STASSFURT.
447
The prices of bread and flour were markedly higher in May, 1907, at the
time of the investigator’s visit, than in October, 1905, but the prices of other
groceries, &c., show little change.
Predominant Prices paid by the Working Classes in October, 1905, and
May, 1907.
Commodity.
Coffee ...
Sugar :—
Loaf
White Granulated
Bacon :—
Fat ...
Streaky
Eggs
Cheese :—
Country Cheese
Limburg
Butter :—
Fresh
Margarine ...
Potatoes
Flour :—
Wheat
Bread, Rye (Grey)
Milk
Lignite Briquettes
Coke
Paraffin Oil, American
Predominant Price.
per lb
per Is.
per lb.
per 7 lbs
per 4 lbs
per qt.
per cwt.
per gal.
October, 1905.
lid.
2#
2^d.
8|d. to 9f<7.
9M „ lid
14
4d to 5 \d.
6&d
Is. 2id. to Is. 2|d
8#
2§d to 3fd
Is. 0| d „ Is. lfd
4#
2 \d.
8fd to 9|d
Is.
9#
May, 1907.
lid
2#
24d
8|d to 9|d
9# „ lid
16
4d to 5 Id
6W. ~
Is. 21d to Is. 2|d
8§d
2^d to 3#
Is. lfd to Is. 3\d.
5d to 5\d.
2^d
9^d to 10^d
Is.
9|d
Meat.
Stas shirt possesses a municipal abattoir where all animals intended for
public consumption must be slaughtered after undergoing examination by the
inspectors. Almost all the cattle killed there comes from the province of
Prussian .Saxony. The following is a statement of the animals slaughtered in
1905 : —Oxen 121, bullocks 319, heifers 451, young heifers 128, calves 815,
pigs 5,677, sheep 940, horses 195, goats 6.
The working classes eat more pork than any other kind of meat, not
merely as a matter of taste, but because a large proportion of working men
keep pigs for home consumption. Like larger towns Stassfurt has its “ Freibank ”
or municipal meat stall at which meat condemned as inferior by the inspectors
is sold at a reduced rate. This rate is as a rule two-thirds of the market price
of good meat when it is sold raw, and one-half of this pi ice 5\hen it is first
boiled. Meat is certified and sold as inferior under two conditions : (a) when
the inspector decides that in consequence of disease in any pai t or organ the
remainder of the meat has been so affected that it is only fit foi consumption
after being sterilised, in which event it must first be boiled before being sold ;
(b) if sterilising is not necessary, and yet the meat affected is very poor in
quality, it may be sold in its raw state but only at the " Freibank.” Where
meat is thus sold the owners are compensated from an insurance fund, to which
they are compelled to contribute. When meat is to be sold at the " Freibank ”
a notice is put in the local press giving the date and hour of sale, and there is
always a large demand. Horseflesh is sold at several shops in the town, and
the prices are as follows :—Leg from 4^d. to ò^d. per lb., sirloin 5^d. to
6|d. per lb., hackflesh 4\d. to 5\d. per lb., sausage l%d. to 9,/. per lb.
As at Oschersleben the prices of beef, mutton, and veal were distinctly
higher in May, 1907, than in October, 1905, while the price of pork had fallen
in the interval.
