February 21, 1917
Food Prices Soar All Over Country And Shortage Felt In Many Places Is Serious
CLEVELAND, Feb. 21.— Cleveland was swept today by a wave of
sentiment that offered complete approval of the New York food riots in the
interests of humanity.
The common consumers offered as one voice the wish that the riots
continue and grow in magnitude until they become the voice of the nation
demanding moderate food prices.
On a lesser scale Cleveland experienced its own famine.
Potatoes retailed today at $3.40 to $3.60 [2013 CPI: $61.88 to $65.52]—about two cents [2013 CPI: $0.36] a piece. Sugar sold
at 9 cents [2013 CPI: $1.64] a pound. Both sugar and potatoes were so scarce today that dealers
would sell only in small quantities with a limit to each family. Onions and
cabbages were shooting skyward, as were all canned vegetables. The past two
days has been a general rise often as much as 25 percent.
Following a “run” on groceries for sugar by housewives
yesterday a sugar dictatorship was informally established with the result that
it could be bought only in four and two pound lots with one lot to a family.
With freight tied up brokers would not say when they
expected an adequate supply.
Kosher Butcher Quit.
CINCINNATI, Feb. 21.—-Kosher butchers in Cincinnati's
ghetto, said today they were prepared to close their shops in anticipation of a
boycott which housewives have threatened to declare Thursday because of the
high prices of meat. A mass meeting of the Workingmen’s circle and the…
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Food Prices Soar All Over Country and Shortage Felt.
…Mothers' club will be held tonight to plan a campaign for federal
control of food supplies.
Hog Prices Soar.
CHICAGO, Feb. 21 —With hogs quoted on the Chicago markets
today at $12.95 [2013 CPI: $235.68] a hundred, nearly a half dollar higher than the record price
since the Civil war, Chicago wholesalers, packers and retailers today predicted
an increase of from 10 to 40 percent in retail prices of meats.
Alibis galore, including freight congestion, excessive
export demand, shortage of livestock, general prosperity and even increased the
extravagant consumption on the part of highly paid workers in "war bride"
factories, were quoted in justification of the coming boost.
One of Chicago’s largest wholesalers and retailers said:
“You can kid yourself into believing that war, weather,
clearing of freight congestion and other temporary conditions will halt the
upward trend of prices. But as long as the war continues, prices are going to
soar and the small consumer foots the bill.”
Practically without exception every article of food
available here is anywhere from 10 to 500 percent higher than the same time
last year.
Boycott Declared.
LOS ANGELES, Feb 21.—The Housewives League at Los Angeles
today declared a boycott against potatoes which will continue as long as
potatoes are being held at the present price of five cents [2013 CPI: $0.91] a pound.
Still Going Up.
MINNEAPOLIS, Feb 21.—Food prices will continue to soar and
sensational prices may be reached in 1918. V.C. Eklund, president of the
Minnesota Retail Grocers’ association said today. With buyers paying $2.50 [2013 CPI: $45.50] a
bushel for Minnesota potatoes, and buying at the farms, spuds may be expected
to take an immediate jump, he said. Canned goods, he said, would jump another 10
percent this spring making the price just double what it was in 1914.
Lay Off Crews.
CLEVELAND, Feb. 21.—The Big Four railroad is laying off
switching crews. One night and two day crews were laid off Tuesday it was
learned today.
At the freight agents’ office it was said that while the
freight congestion situation had improved, there was still considerable
congestion.
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