The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-07
Cost Figures Show Big Profits
to the PrOprietOrs.
ALL MIXED DRINKS ARE UP
1142-7 Per Cent Made on n
Matted Milk Now.
Cards Announcing Raise All
Printed at Same Place.
What's the idea ?"

What's the idea ?"
A Topekan. much affected by the
heat, had, after seeking out his fav-
orite refreshment fountain of other
summers. finished consuming a drink
that, in days gone by. had been stand
ardized by the price of five cents.
This time the boy behind the foun-
tain showed forth a check for, ten
cents. Again the Topekan indicated
the check and repeated:
What's the idea"
The soda squirt shrugged his
shoulders and pointed to a card on the
shining mirror at his back wherein
the drink was marked up at the figure
on the check.
That cards our orders" he said.
A survey of the other summer re-
freshment fountains. including the
largest In the city and those that do
Inc bulk of the Kansas avenue bust
ness. disclosed the fact that the ma
Jority OF other proprietors are raising
prices and without any apparent rea-
son, other than the fact that practi-
calIy every other commodity the con-
sumner pays for has gone up summer
Te1reshment men have placed in ef-
lect sweeping increases in the price
or fountain drinks. The increases were
decided upon at a recent meeting of
the fountain owners. Each man
agreed to boost his prices in con-
lormity with the other. Cards. upon
which the new prices were set forth
We're ordered printed at the Jones K
Birch printing establishment and were
placed at a conspicuous point on all
fountains
Ii is known that several proprietors
attending the meeting were not en-
thuSiRstic about the increase. The
lAct of the matter is the raise ia prices
Wa the result of two years effort ON
thc part of certain owners. Laer year
= similar attempt was made. but fail
ed because several fountain men re-
fused to observe the increase.
The increased prices inaugurate1 by
the local combine" affect eleven Of
the most popular drinks. The our
ain men claim they cannot sell for
less: that a the old prices they would
be losing money.
How Profits Rise.
UUder the increase the price of
matted milk, plain, has been raised
frcm 10 to - cents. Tic state jour
nal has obtained copies 81 the formula
useC by all soda fountains that mix
so called standard" matted lnilIcs. 1t
shows the following ingrsd ent5 are
used and gives the price Of each:
quantity as follows.
one ounce matted milk. .........1H cents.
laNor: -..'....'.-'.--'.---- IA cents
Mir. ice and overhead. .........2 cents
Profit under old price of 10 cents,
AZ 81 per cent.
Profit under new price, ia 2-7 per
cent
The price of an egg matted milk has
been raised to 20 cents. The cost of
making an egg matted, because of the
fact eggs are 35 cents dozen, neces-
states the adding of a fraction less
than three cents to the total cost of
a plain matted. This brings the total
cost of an egg matted to 10 cents.
This is the result:
Profit under old price (15 cents)
30 per cent.
Profit under new price go cents),
: 90 per cent.
Extra coca colas under the com
lines policy have been increased
from five to ten cents. An extra coca
cola, by way of explanation, is "dou-
bile coke" In a single coke" the
amount of coca cola flavor used costs
Y cents. Therefore a double coke"
shows the following cost to the foun-
tain men:
Coca cola rants
Carbonnted water. overhead and eeH'''
Ice ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. y cents.
Profit Under new price, nearly zoo
per cent,
The price of a mixed Iime-a lime
and coca cola for instance has been
II cents. One-half a lime is used
ir such drink. The cost:
on 1ee ounce Coca cooiia .1 cents cents
Carbonated water and ice. z CENTS.
overhead ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. cent
Profit under new price, nearly 200
per cent.
Milk Shakes Up, Too.
The new policy increases mill,
shakes from to 10 cents. The cost:
Milk ice and overhead. ..:.::::i cents cents
Profit under new price, nearly zoo
per cent.
Mixed drinks. coca cola and cher
ry for example, are increased from
to 10 cents. The cost:
Coca cola syrup ..........11% cents
Carbonated water overhead, snt cent
Ice --.'--....-.-..-.... u cent.
Profit under new price, 223 y pei
cent.
Smoothes are included in the ad.
vance from "5 to 10" They cost:
syrup. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. cents
Carbonated water and ice. ..... II cent
Overhead. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. IL cent
Total cents
Profit nearly 200 per cent.
The price of milk chocolates was
also boosted. The formula copies
is used in the mixture is justified as
the total cost is cents, counting
overhead. The new price inaugurateC
is 10 cents. The price of nut or mixed
sundaes. as increased to Is cents, is
also shown to be justifiable. Tn.