The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-30
FOOD AS CHEAP
IN BELGIUM AS
IN RICHMOND
Sanborn Sees no Prospect of
Decline In Prices Of. Essen
tial Commodities.
BY WILLIAM R. sANeoRN


In a letter written at Brussels. Bel.
gum. and dated April 10th. we find a
pen picture OF conditions that are sur.
pIlsinsiy optimistic, and a story of
ABUNDANT food supplies that makes
pleasant reading. The writer, ]. Ralph
Flckeli, or Chicago, is a close observer
and crossed over to learn of actual
conditions as to food supplies and
prices IN the countries which suffered
most IN the combat Mr.. PickelI :s a
member of large Chicago grain firm
ana his letters from abroad are printed
Ii The Rosenbaum Review, which is
devoted to tho market and exporting
interests.
Bread at three cents per pound
would look very cheap in any Ameri-
Can city and that was the price per
pound In Brussels in April, according
10 Mr. PickeA. who purchased and
weighed ii. On the same date butter
was selling az IS cents per pound, or
ABOUT the same as in Richmond, also
mix was retailing at 10 cents per
quart, or at the price charged in Chi
cago ut this time, now that the milk
drivers strike is settled. 1t is stated
that food is much cheaper in Brussels
than In England or France, and that
the merchants in all lines are very
ousy. They are not getting back to
business IN Belgium. they are doing
business now"
II seems, too, that the first class
restaurant patronized by the Chicago
an makes speciality of serving 60
cent and 80 cent meals which are at
least satisfying. You can't beat that
Tor from soup to nuts" in this en- !
TIRE country. With mutton chops at |
90 cents. dressed chickens at 40 cents |
and sausage at % cents per pound !
they are doing fairly well in Belgium, |
Tor prices at the capital should be
as high as anywhere in that country. I
Are We Being Misinformed7
AFTER due Investigation in England, |
France and Belgium Mr.. Pickell says: |
i am beginning to think now that |
we have been mislead officially. 1t is |
essential that we should know the /
truth because food prices the world
over are higher today than they
should be, and they are being
held up by pictures of famine in Eu-
rope. It may be here; am not say
ing it isn't. But it's never where
am, and am looking for 1t. / am
sincerely hoping that some one who
is starving will soon show up, or some
one who even looks hungry" In con-
clusion the writer says: Brussels is
busy; food prices are relatively low
and there can be no question about
quantity. There is plenty of every
thing from good wheat bread to straw
berries and new peaches, with prices
falling every day. Brussels is a happy
revelation; the genius Of reconstruc-
ton
So much for Belgium. We do know
however, that there is necessarily
great want in Central Europe in most
Of the warstricken districts; the tes-
timony is too abundant for doubt.
Food Prices Still Advancing
So far as American markets are
concerned we fail to find any down
ward tendency in the price of food
staples, nor indeed in anything in
the line of household supplies. Even
soap and starches are higher than 80
days ago, because, as the soap makers
tell us, fats, oils and chemicals enter
Ing into soap manufacture are higher
Coffees are still on the upward grade
and an advance OF two cents per
pound on some well known brands of
package coffee have been made since
our article in relation to coffee was
printed a short time ago. This means
higher green coffees to the roasters
for spot supplies,
though many anticipate their wants
Tor weeks or months in advance and
are thus in position to supply their
trade at little better price, if they
care to.
Cheese and canned milk are higher,
light in the heart of the season when
hey ordinarily decline. June cheese
Is usually stored by jobbers because
t is generally the most advantageous
month in which to buy and because
June cheese Is rich and will have time
10 ripen for fall and winter trade.
6ut instead of decline on next
months contracts there Is a slight
advance in the price and all cheese is
firmly held in all markets. Cheese,