Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-02-04
No CUT IN (.
FOOD COST
ASSURED
DISAPPOINTING
Gov e rnment investigators
Find That Prices .Wil:Re-
main. High TaI Reagust-
ment in Spring or later

Investiga lions conducted by two
government departments to deter
mine how soon and to what extent
the cost of living in the United
States, and particularly in the south,
revealed this week that the reduc-
ton of food costs may not be eS-
pected to materialize for several
months. ..-..' NJ e.
This may be disappointing news
to many who believe that now the
war was over food was going to
come tubing down. But a survey
of the general food situation shows
this belief to be an Illusion Butter
and eggs and some such food pro-
jductS have started tumbling and
some other items ON the daily table
are expected to show the same tend
ency. shortly. but the. situation IN
the two big food staples, meat and
bread around which food prices gen
orally pivot, is such that no general
sslashing declines in food Eprices lis
High Prices or Losses'
The stocks Of the two staples
around which food prices so largely
revolve are either in course of pro-
duction, such as hogs and cattle be
ing fed for market on high priced
corn, Or marketed, as has been
wheat, on the war fixed costs. They
to come the present price levels Or
near them, or else someone will have
to absorb tremendous losses. The
someone are the stock raiSers and
producers. the packers and distribu-
tors, and the government itself.
Two important conferences will
meet in Washington, this week that
will take up phases of this food
price problem. One is the meeting
of the national advisory committee
on meat and more particularly PORK
prices. The other will be the re-
United States Grain Corporation,
from conferences with Food Admin
istrator Hoover in Europe, to take
UP the wheat situation in govern
uation which government officials
here. The wheat situation, of
course. directly fixes the bread price
situation. is not forecast that
any reduction OF prices, on the two
staples viii be the oeatfanie of these,
thrown on the food policy of the
United States for the next y few
''i'i i1r Uncle Sam Loses
The prices of hogs, through the
advice and action of this committee
tion,t have held : stabilized around
seventeen and one-half cents, but
with q temporary glut in pork
there is a widespread feel
ing that pork prices should come
down. That would leave the packer
stuck with his huge supplies bought
at the fixed price. of hogs and tho
farmer with his hogs feds on high
priced corn. 1t is safe forecast that
the hog and pork prices will remain
at present levels until March at
least. 81
The wheat situation already has
been ,threshed out some in congress.
The government, is under guarantee
to buy not only all of the 1918 crop,
but the 1911 9tcrop, at $2.26 a bushel.
This years crop promises to show
"a holdover surplus in this country OF
several hundred million bushels.
The 1919 acreage is the largest in
history and promises. to DO over l
billion. bushels. That would leave
an unmanageahle surplus, almost,
especially as Argentina. Australia
India, with their SURPRISES. are now
In the market to compete at far
lower prices.
Of course. something may happen
to the present growing crop. but it
is Ea safe bet that there will be
several hundred million bushels Of.
surplus. This naturally mean that
wheat prices-and" bread prices go
with wheat-woUld come tumbling
down. leaving the government to
hold the sack.