New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-25

more expensive food, notably potatoes,
would be in every home In New York
City tomorrow night. The circulars
will be distributed through the school
children. He took sharp issue with
Joseph Hartigan, Commissioner of
Weights and Measures, who asserts
that he can purchase all the potatoes
he wants for s9.25 bushel.
Perkins Contradicts H,rtigan
Il wish you would say that if Mr.
uartigAn would come down 10 earth
and 60 less talking on matters Of which
he knows nothing he could make him
self a little more helpful" said Mr..
Perkins. at rs ali nonsense TO say
that potatoes can be bought for 1925
a bushel, delivered in New York City.
Our potato crop last year was only 65
per cent of normal, and we exported
100000 bushels. a million bushels
more than We exported the year before.
IN. Hartigan simply cannot make good
on what he says. We have been ship
Ping enormous food supplies abroad at
big prices. and in consequence we are
short on certain articles"
Mr.. Perkins said he wanted TO in
dorse, however. what the Governor had
aaid in regard 10 the exsggeration Of
I
question but that there was & scarcity
of certain food and a consequent rise
in price, he pointed out that many peo-
pie we're not using sensible substitutes,
rice in particular.
eve have been studying the food sit
uation for the last three years" said
Mr.. Perkins, "and here in the city we
have ourselves largely to blame for
the present situation. Just fancy the
Mayor Of the city yesterday receiving
half dozen kilograms from various
cities inclosing offers Of food, and yet
there was not one single department %
which the Mayor could send these tel.
agrams. The necessity for a market
department certainly never was more
pronounced"
Hartigan Gives Figures
Commissioner Hartigan yesterday sf.
ternoon produced long list Of figures
showing comparative prices Of meats
fish and vegetables for this and former
years. The figures compiled By experts
in his Office indicated that FISH and
meat had gone up from 10 70 % per
cent, on the average, since the begin.
ming OF the war, while potatoes had
shot up from 100 to 700 per cent since
year ago.
an spite OF this enormous boosting
in prices" said Commissioner Hsrti-
gan. "the fact remains that the receipts
of foods of all sorts in New York City
have increased during the last three
years in q greater proportion than the
population. Food receipts in New York
City are practically normal st present.
There was slight drop in onions
during the day. Bags of 100 pounds
we're quoted at 81 70 $3.50 wholesale.
The top prize last week was sl5. Ber-
muds onions we're reported lower than
domestic, being quoted at $3.50 crate
weighing IS pounds.
Mr. Hartigan said that one dealer
had reported that wholesalers could sell
onions for s. a 100-pound bag whole
sale and make money.
Price Of Potatoes
White potatoes were $40 10 $3.50 for
$50 pounds Wholesale yesterday. A
year ago the same quantity sold whole
sale for $3.50 to 81. Potatoes sold re-
tail a year ago for TO 4 cents 8
pound. Yesterday the price was TO 8
cents. A basket of sweet potatoes,
weighing eighty-one pounds, sold yes
terdsy wholesale for 81 TO 81. A year
ago the price was 70 cents TO 81. The
retail price yesterday was 6 cents q