Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-26
FRANCE HAS ABUNDANT FOOD

Reports from different parts Of
France indicate that before the out
break OF war the cost OF living had
pared with the previous year. says
Committeeman Thackera, Of Paris, in
Commerce Reports, writing from Paris.
After August. however. there was an
upward trend In the prices, but the
advance wac not surprisingly great I'M
der the circumstances Coal showed IN e
greatest increase, averaging from 20
to 30 per cent, and difficulty Is being
experienced in obtaining the necessary
supplies. The prices OF wheat. rye.
oats, etc. have been little above nor
NAL up to recent date whereupon they
were influenced by the excessive prices
that cereals are bringing in other coun-
tries, as we'll by the high trans
portation charges. Throughout the
past winter vegetables were really
cheaper. more plentiful and of bet
ter quality. There has not at any
time heen an actual shortage of sup
plies for the table, excepting few
days Immediately following the declar-
alton OF war, when the means Of trans
port were seriously disturbed by rea-
son of the mobilization of the army
troops. munitions of war, and army
supplies. New vegetables are arriv-
ing in quantities from Algeria. the
prices OF which are within the reach
Of the ordinary purse.
Rents have either remained the same
or have fallen to a lower level.
Prices of Commodities.
At the abattoirs in Paris the prices
Of rst-quality beef in the carcass rose
from 1873 cents per pound in January,
1914, to 1874 cents in January of the
cents; and mutton. from 21.9 to 24.5
cents. During the same period sugar
increased from 6.6 cents per pound to
A cents. Chocolate costs 1-2 cents
dry vegetables. beans, etc, 3 1-2 cents;
macaroni. noodles. etc, 90 cent and
candles. LIS cents per pound more
There has been but little advance in
the prices of ham. sausages, and sim
liar pork products, and no material
change In those OF oil. vinegar and
coffee. The finest grade of pota toes
are selling at s1.05 per bushel OF go
pounds. which Is but little higher than
at the commencement of last year.
The price of alcohol, denatured. for
burning. in July, 1914. was 42.4 cents
FER gallon. which increased to Sis
cents in August. and to 65 ga cents
in January, 1915. Gasoline for motor
cars increased in price from As cents
n gallon in July. 1914, to 40 cents on
March 1 last. Petroleum for illumi-
mating purposes. which was selling at
1903 cents per gallon the end Of July,
1914. Is at present (March, 1879, 1885
cents. In the center of Paris the prices
Of kitchen coal rose from 1881 per
metric ton in July. 1914, to s17.s7 per
ton in March, 1915.
Bread Now Unrestricted.
The price of bread In Paris did not
vary throughout last year, having stood
at 0.45 franc per kilogram. or 80 cents
per pound, all the time. Shortly after
the outbreak of hostilities the military
authorities Of Paris, in view Of the
scarcity of labor. forbade the making
Of fancy bread and rolls and limited
the production to household bread in
two styles. The prohibition was main
ta!ned for long time in spite Of the
protests Of the public and especially
Of the bakers, who declared that 1t
was impossible for them to make any
profit on ordinary bread and that their
only source OF revenue was from the
fancy varieties that are sold at the
same price per loaf as ordinary bread.
but tho loaf weighs from 10 to Is per