The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-01
AVOID A PANIC



be paid for And we must not forget
lars-as much money as America
spent in the first sixty years of its
existence. In clothing, the public is
asking for clothes that wear, with
style as a secondary consideration.
Taken as a group, the retail mer-
chants of Topeka are operating today
on lower margin of profit than those
of any other section of the country
This Is my observation after visiting
twenty-three states in A.Lerica, and
attending conventions in each one"
Small Shoe Reduction.
Shoes, one of King H. C. LIS most
loyal subjects, are not going to drop
much, in the opinion of a local dealer.
A reduction of from SO to rs cents
pair is announced on fall goods, but
a large drop on spring wear is not
forecast. Labor is too big a factor in
the building of shoes, the merchant
said. Good quality shoes are retailing
at from $3.50 to $18 in Topeka.
No Change in Bread.
Altho the wheat market has
slumped, Topeka Is not going to buy
her bread any cheaper or get more
for her money soon, as one baker sees
it. 1t was thought the weight of the
loaf might be put back to the food
administration standard, but the baker
does not see how it can be done now.
Here again labor enters in, also the
advanced costs of wrapping paper and
machinery. During the war, a one
and one-half pound loaf OF bread sold
for Is cents; now the consumer pays
the same price for an 1S-ounce loaf,
but the baker points out that he made
more money on the large loaf, made
according to the food administration
formula and with lower wages then
prevailing. than he is making now on
the small loaf.
Peak Reached in Coal Prices.
The peak in coal prices has been
reached, according to the belief of one
Topeka coal dealer, but he does not
look for lower prices until after Janu-
arg 1, or until after the supply catches
up with the demand. A few varieties
of coal may advance slightly, in the
opinion of this dealer, but fuel in gem
eral has reached its maximum prices.
Southern Kansas coal, the lowest
priced on the Topeka market, Is quoted
at $11.50 for nut and S12 for lump;
Colorado semi-anthracite at SIS and
$3.50 and Illinois at $13. Hard Goals
are off the market for the present as
far as Topeka is concerned. altho or
ders for Pennsylvania and Arkansas
are being accepted, with the latter now
quoted at $19 and $40. No guarantee
of any of these prices is made by the
local dealers when orders are taken.
The fuel situation still looms dark
in Topeka; the local dealers cannot
get full shipments and no relief is
seen unless the railroads supply more
cars, according to one dealer. Ship
ments are only from Is to 20 per cent
of the amounts ordered, 1t is said.
Kansas City has only received two
thirds of the amount of coal that had
been shipped into that city this time
last fall
Cotton Lower in Spring.
Declines have been felt in some
wooden goods. but equal increases
have been noticed In others, accord
ing to a local department store owner
He does not look for much of a drop
in woolens, especially in view of the
fact that many of the eastern mills
are not working full time. Cotton.
stuff will be lower in the spring. he
predicts. Silks already have dropped
some. o.