Salt Lake Tribune | 1917-02-23 | Page 2 | Says Potatoes are Held for Higher Prices

SAYS POTATOES ARE HELD FOR HIGHER PRICES SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. S2. An investigation investi-gation into tbe sharp advance nf food prices conducted by the state market director's di-rector's of ft and made public today shuv.8 the price of foodstuffs In this city has Increased more than 43 per cent In the last fiften months. One hundred thousand sacks of potatoes pota-toes are being held tn California for higher high-er prices, C W. Hunt, member of a lare wholesale produce house, said here toda to-da v. '"I have information that 100.000 sacks of potatoes are being held up by unscrupulous un-scrupulous controllers of tbe market." said Mr. Hunt. George Shlma of Berkeley. Cab, known as the "potato king." said there was no corner on potatoes in California. "I am sending all the potatoes I possibly pos-sibly can to relieve the eastern food shortage." short-age." Phlrna said. Potatoes sold at $5.23 a hundredweight ret a it yesterday. A year ago they ere selling at 5-. 115 a hundredweight here.