The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-16
Present Price Slump Permanent
Declare Washington Experts.
Level of Prices Paid Farmers
Drops 15 Per Cent.
SUGAR FALLS MOST RAPIDLY
Decline Will Slow Up Soon,
Says Secretary Houston.
VIII Take Years to Get Back TO
Old Level.

Washington, Oct. 16-Fooe is now
leading all other necessities in the
downward sweep of prices.
The level of prices paid farmers for
their products declined 15.6 per cent
during September. according TO re-
ports to the agricultural department
covering the entire country.
Consumers already have begun to
benefit from this sweeping decline.
other reports show.
Prices paid the farmer on October
thruout the United States averaged,
according to the agricultural depart
ment:
White potatoes. sl,s5 per bushel:
sweet potatoes, S1.61 per bushel; ap-
pies, S1.33 per bushel: butter SAL
cents per pound; eggs, SOL cents per
dozen; chickens, 26.4 cents per pound;
and wheat, $2.14 per bushel.
Retail prices of clothing and more
on the down grade, government re-
ports show.
Say Decline Permanent
Numerous expressions of opinion by
nigh government officials indicate price
declines already recorded are regarded
as the beginning of a permanent de-
cline in the general cost of living.
Secretary of the Treasury Houston
is one who believes the crest of high
prices has been reached. 1t may take
years, however. for the general de-
cline to complete its cycle. Houston
said.
Governor Harding of the federal re-
serve board is another official who
has declared the decline is perma-
nent beginning of lower prices. Value
of the dollar has increased nearly fS
cents, government records show The
| dollar is worth approximately 55 cents.
compared with its pre-war 1914 pur-
lChASlnR W. 81.
dollar stood for only 81 cents.
Clothing Way Down.
Kansas City, Mo. Oct. 16.-Price
reduction here resulting from the cut
started by Henry Ford runs from 20
to 40 per cent in clothing-both for
men and women. All leading clothing
stores have announced decided reduc-
tions and all explain in their adver-
tisements that the lower prices are
due to lower wholesale rates
Woolf Brothers. leading clothiers.
announced a flat cut of 20 per cent
on everything in the store, except arti-
cleS on which they had no price con-
troll. This concern stated some prices
were cut in some instances close TO
cost and printed a cost chart showing
they were selling shoes at approxi-
mately 25 to so cents profit per pair.
This concern also announced it's books
were open to the public to prove its
assertions.
Sugar TO IL Cents.
Sugar is down at some places to ~
cents. while at other stores 16 cents
is asked.
Soda fountains are cutting a nickel
off of the price of most mixtures. and
the manager of the Sweetheart Shop
in the fashionable residence district
predicts further cuts due to decrease
in cost of materials
Harzfelds high-class women's store
advertises suits up to s135 for SIS.
while their competitors. "Kline's." Of
fer ultra smart suits at $40. other
stores are advertising Sensational coat
sales" and telling of good buys at the
wholesale markets. Wearing apparel
seems to be the main lines cutting,
outside of the automobile reductions.
Food prices have not dropped here
anywhere near in comparison to cloth
ing.
All Foods Affected.
Chicago. Oct. 16.-Commodities here
affected by the price cutting wave
sweeping the country include practi-
cally all essentials for eating and
wearing, according to merchants to-
day.
Commodities which experienced de-
clines. include:
THE food problem Is clearing and
the retailers will soon establish prices
in proportion to those existing before
the WdIg Ic
Coal Drop Registered.
CleYeland, Ohio, Oct. 16-whiIe
some commodities have dropped in
price here, business men. said today
that genuine satisfying" drop cam
not be expected until there is a de-
cline from the present level of wages.
All kinds of foods in restaurants
have dropped from 10 to IS per cent.
Soft coal dropped 81 per ton and flour
fell $3.50 on the barrel wholesale and
so cents on the retail price.
Cloth Follows Lead.
New York. Oct 16.-FoIlowing the
trend of lower prices in other com
modities the cotton goods market for
the last week has registered declines
running far beyond anything ever
known in the history Of the trade AS
low as 10 cents was accepted for 3S
inch 64x60's that sold as high as 26
cents in April.
Today a new price of 20 cents is
announced on fruit of the loom
bleached muslins, which is 20 cents
a yard down from the high price on
agents hands during the war. Hope
"A musiins were cut to l71z cents
yard, the top price having been 34
cents early in the year.
1t now is expected tat the large
printers of percales and prints will
abandon the policy OF protection on
their goods. and a wide open market
is predicted when new prices are fin
ally decided on which may not be
until late this month.
One line of denims at 32h cents
down from AN cents. Is not expected
to mark the low points ss other manu-
facturers are yet to be heard from.
| Cotton yarn markets have continued