flour and sugar are
uniformly cheaper and butter shows no
comparative advance.
Eggs. however, from incomplete re-
turns. dated November 10, from prin-
cipal cities, show increases ranging
from 3 to "a cents q dozen over last
years prices.
has been making special study Of
prices. have compiled statistics show
ing prices of certain commodities on
November Is. Their figures show
present prices and those of two, four
and six years ago. respectively:
Comparative Figures.
New York-Eggs, IS. 45. 81 and 80;
butter. Il. 80, ss and IS: hens. %. Ii.
20. IS; rib roast, %. Is. % and 20; sir
loin, rs. 20. 10. IS: pork chops. %. Is.
20, IA.
Philadelphia-Eggs, 50, A, 40, 40;
butter, As. AZ, 40. 40; hens, %, 20. 20. 20:
rib roast, %, 20, 10, IS; sirloin. %, %.
tato ss; g. s. ss IS per en- peck 10 TO- p0-
Chicago-Butter, 81. 20, IS, 80: hens,
IS. Is. a. 10: rib roast. 10. 16. Is. Is;
Is. 16, IA: potatoes. 26. 80, Is, %.
Boston-Eggs. IS. 60. 45. So; butter,
40. 3S. 81. 80; hens. rs. 20, %, 20; rib
roast, %, IS. IS, IS; sirloin, IS, 25, 30,
30; pork chops. %. 20, 20, 16: potatoes.
Is, 80, 25. Is.
Denver-Eggs, 49, 40, 30. 30; butter,
35. 40. IS, 80; hens, Is, Is, IS, IA; STR
loin. 20, Is, IL. Is; pork chops, Is. Is.
Is. 121a.
st. Louis-Eggs, 421s, 40, 32h, Is:
butter A. 40. 37A 36: rib roas DBL
Is. 121s, 12k sirloin, 30, 22h, Is, Ia;
potatoes. %. 80. 20. %.
San Francisco-Rib roast, 20, 10, Is,
Is; sirloin. %. 10. Is, Is; pork chops,
25, 20, IS, IS.
washington-Eggs. As. 35. IS, IS;
butter. ~. 40. 40. 80; rib roast. %. &c.
81. II. Is; potatoes. Is. 80. 20. Is.
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