The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-04-25
LIVING ON $3.50 A WEEK.
The Results of an Interesting Experiment
i'm New York.
rRoston .Iournal

The possibility of the support of man with
q wife and two children upon $50 per week
has met with much questioning since the state
ment was made that the problem had been
solved but an interesting experiment in New
York has demonstrated the utmost achievement
of economy within the prescribed limit. For
a family OF four the rent vas 81 per week, fuel
fifty cents, and lighting twelve cents. The
food expenses We're compressed to S2.4S per
week 10y the most careful management. A bill
of fare contained two stews for four
square meals, each made of 10 cents worth of
meat and bones, a handful of rice and flour
worth l cent, and little salt and pepper
Each stew eaten with bread served for the next
meal in a Warmed-over condition. -Four more
of the principal meals were provided from
fried salt pork at a cost of IA cents; boiled
beans furnished two meals for IL cents; pot
roast of beef, three pounds for SO cents, and 8
cents worth OF potatoes made ROYAL Sun
day dinner. Bread and molasSes formed
the luncheon in the middle OF the day
at q cost of 30 cents. making the total
expense of food for the week $2.4S. COmforta-
bic clothing was provided at $3.50 cents per
week, and il is said that even with the addition
of few luxuries of food the family were able
to deposit SIS IN q savings bank during the
year Whether the story adequately fulfills the
conditions Tor wholesome living may be, per
hapS, questioned, since nothing is provided to
meet the wear and tear" in every household
but ii is useful as an illustration of economy
Scientists have decided that tic average
workingman requires daily IL his food
not less than four ounces OF pr0teids,
two ounces OF fGt, and eighteen ounces of car
bohydrates Bread, oatmeal, milk, sugar pQta-
toes, beans and lard at cost OF 133% cents will
supply all the food absolutely required by one
person for living. At the increased expense of
1886 cents more elaborate diet can lac made
with twenty-six ounces bread, two ounces cod
FISH, two ounces lard, sixteen ounces potatoes,
one pint milk, one ounce sugar, and three cups
of tea. As food is the most expensive
factor Of living, 1t is capable Of
the most Intelligent selection and de-
ponds more upOH individual taste and judg
ment than any other condition OF life, since
rent and clothes are fixed more by extraneOus
circumstances and less yielding to choice. The
intelligent workingnian gains by careful
study Of bill of fare. II is useful for him TO
knoW that among vegetable foods in common
use, oatmeal, beans and potatoes are the
cheapest that one of the greatest needs of the
w0rkingman is sufficient supply of an ineApen-
sive, wholesome fat, and that cheap meats
may be rs nutritious as costly cuts The per-
vcntion Of waste by Judicious cooking is an inn
postant matter for the consideration of the
workingman in which he can he helped by his
,yife's careiulnesS. it would be difficult 10 es-
tinate the amount of waste in American kitch-
ems caused by ignorance of the true value of
food, but il is known TO be unnecessarily large.