Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-10-09

At the last meeting of the American
Association for the Advancement of
Science Mr.. Edward Atkinson delivered
an address on "The Application of Science
to the Production and Consumption of
Food" which has since been published in
pamphlet form. AS the subject of econ
omy IN living is now more than ever en-
listing the attention of the public, under
the increasing competition in the field of
labor and consequent depreciation of
wages, the scientific researches of
Mr. Atkinson into the bread ques-
ton are both timely and interest
ing. AS the result of extended in
vestigation, Mr.. Atkinson estimates that
the cost of living of the average person
including shelter, clothing and food is
from forty TO forty-five cents per day.
And the problem of economy in living, ac-
cording to Mr.. Atkinson, is to be solved
by such an application of science to the
production and consumption of food as
will reduce the daily cost of living to thirty
or thirty-five cents.
The difficulty of doing this becomes APP
parent, when we investigate what science
has already accomplished in cheapening
the necessities of life. While it has done
much toincrease the quantity of products
which can be turned out by the labor of the
individual, and to facilitate their distribu-
ton, it has at the same time 50 overstocked
the markets of the world as to cause pc
riodical falings off in demand, SO that at
certain periods of every year there is
liable to be Il sudden cessation in the de
mand for even skilled labor, thus leaving
thousands of families at the mercy of the
apitalistS-some of them, perhaps, in
utter destitution, having been unable to
lay anything by, owing to the small mar
gin by which their wages exceed the daily
cost of living. Mr.. Atkinson does not pro-
pose to undertake. the impossible task
of regulating the relations between sup
ply and demand, capital and labor; but
he shows how the problem can be solved
by such reduction in the cost of living
as shall enable the laboring classes to lay
by II portion of their wages, III prosperous
times, against Il rainy day.
Among the practical suggestions to this
end made by Mr. Atkinson, are, first,
the use of cheaper but equally nutritious
articles of food, and secondly, the reclaim
ing of waste lands, SO that the production
Of cheap articles of food in the vicinity of
large markets may be increased. To show
how this may be done is the province of
science, in this matter Mr.. Atkinson de
ciares that whoever can attract the nj
rogen of the atmosphere and combine it
With the potash of Germany aud the
phoSphates of South Carolina or Canada,
will add the last element necessary to Sc
cure permanent abundance in agriculture
at the least COST In the opinion of Mr..
Atkinson, and other scientists from whom
he quotes. Indian corn is the agent best
adapted for drawing nitrogen from the
air and enriching barren soil so as to
make the raising of other crops and the
grazing of large herds profitable.
Mr., Atklnson's paper is supplemented
by valuable table giving the proper
tioual nutritious value of foods and their
market prices. The chemical constituents
OF the different articles of diet in common
use are given, and the greater nutritive
value of certain cheap foods as compared
with those of higher cost is shown. 1t
would appear that, even with the present
cost of food products, the laboring classes
could live much more cheaply than they
do now by the use of certain articles of
diet which are as palatable as those they
now live on, and contain more nutriment
and are procurabe at a lower price Some
OF the information so conveyed we shall
compile hereafter, for our readers.