Norwich bulletin., 1917-02-26

Nv York, Feb. 25-Enormous in- crease in the exportation of staple ar tides of food. without a correspond lng increase in production and lack of intelligent economy in buying py housewives. are ascribed by the de- partment of health of this city, in report Issued tonight. as the cnie1 reasons for steadily rising prices.
 The department declared there does not appear to be any sudden or re- gently developed emergency in the Iooo situation in this oity." although there has been serious rtoting In various parts Of the city.
 While the report recites there is obviously less dependency and real need than has been common for many years pastr 1t also sayss
 Jeopardizss Health.
 'sIt is apparent that unless the pres- ant high prices of food are reduced or controlled, or as an alternative the income of families which now madn- tain themselves on $500 year or less Is increased by raise of wages or 2 through p@fief agencies there will be n constantly fnceasfng number of peo- pie whose health will be jeopardized bv their inability to buy sufficiently \ aourishing food at the present prices
 Eivfnq Below Food Standard.
 No financial aid from the city could ameliorate conditions, 1t was said. but GXtGnSlO0 tenn and the teaching Of intelligent buying twill go far to remedy such hardships as now exists in families which are living below food
 'The well-to-do may contribqe considerably in the reduction of the hiRn prices of food" the report de- clared, s-by altering habits of careless ness and extravaeance dn their
 Enaruneus Exports,
 Figures are presented to show that increase ses in exports of staple goods have sranged from 36 per cent. in the case of mutton. to 1.347 per cent in the case of cheese. Enough milk. In condensed form. was exported from the United States during the past year to supply this city for two years, according to the report.
 Nc Hoarding of Foodstuffs.
 SThe amount of perishable food held in cold storage plants in this city, Is not unusual nor Is it more than If the emergencies of weather and of freight delivery from distance. the department of health says. The figures do not indicate that there is food for speculative purposes in this eity.''
 Retailers are making no more than reasonable profit" it is said. and represents the almdst inevitable cost
 Tn s73 families investigated wages were found to be less than they were a year ago and in 2.35s families wages were the same or higher than they were a year ago. In about 10 per cent. of the families more members FFe at work than there were last year. In 594 families in which unempioy- ment was found it was due to sick ness or physical unf1tness. In 1922 UV2 want: in SIS there seemed to be need of assistance and of the latter 373 were receiving sid from relief agencies or friends. The report continues:
 Little Judgment Exercised.
 "A close aoaIysfs of the food bought clear that the selection of food is rather from habit and racial cus- tom thar by discrimination or intelh- gent choice and the purchaser does not take advantage even of such economies as are possible. As for instance, a family upon a $1O a week budget is found to indulge in butter at 4S cents a pound when the same food value and better quality can be obtained from oleomargarine at 25 to 30 cents a pound. Potatoes at s cents, onions at 10 cents a pound, are extravagances. when they may easily be replaced in food value by cornmeal, rice and beans of smaller amounts and less cost. In one tn- stance a family of eight on a budget of SIS a week was founr indu1gfng in the luxury Of imported Italian cheese at S1 a pound"
 The report urged, in conclusion, sup port of the bills now before the state legislature. which would permit the sale and distribution in New York city. of skim milk and remove the present restrictions upon the sale of so-called bob veal.
 No One ia Going to Starve.
 sNo one Is going to starve." said Governor Whitman in statement fs- sued today, '-and it is foolish to assert that anyone has to- The people have simply got to eat what they can af- ford to eat. So far as have been able to see. the situation is really local one. While prices are ua- questfonab1y high everywhere. found no condition in Buffalo or Rochester last week resembling the one in New York;
 Housewives who attended a mass meeting of the Mothers Anti-High