Omaha daily bee., 1885-10-20
LIVING At SMALL COST.
The Experience Of Tradesmen and Artisans
In Chicago,
Why Economy I'm Ordinary Households
Can be Practiccd by the Assist
ancc Of a Thoughtful wife-
Laying up for the Future,

Chicago News, at takes all make TO
support my family" dolcfully remarked
a hard.working carpenter. "With four
little ones, ," hn continued, land wife,
my S3.25 n day doesn't go great way.
There is so much for rent so much for
thctable, then shoes and clothing for the
children, and with something for wife
myself at the end of the week we have
nothing"
~ get SO n week, said stained glass
artist, "and have four children. It costs
me SD month for rent, and it takes
$50 week to set our table. We live
well, but save nothing"
The speaker was an American who
dressed well, smoked good cigars, and
occasionally took his family to the
theatre
IL earn &l2 week" said cane chair
maker, who is a German "I have four
children, " said he, "and u wife to pro.
vide for, and itcosts mo IS week to set
our table. Since marrying, about five
years ago, | have bought and almost paid
for a house and lot on North avenue so
now pay no house rent The property
is worth 81, 800 My other expenses viii
not exceed 80 week on an average. and
every Saturday night | manage to put by
S. for n rainy day. We have lots to cat,
and my children have never been sick u
day"
For the purpose of getting all the facts
regarding the cost of living in Chicago,
Il Daily News reporter yesterday talked
with II number of artisans whose labor
brought them from $40 to $50 II week,
according to their skill and the desirable
ity of their work The noteworthy fact
that il is not the amount earned so much
as the amount saved that brings inde-
pCndGnce was developed in the first inter
view. When the secret of saving wHs
asked the answer was: at all depends
on the wife you We got.
Now" said the speaker who was
timer, II earn S?.75 day, and out of
that | have to support my wife and two
children. pay $40 a month for house
rent, and exactly $3.50 for the groccr's
and butchers bills. 1t costs exactly
cludes bedding and towels. Last year |
laid 10y So every week and ut the end of
the year was exactly $50 ahead"
The speaker thought II man could live
well on 81! Il week and support at least
one child and II wife, provided the latter
is economical.
But" said he, 'if you amt got the
;,
wOnt work. have been married twice.
My first wife was too young aud didn't
know the value of dollar, so left her.
] Courtcd my second wife three years.
and you can bet knew her well before /
married her. Shc proved to be just the
kind of Il woman | needed, and we can
get along all right and are as happy as
can be: We have all we want to eat; in
fact, | never stint myself, though of
nnnrSp | Il nlnSnIV "a slblt,
Intend to go into business myself some
day; that s why m so saving"
You oan t get along unless you have n
good wife, said the next speaker, who
was gas filter. II have nine children"
said he, "and brother-in-law living
with me, and earn $3.50 II day. 1t takes
about sl5 Il week to set our table, but |
own my house, so that not having to pay
rent | am able to save II little"
This man said that shortly after the
great fire he purchased an cightroom
house on 9th avenue, near 2Sth street,
and that out Of his wages he paid for the
property and maintained his family in
good style. I'VE have all we want to
eat, =" said he, land there has been no
night give my wife my wages and she
spends the money. During the week |
get dollar or SO, but am lucky if she
gives me more. We are saving people,
but you've got to be saving these times if
you expect to get ahead"
"A man ought to be able" said
carpenter earning So day, "to set his
table for at least three children, himself,
and his wife, for $5 II week. The other
household expenses, not counting on
sickness, should not exceed $3 more
every week, so that man earning $lS
week could easily save S. or SIS of it. In
that way he could use his first years say
ingS us purchase-money for house and
lot and make monthly payments till the
indebtedness was discharged" "
Again the virtues of the good wife,
were sounded. "You must have Il good
wife. though, if you expect to save any
thing, said he. "Womcn are so funny
Some OF them think ii they save anything
they are doing it for some one else, so ii
they want IA thing they buy whether
or not it does them any good, "
Save nothing!" exclaimed brick
layer, who earns $3.50 II day eight
months in the year, and who has to sup
port eleven children, his wife, her moth
cr and himself. 81 have nothing left ut
the end OF the building season, " he d
clarcd, "and in the winter ! work in the
packing houses. Drink! OF course do;
take glass of beer now and then,
and treat the boys once in IL while;
but am economical enough, for all OF
that"
II never drink at all" said the fore
man OF Il carpenter shop, who earns SO
n week and has wife and three chill
drcn. He continued; Il have been mar
riCd four years and have three children.
Ii costs me about $40 week to live. The
first year after | was married bought IL
house ut haywood worth 81 500 and since
then have almost paid for it, Our gro
GERS bill amounts to about So II week
and for meat and milk we spend s!
more. IL costs us about So week for
clothing We never spend cent for
anything foolish and III bet you there is
not happier family in the state"
MY wife and four children take all the
money can earn, " said II carriage black
smith, whose wages amount to Sl3.5O II
week 1--WE pay $40 month for four
rooms on Portland avenue" said he,
land bless me, though | do not drink or
use tobacco, the rest Of my wages goes
for Lying ! can't save cent
A wood worker employed in the same
shop, who is unmarried said he earned
Sl2 a week, paid $3.50 of it for board,
and, ms he was engaged to be married,
mazda If an invnrilLln Iuln tD mt AWAY