The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-10-31

] r
! close Of The war. Hotels and boarding
houses have, in some localities, announced
nominal reduction in prices, but we sll
/ know that man cannot board and lodge
at u first class boarding house for much
less than dollar day or twenty-five
dollars per month; that be must pay
! transient prices st the hotels at the rate
Of from. $3.50 tc IS per day. These
prices do not sound excessively high be-
cause we are accustomed to them, but we
cannot afford than in these times, and
they are out of material proportion with
other things.
There was time, not very long past,
when frst-rate boarding could be had at
from 81 so to $3.50 per week, and the
best ho.els were satisfied with $3.50 per
day for transient guests. If then, why
not nowH The amount and quality of
produce in the country have never been
greater ard better than now. The sea-
sons have never been more pIopitious
and the crops have never been 30 abund-
ant as in the past few years. The gsrn-
ers oil the farmer are bursting, all over
the country. The facilities for cultlvat
Ing the soil and resping the harvest are
cheaper and more expeditions than was
ever dreamed about by the preceding
generation. The means. OF trsnsporta-
tion from Maine TO California are all that
fancy could picture. Then "why is
this thus2" Why Is it worth all mans
hte to earn his Oresdl We hear it sd-
vanced by those who have been in
Europe ths: they csn buy meal import
ed from America for less money than
they can get 1t here. The rates ut tae
hotels there are about One-half the
amoun. charged by American hotels.
But the responsibility for this state OF
things does not rest entirely with the
boarding houses and hotels. They, per-
maps, do not make more profit than when
rates were less. The first cause is found
in the inflated price of provisions at the
market house. The dealers in articles OF
food are usually the MOST yielding to the
changes in the markets of any other class
Their position enables them to exact the
last cent. Men can make shifts to avoid
expense in almost every other direction
better than in the matter of food. They
can wear less clothing, have less furGi-
.ure, fewer fires, but they stint the ta.
bic only from dire necessity. Those
VINO have food to sell find no diminution
in the number of buyers and little in
he quantity sought, however exorbitsnt
he prices put upon their possessions.
The hotels, too, are at tsult-at fault
in direction in which American hotels
deserve severe criticism. 1t Is not the
kind, quality or variety OF food they fur
uish that makes them expensive, it is the
amount Oasted. They com
pei every guest to pay
not only for what be is supposed to eat
but doubly for what he is allowed to
waste. They set before hin meal that
in quantity would founder cannibal,
knowing that be would not eat it, and
that fully one-hslf will be waste, yet
compelling him to pay for their foolish
and ineIcussble extravaganza. This sys-
tenn OF waste is too enormous and sinful
70 justify the show of liberslity intended
by it. Sensible men do not desire TO be
party to it. They prefer to have this
waste taken off their bills. The majority
OF travellers can't afford to pay for it, and
those who think they can ought 10 be
denied the privilege The whole country
is interested in having cheap living Tor
travellers. It Increases communication
between the sections, and helps business.
In short, we must have cheaper living
al home and abroad. The condition Of
the country will justify 1t, and the whole
people demand it. If those who are re-
sponsible tor the unjust tax upon our
bread do not yield, We hope that an
amount OF competition Will spring up
sufficient 10 drive them out of the mar.
kets. They, more than any other obsts.
Gle, are standing in the way of full
restoration to general prosperity.