Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-06
BY HARRY P. CASSIDY.

The High Cost Of Living"
to the average American
to-day to win his instant interest.
He knows at once what you are
talking about.
He knows that his meat prices
are rising, that his flour and bread
costs more than formerly, that
his milk is selling at higher and
higher prices.
And he knows that eggs are so
high in some months that they
are practically out of his reach.
In a broad and general way,
the high cost of foodstuffs may
be assigned to two causes:
First-Some of those who pro-
duee or market foodstuffs are
resping exorbitant profits.
Seeond-The American people
are a nation of wasters and waste
much Of their food supply.
In no line of food IS this so true
as in the case Of eggs. The gov
eminent department of agricul-
ture is authority for the state
ment that S5O,OOO,OOO worth of
eggs are wasted annually.
Recently. I exposed conditions
in Boston which shocked many
persons. They asked: why
could not we get these eggs when
they were fresh and good? Why
should we pay 60 cents a dozen
for eggs, when eggs are rotting in
the storehouses?"
To-day I want to mention some
Of the reasons for this waste.
Your own intelligence will then
indicate to you where the waste
may be eliminated.
The supply Of eggs comes from
two sources.
First-The memories. which
make egg production their bust
ness, and employ scientific prin-
oiples and methods to secure a
good supply.
Second-The farmer, TO whom
eggs are a by-product, and who
sells only such eggs as he does
not use himself.
In the second case the loss is
very heavy. In the first, the loss
is heavier than it should be.
Many people incline to blame
cold storage for the loss in eggs.
They believe eggs deteriorate and
ret in the storage houses.
m a general way this is true.
But if eggs are properly handled in
cold storage, there need be no
heavy loss.
Eggs in storage. for instance,
should be turned over once a
week. This is not done. The egg
staying in the same position for
six months, the yolk sinks down,
rests on the shell and sets up
growth there which quickly de-
veIops into a spot" egg-unfit
for use in any food product
It is not practicable to turn the
eggs in storage. II this were
done. every egg would have to be
handled and whirled sharply once
or twice to dislOdge the yOlk from
its resting place on the shell.
But there is no great loss IN
storage. Eggs as a general rule
are preserved in storage in much
the same condition as when they
went In. If they went in in prop
or shape, they would come out
good. If they went in damp or
dirty. infections would develop
which might spoil an entire crate
Of eggs. 800,
II is estimated that nine-tenths
of the loss in eggs is prevent
able. for eggs produced under
proper conditions, properly packed
and shipped, and properly stored
have been proven to be III loI
food for many months.
Everyone knows that an egg Is
a delicate, high strung SENSITIVE
creature, and one that quickly
resants i'll treatment. It must
needs be handled with kid gloves,
as It were. for you can not treat
an egg disrespeCtfully and expect
IL to remain friendly toward you.
Like a delicate child II is easily
spoiled.
1t must be carefully led through
the world; il must be guided
away from the jOlts and bumps
of life. and must be guarded at
all times against the inrOads OF
dirt and bacteria which corrupt
its better nature. Any laNlty on
the part of the guiding hands ana
the egg goes of on its own de-
vices. generally winding up as a
degenerate. disreputable charac-
ter, unfit to mingle with polite So
ciety.
The journey Of an egg from the
BARNARD to the garbage can OF
the stomach of some human De-
ing is one fraught with many
dangerous rocks and steep pIecl-
uices. with storms and tempestS
and hidden enemies. and the guild
ing hands who take charge OF
the trip must never relax ta-lt
care.
Even before it leaves the barn
Eald the egg has many chances
Of going wrong. In the first place
fl may be- laid iu dirty damp
nest and thus be oOugenita.}
crippled for life. as it were.
In the second place 1T may 'e