Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-11
EGGS SCARCE
BECAUSE Of
BAD SEASON,
EXPERT SAYS
Weather Also Affected Butter
Producing Districts Throughout
the Country, Lowering the Quail
ity of the Dairy Products
BY J. 3. MITCHELL.
Pres. CHICAGO Butter and Egg Board.


CHICAGO, Jan. 10.-For some time
past the egg has held a very promi
nent position in the public eye, and
perhaps, has been more attractive
than to the public pocketbook Egg
dealers have been accused of having
formed a trust, and egg men have
been maligned by the public and by
the press. but, as Is frequently the
case. an indictment does not amount
to conviction. That eggs are high
now Is Que to the natural law OF
supply and demand nothing else.
Last Aprirs production was a nor
NAL one. and the same can be said
of the month that followed But last
summer was a long one as measured
by high temperatures e.5esslVe neat
prevailing over all of the egg produc-
ing sections of the Middle West. In
Kansas. which is one of the greatest
egg reproducing States Of the Union,
the temperature ranged from 100 TO
ITO degrees in the shade for period
of 80 DAYS. About the same condi-
ton existed In Missouri and other
CARDS egg production.
Thousands and millions Of dozens
of eggs were rendered worthless by
these extreme temperatures values
declined at the point OF initial mar
keting to a place where the farmer
would not trouble himself to take
what few good eggs he had to a
place where they would find their
way into larger channels OF trade.
The result was that during July,
August and September. when under
ordinary conditions there would be a
reasonably large surplus of eggs, the
storages had to be drawn upon 10
supply consumptive wants and the
surplus laid up in April and May for
November, December and January's
consumption was greatly depleted.
Profits Were Made.
To tine specuiatOr or dealer who ~ z
vested his capital in April or May in
this highly perishable and sensitive
product ESQ far as market conditions
are concerned) some profits have ac-
crued. Eggs went into storage dur
ing April at an average cost of about
Is cents per dozen. Figuring | cent
per dozen for storage charges, Pc
cent interest on the investment and
$50 a car for insurance, 1t VIII be
seen that the cost of carrying one
dozen eggs from April to November
OF December is in the neighborhood
of 2 cents. This would make the
cost to the original holder 20 "a
cents per dozen out OF storage. Up
to the present time rs cents is the
highest price storage eggs have
brought
There are 1900 dozen to a car of
eggs as the term is used by the trade,
end these cars. as shown under these
conditions. make a profit Of $40 or
80 per cent on the original invest
ment,
Butter Stationary.
Following the high prices for but
ter in the spring, surplus butter dur
ing the storage season, commencing
the latter part of May. was stored al
slightly higher price than the pre-
Vlous year. The price seemed war
ranted by the lack of increase in
dairying and by the keen competition
for good table butter for winter trade
wants and for speculation.
Prices, with the exception OF an oc-
Casional setback, naturally have ad-
Nanced, until at the present time fan
~ creamery is jobbinS at 36 cents
with the supply of such goods scarce
~ equal TO the demand.
In keeping. however, with what
seems 10 be the case in all other fooC
products, people are asking only fol
the best, and there is lots of service
able table butter to be had at price:
4 TO 5 cents below the top which is
not selling as rapidly as II should,