Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-18
sees NO RELIEF FROM
i HICHCOST Of LIVING.
(
J. II. Sherman Thinks Prices of
Foodstuffs on Constantly Ad-
vancing Scale.
Superintendent Of District Markets,
in Report, Gives Three Causes
for Steady Advance.

The trend of food prices has been up
ward since 1898 and there is no ground
for hope that this tendency can be re-
-;versed.
:: Such Is the conclusion drawn by j.
H. Sherman, District superintendent OF
weights, measures and markets, in his
annual report to the Commissioners.
in which he discusses the causes Of rising
prices
Three fundamental causes exist. &C
cording to his estimate of the situation
They are Cd per capita increase OF
circulating media (2) rapidly IN
creasing population on practically
stationary food-producing area and CD
increasing congestion of population in
:cities which, as they grow. must draw
-;eupplies from constantly increasing dis
tances.
Money Worth Less.
Regarding the first cause. Mr.. Sher-
man points out that just as an in
creased supply of eggs in the spring
results in lower prices of eggs, so any
increase in the supply of money and
credit instrument must result in their
becoming less valuable as compared
with other things.
so long as the production OF gold
: continues to increase, as in the last
eighteen wears, we must recognize in 1t
powerful and unavoidable cause OF
rising tendency in prices. he states
with the disappearance OF the west
ern frontier and the passing OF free
lands, the second cause of rising 1000
prices became operative, Mr.. Sherman's
Until that time the tendency in
America had been toward relatively
high incomes and low food costs
Wages and salaries had to be high' IN
order to hold the workers II an IN
diyidual were dissatisfied and free to
go. there awa.t,d him in the west a free
quarter-section of land, ana many
agencies existed to aid him in getting
well started. Against this competition
American industry found it necessary
10 establish the highest wage scales the
world had known. while from the
sparsely settled country districts. ana
food of food products, raised at mini
mum costs on new lands OF great pro-
ductivity-a supply large and constant
ly increasing in proportion to the popu-
lation. Under such conditions 1000
prices were low and declining.
: with the passing Of the free lands
the former fortunate circumstances
were suddenly and completely reversed.
Alongside of general rise In prices,
food prices have risen at extraordinary
rates Meantime average wages, no
longer boosted by the former natural
stimulus, have failed to advance pro-
portionately to the advance OF living
costs, and herein lies the root Of the
popular agitation over the high cost OF
living"
:. Hauling Cost Big Item.
Discussing the third cause Of food
advances, the increasing congestion Of
population in the large cities and tend
ency of our population to congregate
in the urban districts. Mr.. Sherman
points out that this condition necessi-
'fates transportation Of food supplies
over constantly increasing average dis
tances and necessitates intricate sys-
TENS of transportation. storage. In
spection. etc. for all Of which the con-
sumner must pay. He contends that this
cause. which brings higher prices
tribution. not only tends to increased
cost Of production. but has also intro
duced new and greater sources OF I'M
necessary waste.
terms the ''inadequacy" OF the remedies
usually proposed for offsetting the
tendency to increasd prices Mr.. Sher-
itself into the following: To discover
and eliminate the sources of waste In
food distribution for the benefit OF pro-
ducers. middlemen and consumers ahke;
fluctuations on the markets and to
educate the buying public to better
habits in buying and fuller utilization
of the facilities which exist for their
use.
: In connection with the proposal to
educate the public in market buying.
Mr.. Sherman renews his suggestion
made to the Commissioners year ago
that the District maintain market
news service SO that the public may be
kept informed of the true state of the
vnnly nm
the market. the prospect for incoming
supply. the true prices actually OBJ
tanning and other features.
:. Trolley Service Urged.
I. Another former recommendation which
10 renewed Is the establishment within
the city of trolley freight service. be-
tween midnight and am, so that
Washington may draw upon a larger
territory for its food supplies. The
local markets, Mr.. Sherman says. now
are supplied IN :he main by wagons
from a radius of twenty miles. where
as. with trolley freight and switches
to every market. both municipal and
private. he claims. the area from which
food supplies are drawn can be extend
ed from twenty to fifty miles.
Concerning Washington's wholesale
market, Mr.. Sherman states that II is
the larger cities. in that 1t is isolated
from either railroad or navigable
water He recommends that 1t be
moved to some location where both
transportation facilities are available
and that in connection with 1t a union
freight terminal with modern market
facilities be established.
The report discusses the operation. of
the municipal markets during the past
fiscal year, and also presents an elab-
crate statement of the years work in
the division of weights and measures.
Tho present inspection force of this d.
vision is declared to be inadequate and
its equipment, 1t is stated. Is obsolete.
In the concluding pages of the report
Mr. Sherman pays a tribute to Wash
ington dealers, stating that, with few
exceptions. they are more anxious than
the public that their scales shall weigh
correctly and that their attitude to-
ward the department has been ono of
cordial. cheerful willing Corpora
ton"