The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-05-08
BY JUDsON C. WELLIVE

LONDON, May s.-The prices OF
foods in the United Kingdom have
now approximately doubled since the
beginning OF the war. The Statist
index figure shows that, assuming
that the weighted average OF these
prices on June 30, 1914, was 100, It
had increased by March 81, 1917, to
194.6. For the cities and large towns
Indeed the figure on March 81, 1911,
was 100, while for the country and
the villages II was 100.
This is not equivalent to saying
that the cost OF supplying the table
Of the average British household has
substantially doubled. On the other
hand, the probabilities are that by
reason OF economy In the Quantities
used and the substitution OF cheaper
articles for dear ones, the general in
crease 10 nearer to 80 than to 100 per
cent. The Statist points out that the
omission OF eggs, the substitution of
margarine for butter, and q reduction
OF half in the consumption OF sugar,
and fish would have kept the index
figure for q particular family down
to ISL, instead of 1o4.5.
Excepting only rent, substantially
everything the family requires costs
more now than when the war opened
II clothing. fuel. rent, and, in fact,
all the necessaries Of living be in.
cIuded IN the computation along with
food, the Statist finds that the in
crease has been 1856 per cent.
Shortage Increasingly Serious.
The one really alarming feature OF
the situation concerns food For q
long time the authorities have been
desperately endeavoring to impress
the public with the fact that there
really is a shortage OF food, and that
that shortage is likely to be much
more serious between now and the on
coming of the new harvest. On only
two days in each week are potatoe.
permitted to be served at public eat
ing houses. Aside from appeals tC
the people to conserve the supplies
no effort has been made to prevent
families serving particular articles IL
their homes.
Tuesday Is meatless day in London
and wednesday throughout the res
Of the country. The public has beer
more considerable about economiZint
in meat than in some other directions
The great majority OF middle clas
people, and substantially eyeryood,
of the upper class, are making In
creasing efforts to live with the lens
possible amount OF food, especially al
those foods which are scarce and yer!
essential. The effort to substitute fisl
/ for meat has not been so successful
as was expected earlier, becaue tn,
price of fish advanced rapidly as tn
as was expected earlier. because tn
losses of fishing vessels by subma
Tines and through their withdraw
for other service have been so grea
as seriously to restrict the fish supply
Among people who have attempted L
the greatest possible extent. as a mat
ter OF patriotism, to substitute fish 70
meat, Il Is widely observed that tn
appetite for FISH flags after a littl
time and that meat IA craved as neve
before.
Minimum Prices Cover Year,.
A number of weeks ago the premie
in his great speech on the food an
shipping and general Industrial situs
ton announced the governments ID
termination to guarantee certain mir
imum prices for agricultural product
for a term OF years The object wa
to induce larger production and to In
sure that production for q consider
able time. The prices that were gual
anteed were not nearly so high a
current market prices, but the encoui
agement to increase production cor
sisted in the fact that guarantee