El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-05-15
FOOD PRICES IN
HOLLAND ARE A
SERIOUS EHAGE
Retail Prices of Food Ar
ticles Rise Rapidly Dur
ing the War.
MEAT PRICES GO
TO HIGH FIGURES
.HE HAGUE. Netherlands. May Is.

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high food prices. the result OF
a rush OF the Dutch producers at the be-
ginning Of the war to take advantage
, Of the increased demand from abroad
and the consequently augmented rates
offered by foreign buyers
Retail prices Of a number of articles
of consumption have risen in ever in
creasing ratio ever since the outbreak
Of hostlites. Statistics covering p ar
ticles have been compiled and these
show that, figuring the average cost
at 100 during the past 20 years. the
prices have now risen by 80 percent
Prices, however, had started going up
some time before the war. In fact since
1907 they have been rising steadily two
or three points a year until July. 1914
when they stood at 113. From August 10
December last year they jumped sud
denly TO 12l. in January this year they
had mounted to 129- in February 10 $50
and they are stiu going up.
Meat Is Much Higher.
Meat, especially pork. has gone up
considerably in price. Part OF this in
crease is due to the rise in fodder. hay
and oil cake, but much of il has been
brought about by the passing over the
frontier into Germany Of live animals,
whose further export. however, has
been forbidden Meal also has been eX-
ported in large quantities. Germany
taking in February this year alone
about S,750,000 pounds Of pork and
Great Britain 5.5O0.0o0 pounds from
Holland The price OF first quality beef
live weight, wholesale has gone up
since August last from an average Of
16 cents 10 IS cents a pound, while the
retail price has increased from p TO
26 cents a pound. Pork. live weight.
wholesale, which cost in August 1-2
cents a pound, now fetches IS IL cents
a pound, while the retail butchers price
has risen in the same time from an
average Of about 1s cents to about g
cents pound.
More Potatoes Than Needed.
Potatoes form one Of the products OF
which Holland always possesses q sur
plus, and the question Of their profit
able export is an important considera-
ton. 4 large part Of the cultivated
land in Holland is planted with them,
the total extent being 100000 acres,
most Of il in the four northern prov
inces. The quantity OF the crop pro-
duced annually is about 2,400. coo tons
valued at about 100000 About 49,
600 tons Of this quantity is ground into
potato 1lourY for which since the war
began there has been an enormous de-
mand from Germany There was also
greater demand for potatoes in Holland
itself owing to the presence Of so many
Belgian refugees and also to the use OF
potatoes for cattle feed instead Of oil
cake which had become high in price
At once time there was a danger Of a
shortage Of potatoes in this country
in consequence Of the increased exports
and the minister Of agriculture for a
time prohibited their export as a pre-
cauuonary measure in order to keep
sufficient Of them in stock for emergen-
cies- Several Of the larger cities bought
up stocks at the same time, but the
are now finding thew
made mistake, for the potatoes are
still on their hands and some Of them
are rottng. The exports in the first
seven months Of the war reached a total
OF $4,000 tons or only $4,000 tons less
than In the entire year Of 1913, while
Lne export OF potato flour amounted
from November, 1914 till March, 1915.
70 about $1,000 tons or nearly $4,000
tons IN excess Of the export in the same
period OF lslS-1S14- The high prices paid
by Germany made the local price mount
and the government found itself COM
PEELED 70 fix maximum price for re-
tail selling, as the working classes had
begun to feel the pinch.
Vegetables High.
Cabbages and other green vegetables |
have become more expensive since Ger
many has been calling for more and
more imports Of truck garden produce. |
me truck gardeners are naturally max
ng goor profits and the Dutch con- /
'umers find themselves compelled TO
pay more for their vegetables The /
-ruck farmers, however. are making
strong opposition to a proposal to regu- /
ate or prohibit exports Of these prod L
lets, which they declare would ruin 4
heir business They argue that the /
ale by them OF their produce TO for l
'lgners brings money into Holland I
which otherwise would not reach this 4
ountry and which helps the people to 4
" the WaE Meantime the Dutch house
wife Is compelled to pay more for her
God and sees no benefit coming to her
rom the increased exports.