The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-14

! Advertising in Topeka daily papers 70
FRUITS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ''''..' %
You will notice that the cost cf the
| fountain service has been increased
| over rs per cent while the increase
| of prices does not add over per cent
| to our revenue. In fact the sort
drink dispensers are today giving the
public a most excellent service on a
great deal less profit than in former
years
Your paper also stated that the
overhead expense of operating soda
fountain was not over 10 per cent. or
course that statement is ridiculous in
! the extreme. believe that there is not
and never has been a fountain OPP
| Grated in Topeka, on an expense OF
less than rs per cent and 1 believe
that the average overhead expense
will exceed 80 per cent. I have ar
rived at this conclusion after having
had over twenty years actual exper-
fence in paying the bills. and I can
hardly ask for better proof than that.
When overhead expense is consider
ed it will be found that for the past
year or two the dealers who have
sold a quality, rich Matted Milk for 10
cents, have in reality lost money, con-
| sequently a raise in price of this COM
modify to Is cents is the most 1usti-
fable thing in the world, not only
4 justifiable but necessary. We had one
other alternative-that was to cut the
quality and knowing from 20 years
| experience that the trade demands the
| best, we concluded not to cut the
quality. u
We wish to ask If the raise we have
made is not as essential to the proper
| operation of our business as a raise
in the price of sugar. syrups, daily
newspapers. and newspaper advertis-
ing, ETC.? All these things are done
nish the public with the drinks it de-
mands and still give them essentially
the best service possible.
| We will be glad to cooperate with
you in any way that may help you
ascertain the facts in relation to the
/ soft drink trade in Topeka or any
/ other city its size or larger. where with
a very few exceptions the price of
soft drinks is even higher than here.
j. M. BRUNT.
The State Journal has not belittIed
! the increase in ingredients that go to
make up a soda fountain drink. In
fact the article referred to by Mr..
Rrunt stated that many of the in
creases were justified and quoted
prices to that effect. The intent of
The State Journal article was to give
to the soda drinking public the bare
news that the soda fountain men of
the city had met had discussed a
raise in prices and as a result had in
creased the cost of many drinks thru
! a uniform card notice OF increases ap-
pearing the same day in all the big
down town stores.
The cost of mixing these drinks
was quoted in full and in detail in the
State Journal story. The figures were
obtained from reliable druggist cir
! cles. The result was a quotation of
the actual cost of making the drinks
and the profit to the druggist.
Mr.. Brunt, in his letter reproduced
above, gives figures to show the in
creases in soft drink costs. We have
no reason to doubt Mr.. Brunts fig
ures-no reason at all. Nevertheless
the figures in the State Journal arti-
Gle included these costs and still indi-
Gated a rather remarkable profit
The State Journal does not wish to
influence the public in protesting
against the raise in fountain prices.
The article was a statement of facts
and was brought about by the recent
meeting of the druggists in which they
agreed, as a body gathered for that
purpose. to raise prices. In carrying
cut this action they. state officers be-
lieve, violated the intent of the anti
trust laws Mr.. Brunt says there is no
Organization in Topeka. We don't
doubt that statement. But it is known
that there was a meeting and there
was an agreement. This is a matter
of just news-it affects every man.
woman and child who sits down at n
drug store soda fountain
The State Journal does not wish to
enter into a debate on the merits of
The recent soda raise. Mr.. Brunts
explanation for the increase is lust
what the public wants-and the pub
lie is entitled to. When the State
Journal raised its advertising and cir
culation rates it explained In detail
the tremendous gain in the price of
the materials that go 10 make IN a
daily newspaper The public had a
right to know why it should pay more.
The advertisers and-subscrfbers of the
r1sal rs +, -