Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-09
The Cost of Living.


A communication appeared in morning paper some
days ago the object of which exhibit in actual
lures the impossibity Of living in this city on the
usual salary Of aGoyernmsnt k Il shown that
tie smallest allowance Of bread ard meat simply pur
chased a. the market rates, With the most moderate
mouse rent and fuel, only, added consumed clerks
whole salary if he had wife and two three children
end brought him some hundreds Of dollars in debt We
have not the figures refer to- but the fact that the
salary Of the majority OF unmarried CLERKS il hardly
sufficient to support them. fthey of family as
probably haf or a third of them are, it is evident
.hst each member of the family dead expense upon
them.
Let US look the facts 10 tie face Day board at the
eh,apest boarding houses is now $50 month at
others 800, aud al the hrsclass houses $2S. Next
month nesc rates to be raised how much it is i'm
possible for boarding house keepers to say, because
they cannot tell what their rents taxes, etc. and the
increased cost of articles in market will be- But two
thirds Of the boarding houses have been broken up
and the naked looms let to lodges ct $50 TO SO
mOn;h. Fuel washing gas OF candles and servants at
endauce will swell the loser to 800 month or
81, $50 year. losvDg the clerk $40 per annum for
food aud not a cent for clothing.
Ii he be a single man, 10 may possibly live within
the Si20-proyided he eats loaf OF bread day,
few potatoes. neat and butter. Blu! to do even
th be must DO his own COOK for the restaurants he
will find sx dollars day barely enough to pay for three
poor meals II he be a man OF family, he will De CON-
PEELED 10 e1ca;m as cheerful old officer did the other
day in our hearing, well, my family ca. pound Of
butter day. for which l pay four dOllSrs-eIaetly
what Government pays NE for days work" The
truth is the necessary expenses Of mar family 10
this city at the present time, living in what formerly
would have been considered moderate STYLE cannot be
betrayed With less than ave or six thousand doll RS
year.
But this is not the worst Of the mat The spirit
Of 1oron has bitten the landlords and they are now
perhaps the most rsbi and nsrciess Of their class-
Il most Instances rents have been doubled for the next
year, in many others trebled, and in some cases land
orjs have actually refused to rent for than
month at time, alleging as their excuse the fact
that pr oss arc continually rising and they mus: rse
with thcm-a plea which might sxtenuAts additional
charge for every flctuattn Of the markets But no
landlord was ever knoWn 10 reduce bis rents because
prices declined. The matter will Terminate probably,
by general printed declaration from the landlords that
on and after such date they will no room or house
for than day, the price to be determined by
the rates Of vegetables and in the morning mar
ke City per cent to be added if cabbage rise in the
evening markets.
Such the prospects Of SAaried people during the
coming winter. What the poor people who live by
sewing aud the HAndorAits viii do, i' quite evident
They will have TO resort to the free markets So must
the cerkL When ibs is generally dOas, there need be
and will be no shame in so doing The free market is
for poor people, and clerks are poor people, much
poorer than mechanics, who make $40 or Sl2 a day
Tnere must be false pride about the matter. Cen
ty no excuse for the starvation Of women and chill
den The rich must support the poor this winter.