New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-14
THE COST OF LIVING.
CHANGES WITHIN A YEAR.

rrSrRkJ, FALL IN PEiCks Fhon ON ~ i"'' ~"
cpsr-IAcK OF ECONOMY AMONG LABokERs
,,,uo THINK THEIR WAGES INSUFFICIENT
rurArrR RENTS, COAL, AND GROCERIES EXCEPT
r,o,-p p1rr A RISE IN THE PRICE OF BEEF.
To these times trustworthy figures showing
t NJ living are OF interest to all classes 1t Is i'm
.ant 10 the laborer emplOye to know II he can i've
- sl now ON salary reduced 20 to 30 per cent as he
nd ON the full income OF three years ago. Ana
ne matter is equally important to the employer,
no has his financial perplcMtes, and
" a. not without feeling for the welfare
e,h,s employees The wages of unsldlled labor have
I'm ON an average reduced 90 to 80 per cept-day
who three and four years commanded 81 70.
ling glad now obtain 81 25and of skilled labor, in
,,ainc brain work, 10 TO 30 per cent. Produce and
manufactured articles declined in value on on average at
,oast from 90 TO 80 per cent between 1873 and the
s,rns of 1876. Figures given below, which have been
attained from trustworthy sources, show that sis-
,snauce and shelter, food, fire, clothing, aud home,
con he procured with from to 10 per cent less money
than a year ago. This added to the decrease
~ the previous three years would appear 10 bring
the cost of living--of plain hying-witbn the
boundaries of present reduced wages. Iaborers COM
Main however that they frghtful pinched by the
REDUCTION in wages and that the bare neccssares of life
cost them much 1t is natural for the aboer
10 take this view Of the case; is all the argument be
has against reduction. And from the statements OF
erocers and butchers it is plain that frequently the
ahorer pay much ever for his food he has
bern paying 10 for pound Of tea he will still pnr
chase 70ent tea when what he was formerly satisfied
with has been reduced 10 so cents Also, when boiling
pcces Of beef down to 10 cents II Is asserted that
the laborer frequently in his tastes aud took prime
cuts is cents, the price which he was accustomed
TO pay for the boiling pieces. The Washington
Market talk about poverty aristocrats," and
avenue groeers say that in thugs people in fair
circumstances far fastdious and more econo-
icaIf han he
suffered greatly however, from the reduction in wages.
Those IN steady employment at fixed wages they are
prudent enough for economy at ALL ought to fare almost
~ well as formerly. But the who resisted she re-
3uotion lived for time on their little savings and now
must odd jobs sadly pnched on account OF
losing so much Of their time in dleness 1t is not easy
or laboIer without reputation for industry and So
oFioty to get credit for the smallest amount
EXPENSE OF RENT, COAL, AND GAS.
Psfhaps seven ont Of ten men, heads Of families, with
incomes between $500 and $1,000 year, would say
that fgmy expenses continue 10 be as large as ever Ii
lsurcs are TO be trusted it would that the
for this is to be found in incapacty for pFaccing
systematic economy. 1t will take close figuring ana
sone effort TO the indicated reduction OF TO 10
per cent the past year. because certain kinds OF food
Including -four potatoes and beef are little more eX
ponsiye than year but other commodities, ineind-
ing tea fish, and pork, aud clothing and coal arc very
mnch cheaper Real estate dealers say rents will be
brought 81 90 $40 per month last will rent for
So TO IS; frst-cass tenements, formerly $l1
10 SlJ, $40 to SO; apartments for
nerly $50 TO S35, SIS TO $50 second-lass French
fats formerly $50 10 $50 now $40 TO S75 fira-eiass
flats formerly Der aunum 81 500 10 $500 81 200
10 80 900 socOnd-cass residences formerly 81 200 to
$500, now 1000 to $4,000; frst-cass residences,
formerly SO 600 to 50 600 g. 800 TO $4,000 This is
for property not above the average OF desablty either
for fashionable business reason Coal has fallen
heavily LaokawGnna CRATE coal. which sold last year
for 50 rs Dor ton is offered this year for So 70 Laca
wanna stove coal. formerly 50 20, now - 90; LIE
high furnace formerly SO, now 81 so, and other
varieties in like ratio. Householdcrs grumbc most at
their gas bills and call the gas companies an unmit-
igaed evil" While coal and labor are very cheap tho
gs bills for ordinary residences all the way from $50
TO $40 per month.
REDUCTIONS AT TILE MARKETS EXCEPT ON BEEF.
Washington Market dealers VINO claim that 1t ls Tor
their interest keep down the cost of meat and produce
say the the price OF beef and mutton Is dc to
The shipments to England which are becoming an i'm
poitant business The shipments now average 1000
head of cattle week aud about much mutton and IL
is claimed that the weekly shipments will soon reach
5000 head These shipments are Of the choicest beef
which the market affords The business is in the hands
OF few shrewd men, who viii have monopoly OF it TIL
slips are expressly built for this trade aud open to en-
ragements with all shippers. This transatlantic business
is likely to extend TO poultry. As consequence Of
ii beef from cattle weighing GOO TO 500 pOunds-t0o
light for shipment-hss gone up two cents. Prime
roasting beef of this sortwhicn last year sold fOr1 CENTS
now brings Il cents blade ribs, formerly IL cents,
now Ii cents, and chuck" boiling pieces, the
shoulder formerly cents, arc 10 The odds
and ends some of them almost ndigest0le leather
which sold last year for cents, now bring cent?
Those who know how to market get fat bone steaks
which sold last year for 20 cents for Is and 20 The
ho.es and and especially private families who
.r.s. l.4. % or DC
cents for the best steaks and roasting pieces. Veal and
mutton hold their III price; shoulders OF mutton not
prize be purchased Tor cents but that is about as
low the laboTcT in the meat line. Cured meats
are per pound lower than year ago. but the sale
has not increased Hams and bacon, le cents last sea
s0n be purchased at Washington Market for 10
cents Pork is lower Poultry is 10 lS aud 20 cents,
and not so profitable that price beef Poor people
have 10 mussed poultry" which is not unat-
tfactiye when it comes out Ot the pot.
Fish of the good varieties is very plentiful and very
low this sesOD fully % per cent below last years prices,
but not in the markets OF uptown retail dealers The
demand az Washington Market rates is good. Dealers
say that good family butter which last year brought
from is so cents, is now worth is TO 2s cents But
many people are preudiced against butter which comes
down quarter of cent. The hotels pay fancy prices
il s said that the Fifth Avenue Hotel s pays 50 ard
co pound table butter Potatoes arc 10 cents
apeek tran last year. and 20 cents more than six
months ago Onions and squasLes are also higher but
eabbages aud ;unps very cheap.
GrOcers sXth-aye. that lard and hams are 3 to
4 cents lower per pound, teas 10 TO 20 cents fair
grade Of he purchased for so cents and welodo
families buy it. while IL is said that many poor people
do not find it good enough Canned goods. with the ex-
eep;iOn OF tomatoes. TO cents lower. Eggs are
cheap The best goods in the family groceries Lne are
tbout the same AZ year ago Both the Sixth-aye aud
Veseyst grOc say that all grades Of -four have adj
yaaced II barrel. Coffee is about the same, the small