The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-08-12
WAR DEPT. PRICES
TO PUBLIC HIGHER
THAN GROCERS
NOW CHARGE
Quotations on Canned Foods, PLUS
Postage Costs, Show Retailers
Underseiiing the Government,
Which Expects No Profit.
SHOULD BE BOON TO BUSINESS
Whom Analysed, Consumers viii
Realize Grocery Trade 10 Not Pro-
fiteering-Saie Begins Aug. 10
Through p. O. Dept.

The Interstate Grocer has received
from the War Department the price
list giving the prices at which it will
sell the surplus supplies to the con-
Stunning public, and from compari-
son Of these costs, plus the postage,
with prices prevailing In retail gro
Gerry stores, the venture promises to
be boon to the trade in the way Of
demonstrating that the retailers are
not proflteering. In other words,
while the sale at the cost of the gov
eminent was at first deemed de-
cided injury to the trade 1t now
looks as though the consumers will
pay more than the retailer Is asking
that the latter are making a profit
and the Government Is selling at
cost.
According to the governments
plan Of sale, the consumer will have
to buy in original cases or cartons
and will be compelled to pay the par
Gel postage rate from the warehouse
where the goods are stored. Even
though consumer purchaser in ST
Louis can get her wants supplied in
this city the cost of the goods plus
the postage for the local zone, which
is the lowest, will be in excess Of the
prevailing prices in many Of the fe-
tail grocery stores OF this city. Where
the consumer is located in the first.
second, third or other zone from the
point of shipment the cost viii be
CORRESPONDENCE higher.
As an illustration. No. baked
beans, "a cans to case, weigh IS
pounds. These are offered at S1.56
a dozen or 1912 a case. The postage
in the local zone would cost &c
which would make the case cost $3.50
or at the rate of s1.70 dozen or
IA 10 cents can. Retailers every
where are satisfied to sell at 1915
cents. II the buyer should be in the
first or second zone the additional
postage would be % cents or 1851
case, $3.50 dozen or 10 cents q can.
other Interesting Computations.
No. 2 corn, two dozen, weighing AZ
pounds, are offered at S1.44 per dozen
or Sass case. The postage in the
local zone would be 26 cents, thus
making the case cost S3.14, $1.57 per
dozen or 13 cents can. II the case
Is shipped to a consumer in the first
or second zone the additional post
age cost would be 20 cents case or
1884 The cost per dozen and can
would therefore be $1.68 and IA cents
respectively.
No. tomatoes weighing ~ pounds
Ito case Of two dozen, are quoted by
the government to the consumer at
s1.32 per dozen or 1854 case. The
postage In the local zone is rs cents
the housewife would be s1.45 = dozen
In ha Ayc$
the extra postage would amount to
a case, $1.55 a dozen and 13 cents a
can. If they were shipped to the
third zone the case would cost 1854
while in the fourth zone the cost, in
Guiding postage, would be S4.32
case.
No. 8 tomatoes, two dozen, weigh
6S pounds and are quoted at $3.50
per dozen or $3.50 a case. By special
dispensation Of the Interstate Com
MERGE Commission the War Depart
ment and the Post Office Department
has arranged to ship more than so
pound limit. The postage in the local
zone would cost 80 cents making the
cost per case for No. 8 tomatoes
1899, $500 per dozen or II cents
can. In the first and secon1 zones,
where the postage rate is the same,
the additional postage would cost
33c, so that the consumer would be
compelled to pay s4.32 per case or
at the rate of s2.16 dozen or IL
cents a can.
Postage Rates Burdensome.
OF course, relatively few people
will be so situated that they will be
in the local zone. Aside from this,
none of the government warehouses
where the food is stored. have COM