Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1921-01-11
FOUR Is AND
MERCHANTS MEET

Last Friday evening a meeting was
held in l. o. o. F. hall at which there
were present number of representa-
tives of the Four LIS of Bonners Ferry
and committee representing the mer-
chants of the town This meeting was
in response to an invitation extended
to the commercial club and merchants
to meet with the Four LIS to discuss
the question whether it would be pos
sible to reduce the cost of merchan-
disc proportionately to the reduction
in wages which has been made in the
lumber industry during the past few
months.
The committee representing the mer-
chants consisted of George r. Causton,
of Causton Bros, A. H. White, of
White and White, and j. W. Reid, but
on account of Mr.. Reids absence in
Spokane the work of the committee
at the meeting devolved upon Messrs.
Causton and White. Commenting on
the meeting these gentlemen stated
to the Herald that they had been glad
to comply with the request of the -Four
LIS for a discussion of this question
of living costs, and they had attended
the meeting for a sensible and quiet
consideration of the matter, willing
to give what information was in their
possession.
zone thing we attempted to show,
said the committee, was that our
prices have been keeping pace with
the downward trend for some time
Even before shoes had dropped one
cent in price, we got information To
expect soon reduction in wholesale
quotations. Immediately we announced
a 20 per cent reduction on shoes, this
cut prevailing on the shoes that had
cost us the peak price. This is only
one example of price reductions. Flour
is now down to $275, and 1t sold as
high as $475. Sugar touched the tor
notch at 30 cents a pound; 1t now sells
for 10A cents Potatoes few months
ago sold at IL to Is cents, now Y
cents. Onions formerly sold at two
pounds for 25 cents, now six pounds
for 25 cents. These are only few
examples to indicate the genera
= downward tread Of our prices.
I'VE made an honest attempt tc
show the Four LIS that the merchants
of Bonners Ferry were conducting
their businesses on as close margiI
as possible consistent with safe busl
ness principles. We hope we succeed
ed And we are ready to promis'
truthfully that honest reductions vii
be made as the wholesale market
. drops further"
One merchant stated to the Heral'
that il was most difficult to conduc
ones business under present marke
conditions. Take flour as an exam
pie, he said. Il may put in an orde
, for a carload of flour and before tina
shipment reaches me, the cost OF flou
may have dropped sufficiently TO ca
up all profit on the carload. The mex
, few months will be a most harassinl
, time for the retail merchant, witt
prices so erratic."
From the standpoint of the Four LIS
, lit is claimed that the decided SUM
, lin the lumber industry that has pre-
vailed during the past several month
has been responsible for a marked re
. Iduction in their wages. The Four u
claim they find it most difficult {
meet present living expenses with thei
, wage reduction and present costs Q
: merchandise prevailing. Our desir
I I'm lQlS IldlItIy Cclh 4 iNot0N1AN
, man of the Four LIS, ''is to cooperat
: with the local merchants. We want
: buy at home and have no desire t
send our money away. We reahz
that money kept at home helps to bull
up the town and that is better for a
of us. At the same time we are cor
/. fronted with a serious question, tn
I old question of making living, an
: we are looking for relief wherever
can be found"
= The Four LIS did not offer much {
: the meeting regarding price compar
= sons. 1t is stated that certain dat
: had been prepared by one of the
= number as a committee, but he wa
not present Friday ngiht. 1t is also r.
!, ported that they have appointed
= lcommittee to secure prices from oth'
!. Towns for comparison with local ou'
4 Itations.
MIR. and Mrs. A N. Kramer OF Por
: lhilI stopped off in Bonners Ferry II