The Red Cloud chief., 1917-10-25
ENDS HIGH PRICES
HOOVER DECLARES "coRNER
HAS BEEN TURNED IN HIGH
COST OF FOOD"
PUTS BLAME ON RETAILERS
Asserts Wholesale Prices Are Much
Lower Now Than Year Ago and
Urges Pressure on Dealers
and Farmers.

NuSIluptOn, OCt. ZU.-FOOu AuInln-
istrator Hoover announced on Thurs
day that the corner has been turned
In high prices"
He has gone as far as he can I'm
price reduction, he says, and assails
the retailers for not doing their part.
The next congress will proabbly be
asked to give him power to force the
retailers to abstain from profiteerlng.
Mr.. Hoover says:
Most of the essential commodities
should, one after another, continue to
show reductions between now and the
end Of the year. The food admins
traitor has no control of either the
grower or his organizations, nor of the
great majority OF retailers.
THE distribution chain lying be-
tween the warehouse, wholesalers,
commission men and manufacturers of
prime commodities has required
great deal Of study and development
for Its proper regulation, and these
regulations are coming into force
now"
Mr.. Hoover said he had every hope
the retailers will cooperate, as the
farmers and other food handlers are
cooperating, to feed the nation and
the allies Mt reasonable prices. Every
body along the line down to the re-
taller. he declared. already Is helping.
But retail prices do not by any means
vefiect the wholesale prices.
He added:
1t Is necessary to secure large
production, to maintain fair and re-
munerative prices to the producers.
While their expenses have increased
during the past year, the prices de-
manded for certain commodities are
not warranted. The intermediate han
ding trades are being placed under
regulation; they are cooperating well
with the food administration, and the
speculation and proflteering ere now
generally thing Of the past.
THE retailers need the cooperation
Of consumers In reducing deliveries,
and their success In all measures will
rest largely upon the support they re-
ceive from local authorities"
Summarized, his review follows:
Flour.-The current prices Mt which
hour Is sold at the mill In jute bags
vary with the locality and freight
charges on wheat, Toledo showing the
lowest prices at $40 for first patent
and $9.70 for second patent; the high
est being Buffalo, at $1O.7O for
first patent and $1O.7O for second
patent. The average retail price on
first patents In 100 cities on October
13 was $13.77, or from $1.5O to So per
barrel higher than Is warranted by
the price being paid to the millers.
The retail price has not responded
to millers' reductions.
Beans.-The bean harvest ia esti-
mated by the department of agricul-
ture at approximately 100000, 900
bushels In excess of last year. The
growers associations are holding
beans at from 1874 to Is cents per
pound, as against an average price last
year of 8 cents. There has been 100
per cent increase In the Manchurian
bean crop and II Is now estimated at
100000 tons. Owing to shipping
shortage practically the only outlet is
to the United States, and these beans
will flow into the American market
from December much below the prices
now being demanded.
: Corn.-The harvest this year is 6OO,-
O00, 900 to 100000 900 bushels over last
year, and will be generally available
about the end Of November. The price
stands at $1.9O In Chicago. New corn
ts quoted In Chicago at $1.13 for De-
cember and indicates a 40 per cent
drop In the price Of cornmeal.
: Potatoes.-The harvest is 80 per
cent in excess of last year. The price
at the leading points varies from 81 80
TO $3.50 per 100 pounds. 1t is higher
than at this period last year and Is
due to tendency on the part of the
producer to hold for higher prices, and
to the temporary inability of the rail-
roads to furnish cars.
Sugar.-Beet sugar prices are being
controlled by the manufacturers on a
basis that should reach the retailer
from s to S1s cents per pound. A TEN.
pOrary shortage In the Northeastern
states gives no warrant for advances
by retailers to over o cents.
Beef.-Beef already shows some
tendency toward reduction In whole
sale prices, but these have not been
so far reflected by the retailer The
price Of beef at the packers door is
IAN cents per pound, as compared
with 10 cents In July. But the aver
age retail price of round steak In 796
cities is 81 cents per pound, against 27
cents in July.