The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-22
SUGAR FOR sI
What Is the price of sugar,

Yesterday, in some places you could get 13 pounds for q. In others only 12 pounds were obtainable. And then in others only 10 pounds were offered. and in few only nine pounds could be taken home for s1
 Interviews yesterday given by mer- chants of the city contained that element of doubt as to the cause of the phenom- enal increase of price of sugar that those printed yesterday morning contained. Merchants do not hesitate to answer ques- tions. but most of them profess to be in the dark
 There was a single rny of light. To- day. in HilIs' stores. one may purchase If pounds of sugar for sI. No other reductions were recorded. Firm prices as rule obtain.
 Some of the statements made yesterday follow:
 Maj, J. l.. Daniels of Shropshire & Dan iels: We are selling nine pounds of sugar for sl today l cannot offer any further suggestions as to the reason of the increase than those pointed out so clearly in The Age Herald this morning The cessation of refinerles in Germany our own sugar shortage. and the fact that the demand is greater than the supply is the whole story, it seems to me
 "We always buy our sugar in Bir- mineham 50 that the men who spoke yesterday are far better ncuuai in fed with the situation than the retailers. We have a little sugar on hand which we will sell to our customers without advancing very much more, hut future .I. l-- A
 T find that flour has gone up.,s Corn meal is exceedingly scarce, and I am told there is scarcely any here at this time All canned goods have advanced Espe- cially Is this true of imported canned goods, such as French salmon and sar- dimes. We do not keep fresh meats, but make purchases for our customers and notice material advances in meats
 Sugar Going Down
 J. B. Hill of the H. q. Hill chain of grocery stores, sI suppose the respon- sibility for the rise in the price of sugar could be placed nt the door of supply and demand. but beginning sat- urday our stores will sell IA pounds of sugar for n dollar. We have been selling I3 pounds for a dollar since the first increase wns made. The price here ie reduced Saturday.
 "Syrup, q kindred ,roduct of sugar,
 
 to advance. The war. perhaps. is re- sponsIble. Flour is advancing and may go higher. Canned meats also are go- ing up. Fruits probably will not ex- perience any great advance, if they rise at nll."
 Copeland Is Hopeful
 Hal J. Copeland South Twentieth street: 'Thdse who control the sale Of sugar say the supply is short; packers go a nd ia bf,r a1x,, this as reason for the advanced prices
 Personally, I don't know what Is the reason for the advance.
 Sugar now is selling to the retailer for cents a pound. Flour has increased also, but l think it has reached high water mark for the present. of course if means of shipping wheat to England are found, the price will experience startling rise.
 ''1 believe that if tks present war in Europe is not settled within year-and 1t won't be-the United States will wit ness the greatest period of prosperity in its history. The war will be the means of advancing our civilization at least 20 years
 With the opening of the Panama canal to the commerce of the world it was to be expected that there would be re- duction in the price of many staples of ccFnmerce But with the war now in full blast, it would be hard to predict what effect the opening of the canal Will have.
 "Coffee VIII advance soon. have received advices from my Chicago pe0- pie to purchase liberal stocks of coffee. because 1t was expected . rise soon would come. Canned meats, of course. are advancing and will continue to ad- vance. Corned beef is In great demand in the countries engaged In conflict, because of It's keeping qualities as we'll as for It's food value.
 '"rhe only thinE we nave to worry about is the cotton crop. I don't think well of the proposal of the farmers that the government loan them money direct upon their cotton. This is the province of the bank and there is no reason why the government should enter mercantile pursuits. If the cotton crop is held for a good price, that price ultimately will come and win mean prosperity for the whole United States