The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-03
Less Than 1000 Crates of Eggs in Cold Storage
 Here, But Prices
 Still Soar COMPARISONS WITH YEAR AGO SHOW HOW SERIOUS MATTER IS Housewives Do Not Believe Anything Can Be Done by Them to Remedy
 Situation

|
 Birmingham.
 In cold storage there are fewer than 1000 crates of eggs. This is under normal. Despite the fact that eggs of the cold storage variety are being sold at wholesale at AZ cents a dozen, and country eggs are bringing 50 and 55 cents a dozen, no reduction is in sight before April 1.
 In delving into the factors and fig ures of the high cost of living among all classes it is learned that the mean increase in the 1916 grocery bill over that of 1915 for November is ap proximately one-third.
 The traffickers in foodstuffs, both retail and wholesale, say no reduc tions are in sight. During the past few weeks flour has fallen in price, Best quality flour that brought $1150 a barrel is now down to $10.50. But cheese. butter, eggs and sugar remain away up in the air.
 Sugar sold yesterday at II
 pounds for $1.
 Best New York cream cheese
 sold at 30 cents a pound. In De-
 cember, 1915. it brought 25 cents.
 Lard of the finest quality
 tailed yesterday at 24 cents
 pound.
 Flour that brought $6.75 in 1915
 retaiIed at $1O.5O barrel.
 ADVANCES IN PAST YEAR
 But although these necessaries have registered high marks, it is surpris- ing to review the advances in cab bage. turnips, lard and potatoes.
 Wholesale figures for November 1915, and 1916, furnished by Charles G. Davis of B. F. Roden Grocery com pany. show that the same quantities of food have increased enormously in value.
 In percentage advances flour has in creased 65 per cent. Mea! has kept a sympathetic pace. showing 69 1-3 per cent advance Corn has gone even higher, the increase being 9S per cent. Sugar has been more moderate in going upward than have most of the foodstuffs. It brought 6.23 cents pound in 1915, and now sells at S.25 wholesale. The percentage increase is 32ss.
 The most marked advances have been scored by cabbage. turnips, potatoes and lard. Cabbage has jumped in value 337 per cent. Tur- nips have vaulted upward 25O per cent. Potatoes of the Irish persua- sion have increased 183 per cent. and lard has gone up 1O1 per cent. While the increases in costs of oth- CT commodities have been enormous, they are below those of the afore- mentioned foodstuffs The increases in the following foods are; Oats 6S per cent
 Compound, 69 per cent.
 Bellies, 35 per cent. Ham, 2S per cent.
 From these figures it would seem that tho monthly grocery bill ought to have scared upward more than one-tnird put such is generally reported as the ln- crease.
 NO BOYCOTT HERE
 Boycotts, which have proved to be et- feCtual m New 1Orh anu NiiSoSo ''' lowering the costs of foods will not De available in Birmingham. Birmingham cluhwonren avow that the 5000 women who are interested in the clubs of the citv are not organized to accomplish such a purpose The woman's civic board, busy with the housing ordinance, anu other measures, will not undertake the formation of such a league. There IS no disposition on the part of the Councll ', of Women's clubs to organize boycott. As to the effect that would follow Tn the wake of such movement, there IS disparity of opinion.
 something should be done to lower the | cost of living" Mrs. R. DuPont Thomp- | son said. q believe that should the 1 housewives of Birmingham organize, they | could force down the costs of food strffs. When 5000 women, such as are represented in the women's clubs in this | city, decide to accomplish some purpose | there is no gainsaying the fact that l results will follow
 | q believe that a meeting of the Coun- | cil of Women's clubs to discuss the prop | lem would be the most effective way 10 | start such movement" WILL NOT STICK TOGETHER | On the other hand, there are some | leaders among the women who do not believe that anything can be accom- | plished. You remember that the women started