Putnam County herald. (Cookeville, Tenn.) 1903-1922, 1921-05-12
Prices Don't Compare Favorably
With Neighboring
Markets

"a
trade, especially In it's local sphere,
has, we believe been fully demons
-trated by the policies pursued in the
past and its eagerness to give due
credit to all who even show an in
4clination in the direction Of prog
ress, for these traits in people, as
individuals or as firms, deserve en-
couragement in the form of COM
mendation. We have endeavored at
all times to find these traits and
comment on them favorably. How
ever, there is yet another duty that
lies clearly within the province of
the newspaper that is being publish
ed for the purpose Of serving the
people and their interests, and that
is to point ut the faults of systems
in vogue which are obviously detri-
mental to the good of the community,
morally, financially, or otherwise.
Our business people in all lines Of
trade enjoyed an abnOrmally lucre-
tive business during the wer, and
for two. years thereafter, along with
the businesses of all other sections
of this great country The reaction
which necessarily followed this
memorable period of prosperity came
almost like thunderbolt from clear
sky to the country as whole, but
luckily for this section, and especial
ly so for this town, it never reached
us with the force that almost para
lized some parts of the country. The
fall in prices of the different CON-
modities began to reach us, it is true,
but mot in the form of slump. First,
prices on farm products began to
fall, and so far as the farmer was
concerped they fell rather suddenly,
but it was not noticeable to the
ultimate consumer Next came the
gradual lowering of prices IN the
mercantile lines, such as clothing,
dry goods, shoes, ETC., and the fall
has been consistent for the past year;
then the lumber and metal markets
were noticeably affected, including
all manufactured articles from wood
and iron. All of these reflections
were recognized and participated In
by our local dealers, who passed the
rebates, and discounts received, on
to their customers, sharing mutually
with them each advantage obtained
from jobber and manufacturer.
We then heard from afar the glad
tidings that food products of the es-
sential and non-essential kinds were
falling in price, and that actual liv-
ing expenses would soon be cut in
half, as compared with wartime con-
ditions. We have all been watching
for the downward trend of food pric-
es with eager interest, and from
neighboring city and small town
newspapers we have even seen these
coveted eatables advertised at pric-
es ranging from fifteen to one humid
red per cent. cheaper than local pric-
es, but birds eye view is as near
as the people of Cookeville have |
been brought to anything like pre-
war prices on food products. A few
thrifty citizens have been so thorough
ly convinced of the truth of reports,
however, that they have left home to
and in consequence have
purchased supplies in other markets,
because they could make sixty cents
do the work of dollar, and we cannot
see where they are to be censored for
this.
A side Of breakfast bacon wifi pay
Its own transportation charges for
several hundred miles and still save
lts purchaser from ten ) to fifteen
cents pound from local prices.
Sugar, -four and lard in small or
large quantities can be brought. here n
1t cost something like ten and
twelve per cent. cheaper from other
retail markets; cheese and rice viii
10 even better than this, while can.
ned goods, singly or in bulk will
double the purchasing
,ower of your low rater home dollar.
II the soft drink consumer could
ret his iced beverage sent to him BY
nail from the most exclusive foun-
aims Of the cities, he could save
money by paying the postage on each
rink separately.
These are Just a few instances OF
he many that could be named, but
he lack Of space prevents. We have
tinted at these local conditions
lumbers of times in our editorial col
INNS, but with no apprecieblc eff.
cct, so have decided to come out
a front page editorial and see II s
ny notice will be taken Of a friend. y
, warning that It is getting time TO /,
all . halt on wartime prices, whenj :
be war has been over for two asd
ne-hak ycess. yhe tine was wissn
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