The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-05-26
SPECULATING IN
FOOD PRODUCTS
(By the Crescent Manufacturing Co.,
Of Seattle, Wash.)

There is nothing in the food situa-
ton in this country which justiftes
historical MISUNDERSTANDING Houston,
department of agriculture, Washing
ton, II. c.
Government reports show there are
ample supplies Of raw sugar in the
| Hawaiian islands. While vessels are
scarce at present sufficient sugar is be-
| ing brought to the California refineries
| to supply ordinary current consump
| tion.
In a short time the vast fleet of
wooden vessels to be built on Puget
Sound under government contract will
furnish the necessary tonnage to sup
ply all possible demands.
| The output of food products through
out the United States is larger than
| ever before and will prove adequate to
| meet all requirements. not only for
domestic consumption. but for liberal
exports as we'll
! The mad rush to buy and store away
| a surplus of provisions which is now
| raging in Seattle, had its counterpart
in the cast but mas now subsidized. as
~ i'S"'t VI S''NH IepOI u
that of Secretary Houston and other
| investigators There Is no possibility
OF food famine in this country. 1t APP
pears to be poor speculative Judgment
! to buy food products as an investment
after the advance has occurred. The
| high prices ruling in some lines of pro-
visions are directly due to the stam-
(, pcding of the consuming public which
| is insisting upon buying in a week. a
six months supply of foodstuffs. This
| condition has made 1t possible for spec
| ulators to increase their profits enor-
mouSly at the expense of the consumer.
] And it is important to note that the
SPECTATORS proifting by these condi-
tons are not the retail grocers of this
J city. Groccrs, as a rule. do not carry
excess or speculative stocks. Their
capital is usually moderately limited
and 1t is largely used in carrying their
customers account until payday. They
depend entirely upon the daily, weekly
and monthly turn of their stocks
at Il small average margin, to pay the
expense of the service they render. and
to provide q. modest salary in the way
of net profits.
| Spectators in food products are sci
dom men who are actively engaged ir
the grocery trade. wholesale or retail
Yet the retail grocer bears the brun'
of the blame. as we'll as the financia
stress of the situation now existing il
Seattle. While to maintain his credi
he must Pay his bills within 10 days
| many of his customers expect him t,
carry for an additional 80, 60 or 90 day.
the abnormal accounts created by thei
buying of a surplus food supply to b'
stored away against an unknown AM
almost impossible contingency. I'm
less the grocers have tho courage to re
Sist this unnecessary and unusual dc
mand upon their resources, many o
them will become seriously involved.
The cash buyer as wen is likely T.
find food products at present higI
prices "A doubtful investment. The cX
traordinary demand in addition to ad
Nancing prices is stimulating unusua
volume of production and when tn
speculative buying fever has run ii
course. the enlarged production wi
continue, with an almost certain over
production and consequent lowe
| prices.
II Careful merchants, both wholcsal
| and retail. are anNiously avoiding over
| ! buying at nigh prices, realizing the re
! action must come sooner or later an