Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-28
MU[T|-EYED TUBER
To TAKE A SLUMP
IS OTTAWA. HOPE
DECLINE QUOTED IN EAST MAY
REACH WESTERN MARKETS
WITHIN FEW DAYS, LOCAL
DEALERS ANNOUNCE.

its ehect on the market ana ten
dency toward lower prices in veg
etabes was reported by Ottawa mer.
chants today, altho the drop has not
become evident here.
Spectators who have large stores
of potatoes and other vegetables.
warned by the threats of boycott
are preparing to release their stores.
according to local merchants and al
tho there may be no considerable drop
In price for several days. there Is lit
tie Indication of further raises.
Prices Drop in East.
Market quotations today indicated
market and il is expected decline
in the Chicago market. on which OF.
tawa prices are based, will follow.
Retail merchants will continue to
maintain prices on stocks now on
hand unless the Wholesale market
makes a big break. it was announc-
ed. Consumers may expect to feel
-. The benefit of lower wholesale prices
n a week or 10 days
"' A break of several dollars a barrel
pos noted in the New York market,
tn he to the arrival of several carloads
m II Florida potatoes, which were sold
cheaper than old potatoes
According to local produce dealers
and butchers, the greatest advance
recorded in meats and vegetables dur
Ing the past year was in that grade
usually purchased by the lower and
middle classes of people. compare
tive price list Of vegetables and meats
usually purchased showing the adj
vance within the past year follows.
Vegetables.
One years ago Potatoes, i5.j0c pk
Present time 75c90c PIX
One year ago Onions, SC Il, Pres
ent time l5c ID.
One year ago-Cabbage. SOC h.
Present time. 12lac h.
One year ago Sauer kraut. 6-loc
qt. Present time, 1870 at.
Meats.
One year ago Boiling beef Size
lbs Present time. l2-i5c Id.
Ono year ago Round steak, 1Sc h.
Present time, 25c h.
One year agoPicnic hams. tO.12c.
One year ago, i6lSc lb.
Tho ohoyp utotaftauc aro h,eaJ nv,
figures of four of Ottawa's leading pro
duce and meat men, and are as near
authentic as is possible. Several of
the leading produce houses are not
handling cabbage, for which there is
large demand, because of difficulty
in getting the product
Many Holding Back.
Several reasons are advanced by
the local produce men for the high
prices prevailing The first, and
what many say is the main reason, /.
Is that tens of the necessary and
much needed vegetables are being
held by commission and brokerage
firms for a higher price, in order to
take a profit. An instance was cited
when a Chicago firm recently receipt
cd for a carload of onions. After
holding the car fOrsa week without
unloading it, the firm sold the car
to another commission firm in New
York The same thing happened sew.
=, eral times. After an elapse of scv
'"eArl weeks, the Chicago firm again
lived the identical carload of on
CUPl after paying an advance of
than five hundred dollars When
Upr was unloaded, it was found
he greater portion of the pro-
Cupid,ad spoiled
in the c)ther reason offered for the high
sta,rices prevailing was the excessive
csrallrOad freightagc on carload shin
nients from the vegetable country. es.
pccially Oregon, Washington, Florida,
and Louisiana. II is principally from
these states that the winter supply of
potatoes onions and cabbage is shin. 4
ped The freightage is said to aver.
age from $3.50 to s425 per car. Be
cause of the bulk Of the vegetable
crops, IT Is not possible to load cars
to their full capacity. For instance
1t IS claimed that car whose stated
capacity is 10000 pounds, cannot be I
loaded with moro than $4,000 pounds +
of cabbage because Of the bulk, and I
lack OF weight Of that commodity.
Early Spring One Chance.
Local produce men. however, see a
ray of hope In an carly and open
spring Hundreds of farmers have OK.
pressed their intentions of raising po.
tatocs and other vegetables. The
great influx Of this crop it Is expect.
, ed will materially create a drop in
the prices Commission men claim