The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-11
THE COsr OF LIVING.
An Advance i'm Nearly all the ''Nec-
essaries of Lifes' of From Ten to
Twenty-Five Per Cent.

Au Auv auCC ath t"o
essaries of Life,, of From Ten to
Twenty-Five Per Cent.
(Chicaeo TimesI 7r3
The cost of living has increased during
the past feh months at rate well caicu-
lated to fill the thrifty housewife with
alarm. Go where she will, to the butch
er, the grocer, the baker, the man of dry
goods, the milliner-everywhere she is
Informed that the articles she is in quest
of have "gone up." To many people that
is very serious matter, and though the
advance be but cent or two per pound,
or dozen, or yard, in the long run it cuts
quite figure in the housekeeping ac-
count.
SO far as can be learned, boarding
house mistresses continue to provide
three meals a day at something like the
old rates-which have ruled exceedingly
low during the past year--but how long
they will continue to do so is problem,
the solution of which can not long be
deferred. 1t is safe to conclude that be-
fore the expiration of many weeks--the
more if the upward tendency of all COM
mOdities continues-the genteel avenue
boarder will be invited to private con-
ference, and politely but firmly informed
that the situation of things is such that
the contribution of an extra dollar per
week is absolutely necessary to the
maintenance of the establishment Oh a
footing demanded by its unsullied repu-
tation. 1t will then be the guests" turn
to make up his mind what he will do
about it, and when he finds that the ad-
vance covers "the whole line" he will
probably conclude that it is better to
suffer the squeeze where he is than fly to
Others that he knows not of. And, be-
sides, is it not inst about as easy to
"beat" the landlady at the new figure as
at the old one? The rather, will his con-
science not the more readily acquit him?
Obviously. .... ..
On yesterday reporter of the Times
constituted himself committee of one
to interview line of retailers. To make
a beginning, he dropped into general
grocery store. Flour he found had ad-
vanced from SIS so to $S, and the ten
dency is still upward. Sugar, medium
grade, had advanced from 9 up to 10.
cents. Teas have gone up about 10
cents to the pound. Coffees had also ad-
vanced slightly. Potatoes had risen
from 60 to rs cents. Pickles were 5 cents
quart few weeks ago; now they are
held at 10 cents. Syrups have advanced
10 to 20 cents per gallon, or from 60 to
80 cents. Crackers have risen 2 cents a
pound, or from s to 10, and 10 to u
cents. Brooms are from 10 to Is per
cent. higher. Woodenwarc has risen 10
per cent. Kerosene has advanced 6 and
7 cents per gallon. Honey was Is cents
per pound while ago; now it rules
at 25 cents. Raisins have risen 10
per cent. Soap and starch, to the dis
may of the poor washerwoman, have also
advanced slightly. Dried fruits have
risen from rs to 80 per cent. Canned
fruits of all kinds are firm, and in as
much as wholesale prices have advanced,
the retailers will not be slow to follow
the example. Apples have "boomed"
upward 81 per barrel--from 81 to $3.
Butter at 40 cents per pour is butter
now days, and this remark every con-
siderate boarder should take seriously to
heart, and not spread the article on too
thick. If he fails to heed this advice ne
will discover it gradually growing in
strength under his very nose, for there is
butter on the market that at long range
may be handled at rs cents pound.
Eggs have advanced from IA to 20 cents
per dozen. Cheese has literally risen in
its "mite." and the sort that was sold for
10 cents pound early in the fall now
commands 18 cents Milk grows in blue
ness under an advance of cent quart.
| At the dry-goods houses similar state
of affairs was found. Underwear since
the advent of cold weather, has advanced
10 to Is per cent; yarns, 20 per cent.
hosiery, 20 per cent; cotton goods, from
6 to 10 per cent. batting, 10 per cent.
prints, 20 per cent; knit goods, 10 to 20
per cent; Hamburg edgings, l0per cent
Ruches are quiet, while hair nets and
"silyer' and '"gold' pins, which were
call the rage while ago, but have sud
denly become "old-fashioned," are some,
what lower. Ordinary pins are Cup"
There is also a decided advance in all
kinds Of dress goods. .... .u
Butchers are also infected with the
mania, and, without improving the quail
ity OF their meats, are very much in.
clined to advance prices Beef is higher
by 81 per hundred pounds in the whole
sale markets, and from to2 cents aMone
retailers. Veal has risen 2 cents per lb
Pork and mutton may be had at some.
thing like former figures. Vegetables
are fully in sympathy with all other ad'
vancing commodities.
Since the advent Of cold weather, and
. with the advance of lake freights, coal
has been struck with something like q
"boom." EARLY in September it ruled al
E "a so per ton; now it is quoted at $6, an
advance of thirty-three and one-third pei
cent. This is q very important item in
! the housekeeping economy.
, i'm clothing there has been an advance
of about ten per cent. 1t is the same
with boots and shoes. Ditto in the linz
Of gentlemen's furnishing goods. Tht
same in the line of millinery fneries.
Rents are another important item