New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-08
Many New Districts An
swering First Appeal
Made by New York
Smells Arrive To-day
Perkins Promises to Begin
His Hunt for Poverty
on East Side

After a survey Of retail stores in
various parts OF the city, Joseph
Hartigan, Commissioner Of Weights
and Measures, gave out this informa-
ton last night for the guidance of con-
sumers:
There is no need Of paying more than
FIVE cents a pound for potatoes.
Yellow onions can be sold at a fair
profit for nine cents pound.
Carrots can be sold at from four to
five cents a pound.
Parsnips are scarce, but can be sold
for four cents pound.
Old cabbage is virtually out OF the
market. New cabbage is soft and sells
for twelve to fifteen cents a head.
Many Potatoes Received
"Never in the history of New YORK
City, according to reports received from
the wholesale and retail trade, have so
many potatoes been received from all
parts Of the country" said Commits
sioner Hartigan. Heretofore dealers
have relied upon this state, Maine,
Virginia. and Bermuda for potatoes.
Carloads are now arriving from WIS
cousin, Idaho, Oregon, Georgia and
South Carolina. These potatoes can
be sold for five cents, and are GOOD,
wholesome quality, too"
Appeals sent out when New York was
suffering from artificial prices have
caused the city TO become shipping
point for growers and commission men
who never before sought this market.
Letters and kilograms from these ac,
cording 10 the Commissioner. indicated
that if there was an official channel
through which producers might be put
in touch with dealers, the people OF
New York would never again be at the
mercy of food manipulators.
Such an agency, he added, could Keep
the consumers and dealers Informed
ss 20 crop conditions, scarcity of food
stufTs and average wholesale and re-
tail prices.
Commenting on the sharp decline in
the price of potatoes and onions, the
Commissioner said "The unprece-
denied drop in prices of onions. from
eighteen TO nine cents pound, ana
potatoes. from twelve 20 five and six
cents. shows the advantage taken OF
consumers b. wholesale dealers whose
connections gave them virtual
corner
Two more carloads of Pacific Coast
.melts- 900 pounds will arrive to
day. 10 be sold by the Mayors Food
Committee. All day yesterday John W.
McGrath, secretary to George W. Per
kins, wrote down telephone orders for
the fish. Last night he announced that
the entire consignment was practically
sold. The smells will be on sale at
more than one hundred stores in the
greater city at not more than six cents
pound.
Poultry Market Up
The live poultry was slightly higher
Yesterday. and there was slightly in
creased demand, which would have been
greater. commission men said, had II
not been for the activity of the pickets
Of the boycotters. The advance was
attributed, in large measure. TO the cell
cbration of the Jewish feast of Purim
to-day.
"a Jewish feast without chicken
would be like Christmas dinner without
turkey" said a commission merchant.
While wholesale dealers were denying
that there had been or would DC any
great increase in canned fruits. some
retail stores added from one 10 two
cents can. The wholesalers admitted
that the prices would be higher than
the lowest Of last year. and attributed
the increase to the higher cost of labor
and tin.
Accompanied by a committee Of the
| Mothers Anti-High Price League,
George W. Perkins, chairman Of the
Mayors Food Committee. will go
through the East Side to-day to look
for the poverty talked about by the or
ganization.
"Mr. Perkins says he has heard so
many stories Of people starving TO
death that he wants to get at the facts.
We will take him anywhere he wishes
20 go" said Mrs. Jacob Panken. who
declared that five thousand grocers had
decided not to sell beans. rice and hon.
| my because they feared a boycott Of
their stores by women customers.