The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-10-18

Mayor Magney's special committee
on the investigation of Food Hogs and
Profiteers made what was really its
first formal report, Thursday evening,
October 8. 1t covered comparative
wholesale prices on certain articles in
St. Paul, MINNEAPOLIS and Duluth, as
shown by price lists of October 2.
The report was given out to the
daily papers Friday morning, the
News Tribune ignored the report en-
tirely. The Herald did not run it Fri
day but did print an emasculated ver-
sion on Saturday, October IL.
There is a growing feeling, both on
the part of this municipal committee
and the general public, that the daily
papers think this "foolishness on
Che part of the public has gone far
enough and that they will help smother
it so far as their columns are con-
cerned, entirely regardless Of the fact
that this entire matter is one of KEEN
est interest and conrern to every per-
son in Duluth. The report, as pre-
sented, said:
"These prices are taken from the
daily produce reports of the Twin City
papers, made by the Board of Trade
of st. Paul and Minneapolis quota
tions. The Duluth figures are taken
from the price lists of Fitzsimmons-
Palmer Co., KnudseH Fruit Co., and
the Stacy Merrill Fruit Co., as reported
and published in the Duluth Herald.
The poultry quotations are furnished
by the Bridgman-Russell company.
"The units compared are the same
80 far as it is possible to ascertain
from the published descriptions, and
the figures are submitted as a fair
basis of comparison.
"Railroad rates have been investi-
gated and proper allowance made for
the difference between the production
points to the Twin Cities and to Du-
futh. Tn many cases, the rates to- the
Twin Cities and Duluth are the same,
especially from the East and the West
and, in some instances, from the South.
"It may he stated that on ship
ments from New Orleans, Missouri and
illinois, the railroad differences, so far
as affecting prices, are almost negli-
.gible. The rate on fruit from Cali
fornia and Florida is the same. The
rate on vegetables from Indiana and
New Jersey is the same. The rates
.on fruit from Michigan and New Jer-
sey are the same.
GA list of comparative freight rates
to the Twin Cities and Duluth, which
have been in force since June 25, 1918,
is herewith submitted. On long hauls,
we are Informed, the icing charges for
fruits are the same"
The report then gives long list Of
articles with comparative prices, viz:
Sweet potatoes-Jersev hammer: st.
Paul, 40 so; Minneapolis, 1925; Du-
1uth. 1925.
With the same freight rates. the Du-
luth price is 80 per cent higher than
st. Parl End A per cent higher than
Minneapolis.
Beets-bushel of so lbs: st. Paul,
40 100: Minneapolis, 1910: Duluth,
Fitzsimmons- Palmer, $1.12h; Stacy
Merrill. $125.
This is from 60 to 78 per cent high
er than Wholesale prices In the Twin
Cities, with freight rates the same
from Colorado and. presumably, any
other source of supply.
Rutabsgas Of SO lbs.: st.
Paul, so 90; Duluth, Fitzsimmons-
Palmer, 81. 80; the Knudsen Fruit Co.,
$1.04.
Taking the Fitzsimmons Palmer
price. 81 80 it is A per cent higher
in Duluth with railroad rates the same.
Carrots-bushel of As lbs: St. Paul,
81. 90; Duluth, Fitzsimmons-P Palmer,
ses1 .35; Stacy-Merrill, 81. 12A to $1.23.
The first Duluth quotation is s5 per
cent higher than the St. Paul price
and the second ranges from 121a to 2S
per cent more.
Cauliflower-per bushel: st. Paul,
It's; Duluth. Knudsen Fruit Co.,
So. 90. the Duluth price being IA per
cent higher than that Of st. Paul.
Cabbage-red, per dozen: st. Paul,
500; Duluth, Fitzsimmons Palmer,
:$125-a discrimination against Duluth
of Is per cent.
Cranberries-Cape Cod, per barrel:
st. Paul and Minneapolis, $10.5O; Du-
'luth, Knudsen Fruit Co., $11.50. The
freight rates are Identical yet Duluth
retailers paid 91a per cent more on
October g for their cranberries.
cantaloupes- Honey Dew, per crate: