The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-10-24
RETAIL PRICES TOO HiGH.
HOOVER SAYS THAT Is MATTER
FOR PUBLIC TO CORRECT.
Food Administrator Reviews Results
OF His Work AMI Cites ReducatiOn
by Wholesalers.

ministator Hoover announced today
that, subject to cooperation from the
farmers and retailers. the corner has
now been turned in high prices for
food. He said retail prices had not
come down to conform to wholesale
reducations and that was a matter
for public sentiment to correct.
The administrators statement says:
The food administration considers
that. subject to cooperation from the
farmers and the retailers, the corner
has now been turned in high prices
and that most of the essential COM
modities should one after another be-
gin to show the reduction between
now and the end of the year. The
food administration has no control of
either the grower or his organizations
nor of the great majority of retailers.
The foundations have been laid for re-
organization of the intermediate
trades and where these reorganiza-
tions have come into force and the
trades are cooperating finely, consid-
erable results are evident in the
wholesale prices.
The current prices at which flour
Is being sold at the mill door in jute
bags vary somewhat with the locality
and freight charges on wheat. Toledo
showing the lowest prices at $40 for
first patent and $40 for second pat
ent; the highest being Buffalo at
5000 for first patent and $1O.7O for
second patent; Minneapolis being
$1,000 for first patent and s1O.46 for
second patent. This shows a large
reduction under August prices.
THE regulations on the distribution
or wheat and the manufacture of
-four were put into force the middle
of September.
THE average retail price on first
patents in 70 cities on October Is was
S13.77 or from $3.50 to SO per barrel
higher than Is warranted by the price
being demanded by millers. In other
words the retail price las not wholly
responded to the reductions made by
the millers. 1''
The bean harvest this year Is esti-
mated by the department of agricul-
ture at approximately 1000. 900
bushels In excess of last year or near
ly double last year and promises an
abundant supply. The growers as.
sociations in prominent bean produc!
ing states are holding beans for from
Is 1-2 cents to Is cents per pound
as against an average price realized
by the grower last year of eight cents
per pound.
There has been 100 per cent. in
crease in the Manchurian bean crop
and II is now estimated at 1000, 900
tons. Owing to shipping shortage,
practically the only outlet is to the
United States and these beans will
flow into the American market from
December on much below prices now
being demanded for American beans.
THE corn harvest this year is 6OO,-
100000 to 70O.00O.0O0 bushels over
last year and will be generally avail
able about the end OF November. The
price Of corn rose to $3.50 per bush
el In July and now stands at s1.9O per
bushel in Chicago. New corn is
quoted In Chicago at $1.13 per bushel
for December. and that indicates
nearly 40 per cent. drop in the
price OF corn meal when corn is gen.
orally available.
THE very large corn supply from
the new harvest. together with the
larger supplies of barley. velvet beans.
cotton seed. peanut and soy bean
meal all promises much cheaper
prices and hog and poultry feed will
enable the production of beef, poul-
try and dairy products at much lower
levels OF cost to the farmer than to-
day
~S~ ohSouy SuOWS some ten
dency toward reduction in wholesale
prices but these have not been so
far reflected In the prices quoted by
the retailer. The price OF beef at
the packers door Is IA 1-2 cents per
pound as compared with 16 cents i'm
the month OF July. while the average
retail prices of round steak in 70
cities Is 81 cents per pound against
20 cents per pound in July.
I'VE have q potato harvest Of SO
per cent. I'm excess OF the crop last
year. The price at the loading points
varies from $3.50 to 80 cents per 100
pounds The price. which is
somewhat higher than at this period
ll laf n.