Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-10-26
FOOD Staples NON
H CIVIL WAR L[V[L
----------------
SOME PRICES TO MOUNT STILL
HIGHER BEFORE EUROPEAN
WAR CLOSES.
EFFORT TO FEED EUROPE
COSTLY TO AMERICANS
Vast Surplus Of Supplies Almost De-
pIetsd-cost Of Most Staple Goods
Increased 100 Per Cent During Past
Two Years-coffee and Tea Remain
NormaI-comparative Figures.

Chicago, Oct. 26.-The high cost OF
living. the bugbear of the housewife.
the despair and worry of the father
appears to be in America fer an indef-
mite visit. Despite abnormal production
caused by abnormal prices, the cost OF
some of the household staples has in
creased 100 per cent.
In the main this doubling Of prices
has occurred within the last year or Sc
or since the ADVENT of the democratic
national administration, which was
pledged to reduce the cost of Twins,
already high.
a further increase is expected b.,
grocers and jobbers this winter.
To some degree, of course, exports of
foodstuffs are blamed for this situation
by the dealers.
Year Opened Well.
The year 1916 opened with the United
States better fortified with food sup
plies than in any previous year on rec
ord. There was more wheat, corn, oats,
i've stock, butter, and eggs on the
farms and at central distributing points
than in any year previously recorded.
The year was scarcely half passed,
however, before prices of wheat, corn,
oats, live stock, butter, and eggs were
Up TO levels equaled only at times Of
famine or rampant speculation.
Cash wheat mas gone to $l.191e a
bushel, the highest prica made since
the Letter deal in 1888. Germ sold UP TO
Sl.0112, the highest since the civil war:
butter and eggs went TO unprecedente d
nf ~
sheep made cIvil war prices look cheap.
Coffee and Tea Norma
Rice, cpffee and tea are Practically
the only food staples which have not
advanced. The cost of rice is unusually
low this year, being from 6 to cents
d pound. Coffee has not advanced and
there is probability of reduction. A
few varieties of Ceylon tea have gone
up o and 10 cents pound, bul tea
grown in China, which can supply the
world If necessary, has not advanced.
Coffee always acts the opposite
from wheat" explained II. II. Hickson.
a South Water street dealer in tea,
coffee and rice. "One is a luxury, the
other necessity. When the prlce of
one goes up the other goes down. 1t Is
hardly possible that the lines l handle
VIII go up"
Turkeys Take Flight.
In contrast comes the gloomy infor-
nation thar South Water street mer-
chants expect to retail turkeys at 35
cents a pound this winter. A tremen-
dous turkey shortage is in prospect and
many Chicagoans will be obliged TO
celebrate the holidays with other kinds
of meats. Last year turkeys were IS
cents pound and two years ago they
were 20 cents. ..f
When the prices of grains go up the
quality and quantity of meats go down.
Fewer hogs are being received at the
stock yards than ever before and they
are lean, rangy animals. The farmers
say they can not afford to fatten them
on grain. The same applies TO beeves
Beef carcasseS now sell for Is cents a
pound, so per cent increase over a
year and two years ago. Pork loins
retail for 23 cents a pound, 80 1-3 per
cent increase.
How Prices Compare.
David Rosenheim, one of the largest
retail grocers in Chicago, declared that
the cost of most staple foods had in
creased 100 per cent in the last two
years.
Here is the list that Mr.. Rosenheim