The price of bread and pastry is to be materially raised in Denver in the near future. This at least was the recommendation adopted by the master bakers at their monthly session last night. The agreement is yet to be passed upon regarding the extent of the increase and the date the new prices are to become effective.
According to the views of the large crowd of master bakers in attendance, the present 5-cent loaf of bread should be increased to 7 1/2 cents to the consumer. The wholesaler price should be advanced, it was agreed, from 4 to 6 cents. A similar increase is contemplated in the price of the present 10-cent loaf, but it is not proposed to make this raise proportionately as great as in the case of the 5-cent loaf. Jelly, cinnamon and other fancy rolls, as well as the plain variety, are to be advanced from 10 cents to 15 cents a dozen if the plans agreed upon are carried out.
Fewer small loaves are believed probable
It is recommended that the baking of the 5-cent loaf be discontinued because of the economic wasted incident to its manufacture and distribution. A saving of $5 a thousand is made in the making of 10-cent loaves, it is asserted, using the same amount of material as would be consumed in the smaller loaf. It is not believed such a recommendation as to discontinuing the small loaf will be adopted, however, altho it is thought by the leaders that the discussion will lead to the making of fewer small loaves.
By city ordinance, bakers are prohibited from decreasing the weight of their loaves. All loaves must be of standard size, says the city law, each single loaf to weigh not less than six ounces and each double loaf to weigh not less than thirty-two ounces. The ordinance does not attempt to fix the price at which these loaves are to be sold, there being no authority for the city to dictate prices.
High cost of living blame by Bower
B.F. Bower, president of the Bakers, says the soaring cost of flour and other products compels the increase. At the same time, he believes that it will be the better plan to make the increase on what may be termed as the luxuries of the bake shop. If the bakers find such a raise in prices of luxuries will make up for the loss suffered in handling bread, it will not be necessary, he says, to increase the price of the necessity. It is not believed, however, that a majority of the bakers agree.
The suggestion is offered by the mayor that the Civic association should appoint a committee of men qualified to make a thoro investigation. Just because flour and other bread products have increased in price is not necessarily a reason for raising the price of bread by 50 per cent, it is pointed out.
One cent increase is called fair one
An increase of from 5 to 6 cents a loaf might be fair to bake and consumer alike. It would be the business of such a committee to learn just what would be a proper price, rather than to leave it to the bakers.
Just what measures would or could be taken in case the bakers refused to abide by the decision of a committee, but insisted upon fixing arbitrarily their own price, is not stated. It is strongly intimated by the mayor, however, that a way will be found if necessary to protect the consumer against unjust prices.
The next meeting of the bakers will be Oct. 18. No final action will be taken on the new scale, says the president, until that or a called meeting is held. He does not contemplate calling a special meeting, he says, but such a call may be issued, ending a regular or called meeting, prices will remain as they are.
