The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-10-21
PASSING OF THE
NICKEL LOAF OF
BREAD EXPLAINED

II is very difficult TO change the
custom Of years, but there comes u
time when even tradition must be
swept aside ruinlessly II thereby an
economic advantage can be secured.
The baking trade is now facing
such a problem and on the courage
and ability of the bakers to handle
the situation depends the solvency OK
those engaged in the business.
Custom has long prescribed the
five cent loaf which was based orlgi-
nlyla on the cost Of material entering
into 1t which was sufficiently low to
afford the baker varying, but on
the average. fair profit for his
product.
Such a basis for the 1--WE cent loaf
has ceased to be and in the minds Of
the most conservative will continue
so indefinitely. Within few months
flour has advanced seyenty-five per
cent. lard seventy-hve per cent, milk
nifty per cent, sugar seventy-fie per
cent, eggs forty per cent, butter
fifty per cent, sugar twenty-five per-
enty-iive per cent, feed thirty per
cent. gasoline ninety per cent, labor
twenty -NNt per cent.
All Of these commodities enter into
the manufacture. sale and delivery
Of bread and their prices must be
counted upon in figuring what the
loaf costs the baker.
In the face OF such tremendous ad-
vances it Is sheer madness to adhere
to old standards and traditions.
II is unnecessary to 20 into the
causes Of all Of these advances, or TO
speculate on their duration. Chiefly
they are due. in most cases, TO the
war In Europe. either directly or in
directly, also TO the worlds shortage
in the wheat crop.
Be this MS it may, its is a condition
not theory, that confronts the
bakers, and they must either advance
me price or discontinue business. In
this emergency, he has in many
places decided on a plan that win be
advantageous alike to the consumer
and himself and which. while II en-
ables him to obtain a fair and lust
return for his labor. gives the con-
sumner the utmost possible value for
the price he pays. The pain contem-
plates the abolition of the five cent
loaf and the substitution of the ten
cent loaf. There is great economic
waste incident to the manufacture
and distribution of the five cent loaf.
me ten cent loaf is the most eco
nomical to manufacture and market
and represents the maximum of value
70 the consumer. Economies in max
ing and delivery are effected by II
and 1t has been proved that there ia
a saving of SIS thousand loayes in
me manufacture OF the larger unit,
which means a great saving to the
baker and enables him to give a
greater value in the larger loaf.
Another advantage to the consum-
er IS that the larger loaf does not dry
out and become stale near as quick
ly as the smaller loaf which enables
the smallest family to use it up while
1t Is still fresh and palatable.
No reasonable minded person eS-
poets the baker to continue on with
the old prices established years ago
when prices OF all material was less
than half what it is now.
People generally know that the
only article on which the price has
not advanced Is the daily bread, and
It being reckoned by all as the staff
of life, no one asks or expects the
maker to furnish 1t without n fair
return for his labor.
BY C. L. CAMERON.
Adv. Atlas Flour Mills.