New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-26
Arbitrary Reduction in
Rates Would Bring Fa-
mine, Expert Asserts
LACK OF SUPPLY IS
KEEPING THEM UP
Hartigan Plan Will Cause
Dearth of FoodstuffS,
Large Dealer Says

Lower food prices viii not come TINS
winter, according TO provision experts
canvassed yesterday by The Tribune.
The reason is lack Of supply, due part
" 70 increased export, but more
largely 10 increased domestic con-
sumption and slack production.
Arbitrary lowering Of prices, regard
less Of natural economic conditions, 1t
was declared. would stimulate con
sumption. exhaust the small but care
fully conserved sorpluses and bring
actual famine conditions.
Canned fruits and vegetables, which
have jumped in price from 20 TO 40 per
cent, viii not recede to their old figures
for two years, IL is said.
Butter, eggs and cheese prices will
drop in the spring, but not before.
Meanwhile they may go higher.
No Lower Prices Yet
Prices Of vegetables and fruits will
depend entirely upon next years pro-
duction, but it is expected there will
be no lower prices until the 1917 crop
is on the market.
Charles +. Droste, head OF Droste &
snyder, Inc, butter and egg merchants,
was asked why eggs we're so high.
Because" he replied, "the world 10
short on eggs. New York consumes
10000 30-dozen cases each week, or
1900 cases in excess Of it's weekly
supply. New York is using II per cent
more eggs than it was last year at this
time. This 42,0O0-eass excess is drawn
from the warehouse supply, which IS
30 per cent less than normal AT this
rate our warehouses will be empty by
February ]. There will be no surplus,
and as current production only hall
meets the demand eggs may go much
higher until the new crop begins 70
come, the last part OF February or the
first Of March"
The butter situation, Mr.. Droste said,
was much the same, consumption ex-
cceding production by about FOOOo
pounds weekly.
supply Will Have Gone
But public officials" he was remind
I'd. ARE making statements that the
high food prices are due TO speculation
and demand that prices must come
down"
"All right" answered Mr.. Droste'
suppose Mr.. Hartigan lowers the price
Of eggs or butter or what-not Take
eggs and let us see what VIII happen.
People will commence buying more
eggs. and Europe will jump into the
market with both feet.
by January ! our small but care
fully conserved supply will have van
ished. There will be a real famine,
with no eggs At less. than 81 dozen,
unless nature should miraculously come
10 our rescue with summer weather IN
January and induce the hens to lay.
should the price 90 down, / as
merchant would 20 out on the market
and buy ND all ! could and export them
or hold them for higher prices. Lower
nrices now would put trump cards IN
the hands OF the spectators. Europe's
eggs cost 40 cents and up wholesale,
transported on the other side. The
present prices safeguard our surplus
against depletion by export
Profits for Farmer
Last year sl.75 a barrel for pota
toes was paid farmers by the ship
pers. Now farmers are asking and re-
Ceiving Sf.25.
"The cause is lack Of production ex-
planned Charles II. Siege, president OF
the Receivers and Distributors Asso'
citation. "Ihe government report shows
the potato crop is less than half what
30 was a year ago. New York growers
who expected TO dig l4O bushels TO the
acre are digging from forty TO sixty.
"The next biggest producing state is
Michigan. where an early October
freeze practically killed the crop. Cold
weather decimsted the Colorado yield.
Maine alone escaped. Maine potatoes
have been going TO New Orleans. Cleve-
land. Chicago and Detroit since Sep
TENDER. Those markets pay 81 bar
rel more than the New York wholesaler
will"
According to a representative Of
Kemp, Day & Co, wholesalers IN
canned goods, the same story OF crop
shortage accounts for the high prices
Of these staples Export trade cut
down the reserve stock, and this years
goods went into consumption almost at
once.
This condition, it is not denied, Gre
ated some speculative buying of canned
goods, 20 be held for the higher prices,
which have arrived.
Canned Goods to Stay High
Although fruits and vegetables may
be more plentiful next year, the in
creased price Of materials, chiefly tin,
aud Of labor probably will keep canned
goods near their present prices for two