The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-02-24
STARTLING jump
IN COST OF LIVING
Price Of Round Steak Has
Doubled Since 1890.
BACON SHOWS BIGGEST RISE


as Dear-Bureau of Fisheries to Ex-
ploit Foods to Which Little Atten-
tior Has Been Paid In Order to Cut
Household Expenses.
According to figures of the United
States department of commerce, show
ing how the cost of living has increas-
ed since 1890. pork chops, bacon and
eggs cost more than twice as much as
twenty-three years ago. and round
steak has doubled in price.
The report presents for each of forty
Of the most important Industrial cities
in the various sections of the United
States the retail prices of the principal
articles OF food.
Taking 100 as q base average price
for the fifteen principal articles of food
In all the cities, the comparisons Of
some are as follows:
The price of siroin steak increased
over 20 per cent. the figures being:
1900, 80; 1910, 1874; 1911, 1874; 1912 1877;
1913. 173.
Round steak showed an increase of
over 100 per cent. as shown by the
following figures: 1890. 97; 1910. 149;
1911, 150; 1912. 154; 1913, 205.
Biggest Rise In Bacon.
Rib roast rose from % in 1890 to l74
In 1913, pork chops from 90 to 232. ba-
con from SO to 233, ham from 99 to
1S8. lard from 0S to 1853, hens from 1902
to 1T2 -four from 11O to 126, cornmeal
from 101 to 1G8. eggs from 100 to 212
butter from 80 to 153, potatoes from
100 to 173 and milk from 100 to 141.
Sugar showed the only decrease, and
this amounted to about 20 per cent.
The report says that the lowest price
during twenty-three years and ten
months was reached in each of the
geographical divisions of the United
States in 1896. both for the simple av-
erage ana for the weighted average
For the south Atlantic and the north
central divisions the highest price was
reached in September, 1918. both for
the simple and weighted averages.
During the one month from Sept 10
to Oct. 10, 1913. retail prices of food in
the United States advanced one-tenth
OF per cent.
Interesting in connection with the ef-
forts TO lessen the cost OF living is
movement inaugurated by the United
States bureau of fisheries.
For nearly tve years the bureau has
been engaged i'm n scientific inveshga-
ton of the wasted and neglected food
products of the sea with view to ini-
tiating campaign of publicity of the
numerous fishes, mollusks and crusta-
ceans of real edible value in the open
seas and landlocked waters of the Unit
ed States. which have been overlooked
by fishermen and distributors of food
stuffs. 1t is the belief of the bureau
officials that the unwarranted waste
has been tremendous,
The practical results OF this work
were negligible until very recently.
Now the bureau is prepared TO begin
its propaganda The publicity cam.
paign will be inaugurated with the
coming Of spring, and already the bu-
reau has commenced its public demon
stration.
To Exploit MusseI First.
The first of the sea products which
will be exploited will be the mussel
The experts of the fisheries bureau
have this to say of the present uses of
the mussel:
'The sea mussel. which is practical
ly unknown as a food in the United
States. has been utilized in other parts
of the world for hundreds OF years
American authorities have long urged
its inclusion In the list of desirable
cOmestibles in use in the United States
1t is eaten raw or cooked In Portugal,
Spain and France.
1t Is possible, according TO the fisher
les experts. to increase the normal food
supply In the market for edible mol
lusks By the increased use of the sea
mussel approximately % per cent.
1t Is also the opinion of the bureau
OF fisheries that numerous other prod
ucts considered by the north Atlantic
fishermen as waste may eventually find
their way into the staple markets OF
the United States. In Europe. particu-
larly In Great Britain, numerous she'll
fish are on the regular diet of people in
moderate circumstances, which have