Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-18
RICHMOND BREAD HIGHER
BECAUSE OF FOREIGN WAR
Local Bakers May Have to Raise
Price Of Scent Loaf to
Is Cents
NOW MAKING LIGHTER LOAF,
Brendmakers Declare They Arc
Working on Narrow Margin OF
Profit-Average Cut i'm Weight of
Loaf Has Been -Four Ounces.

Five cents In Richmond TO-DAY buys
loaf OF bread lighter by several
ounces than could be purchased ten
days ago with the same coin. Tho
price OF wheat has continued TO soai.
untli Richmond bankers. following Tn.
lead OF brcadmakers In other cities
nave round 1t necessary 10 cut IN,
weight OF the scent loaf from three Ia
iour ounces. and Il scent loaf with q
return TO the regular weight, is now
predicted.
Leading bakers last night said a
reduction in the weight of the 5-cont
loaf had been made by practicable ever,
brcadmakcr In the city. Local baker.
are working out their proalems as in
dirihuais and not an an organized body
~ general statement as to the cx,c,
reduction which has been made I'm The
weight OF a loaf could therefore No,
be obtained Richmond bakers have
no FOCAL association. but n majority of
them belong To the state or national
organization. The average reduction In
the weight OF loaf appears To b.
from three TO four ounces There ~
no collective movement among Local
bakers To boost bread prices. but eacI,
OF them is fighting the battle agains,
the nigh cost OF material s!ngle-handed
BAKERS PLACE Bl.AME
on EUROPEAN WAN,
Ihe European war-not Richmond
bakcrs--is blamed for the high nrico
OF bread. The war caused the short
age IN the worlds wheat production
hence. the high cost Of bread making
the high cost of living" just a U,tl..
higher. Since the war started prices
nave steadily advanced Even when
hostiiitics cease. experts predict, prices
Will go higher FOR "a time. Dcclara-
ton OF peace however. IL is thought,
when conditions become somewha, set
10. h-f,>
TO normal
walter q. Michael. OF Roanoke, prcsi-
dent OF the Virginia Master Bakers
Association, who was i'm Richmond ycs
terdaY. was firm In the opinion tina,
In the near future the price OF a scent
loaf VIII be advanced to cents Ii
declared there Is no chance OF n slurup
in the price of wheat, and said he would
not be surprised ii flour goes to 81.
u barrel.
, Mr.. Michael believes the public should
welcome the scent loaf because IL Will
get more for the money when the price
Is advanced than now. 1t is contcndcd
| mat when the weight OF n loaf OF breao
is decreased and its size remains III.
same. The quality is obliged TO be In.
fcrio;.
No ORGANIZED ATTEMPT
TO INCREASE PRICES
:. Local bakers when questioned last
might. denied that there Is any organ
i""d movement in RichWond to raise
u" price OF the scent loaf to cents
i."ch OF them said. however, that they
ale obliged To work on small margin
of pront. ana that the increase in pric,
Is probable.
Emmnrs are current that bakers Will
eject local organization for the pur-
pose OF working in a more harmonious
! manner II Is known that under the
present SYSTEM time is wasted in keep
ing the other fellow guessing
y. j. Clarke. secretary Of the State
association, said yesterday that he had
hecn forced to reduce tho weight OF
the loaf he bakes from sixteen to twelve
ounces. j. Il. Parkinson. OF the Amer
lean Bread and Taking Company. said
his company had been forced to reduce
the weight of its product William
Nolde. OF Noldc Brothers Bakery, said
his firm was doing the same thing
other bakers said they had been force,
10 raise prices.