The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1919-11-01
BULWARK AGAINST
WINTER SHORTAGE
Some Facts About Cold Storage
and the Charges of ManipuIa-
ton and ExorbItant Prices.

and the Charges OF ManIpuIa-
ton and Exorbltant Prices.
Once again the subject of cold stor-
age has come into the limelight OF pub
lie attention; and this time in connec-
ton with the nationwide search after
the cause for the high cost of living.
There can be no argument in behalf
of boarding and holding back food sup
plies for speculative profits. But this
is a matter quite apart from the true
and legitimate purpose of cold stor-
age; and unfortunately. because or
the much agitation and damaging pub
licity that have centered about the
subject from time to time, the real
service performing function of cold
storage has been largely obscured.
Laying In Winter Stocks.
City-wise people, and even country
wise people, have long since forgotten,
amidst the conveniences Of modern
life, that there was time in the his
tory Of our country when 'laying in
winters stock" devolved upon each
household individually. Today, one
does not even need to remember that
eggs are not an all-year-around prod
uct; that butter is produced in scant
amount in the winter, and cheese like
wise. Not few would be completely
surprised to know that even meat pro-
ductiOn has it's Seasons of scarcity.
The buyer for the household in these
days simply goes to the store, any day
in the year, expecting to find these
and similar commodities on the mar
ket.
Are storages overstocked7
However we are told that storage
stocks of certain commodities are at
the present above the normal as COM
pared with this time last year. 1t has
been computed that the combined ex-
cess of a number of important foods
in cold and dry storage amount to -
per cent. While ON the face of it this
looks like undue boarding Of reserves,
yet it must be remembered that COM
PARSONS with last year are altogether
Demands for great
of commodities have increased
Our exports for June
were double what they were year
ago, and 40 per cent Of these exports
were fOOdstuffs.
Moreover, our reserves last year
were Inadequate. Those who recall
some of the extraordinary prices of
certain foods last winter and spring
know precisely what it means to have
too small holdings in storage. That
we are better prepared for next winter
than we were for last should not be
used as the basis of wholesale con-
demnation Of our methods of providing
for our future wants.
How Prices Are Determined.
Cold storage has been criticised Sc
verely as an fundamentally that lends |
itself easily to the taking of unfair |
profits. Without a question it's ability |
to extOrt has been grossly exaggerat |
ed. Storage warehouses are scattered
all portions Of the United
States and their contents are owned
by thousands of competing firms and
individuals. About half the storage |
space in the country consists of public
q roll hot fo ,ho
ever wants lit, either for small lots or
Dig ones. Tabulated figures Of the
amounts in storage are gathered and
disseminated by the government
monthly; and the amounts in holding
rom month to month figured against
What should normally be in storage
Turing thOsemOnthS Cor the estimated
lemand) form the basis for prices.
Some Figures on Profits.
But the best information as to
'rofits in the cold storage business
onsists Of actual figures, and such
re published regularly by the federal
department. Of Agriculture. These
A>O"b AVA AAH5tdASC, lAdL III tlC SCdSOu
t 1915-1916, butter stored in June and [
uly at an average of 1854 cents a
ound, sold from November to March
t an average Of 27.45 cents a pound,
living gross profit of O.S1 cents a {
ound, or scarcely enough to pay for
forage and nothing for net profit or
lterest on investment. In 1916-1917 4.
he gross profit was 7.79 cents a !
ound, and in 1917-1918 it was $50
ents. These gross amounts must
over storage charges and interest on
ne money tied up for several months
efore the net profits are arrived at.
Is apparent from these figures that
:oring Of foods is an uphill and down q
Ill business with it's fat and lean
ears, and affords an average profit |,
hlch is not excessive in view of the :
SKIS that are run. Figures on storage 4
,gs for 1915-1916 show a net loss of o
2 cents dozen; for 1916-1917, an Il
usually prosperous year, the net v
'ofits were 5.54 cents a dozen; and c
r 1917-1918 there was net loss of $
II cents q dozen. IW
Extravagant charges of manipula- n
'n and control Of prices are prepos- C.
rously absurd in view Of these sea- Il
ms OF losses. The ups and down of Q
0fits simply indicate the hazards of :.
e game; for the best laid plans of Ii
en- can not foresee when a warm c
ell may come which will start the ii