(Women's Municipal League.)

Under the direction of Mrs. W. Morton Wheeler,
Miss Suzanne Wunderbaldinger, assisted by numerous
investigators, undertook a study of retail prices of perish-
able products in various parts of Boston. For a period
of two weeks in the month of March these investigators
aimed to secure retail prices on a selected Ust of com-
modities in various types of stores in representative
sections of the city. In this way an attempt was made
to secure a cross section through the various types of
retail outlet for perishable products for the purpose
of comparing the prices which prevailed with the
wholesale prices which were quoted for the same period
and which were being collected by Mr. Huff.
It is perhaps needless to say that this kind of an
investigation is extremely difficult and that the results
under the best of circumstances are apt to be rather
unsatisfactory. The results in this case were mainly
valuable in throwing new light on the difficulties of
the situation and in suggesting improvement in methods
for future study. A careful classification of the stores,
detailed specifications of the grades, quaUties, etc., of
the articles upon which prices are to be secured are two
of the necessary prerequisites for a successful investi-
gation of this kind. This study also suggests the
possibiUties of working out a comprehensive plan in
connection with educational institutions and students
of domestic science and economy in various parts of the
metropoUtan district. Such an investigation, if care-
fully planned out beforehand, supervised and conducted
intelligently for a sufficiently long time, should lead to
valuable results.
Mr. G. A. Bowers, a student in the Harvard Graduate
School of Business Administration, was employed by the
Women's Municipal League to make a digest and a set



18 City Planning Board.
