The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-11-20

bought by the quantity at prices varying
from 10 to Is cents a pound. Sugar for
which they pay 10 and II cents is to be
had at wholesale for and s. Soap retail
ing at cents bar can be had by the box
at about 3. Starch by the box is cents a
pound, and at retail cents OIL is IL
cents the gallon at retail, and from s to 8
by the barrel. Molasses is 90 cents a
gallon wholesale, and so to 90 retail. Flour
by the barrel is from to 81 cents a pound,
and at retail is 5. Lard is, in bulk, 8 cents;
at retail IL. Rice is cents when bought
by the pound, when purchased by the
barrel. Coffee is so cents a pound when
bought by the ounce, and from II to q
for the same grade in sacks. Turnips are
81 a barrel and 10 cents bushel.
The question of price is, however, but
one-half OF the extravaganza of individual
housekeeping. knowledge of the best
food to buy, and the most nutritious and
economical method of preparing it, is far
more important than the money originally
spent For example, it is most uncom-
mon to find in this city any conception of
the values OF soups as cheap and palata-
BILE food-any idea of the superior saving
In boiled meat over roast or fried meat.
Dat and corn meal Will almost entirely
to cook, agreeable, wholesome. and the
most sustaining of all cereal food. The
Scotch and the negroes do the hardest OF
manual labor upon very little else than
these two varieties of meal, and are for the
most part stalwart and healthy people.
Rice is another one of the cereals upon
which hard-worklng life can be sustained
at the lowest cost, and is also scarcely
known among the poor of this city, al
though the Chinese, whom the bitter COM
petition of over-population has taught the
last possible food economies, have known
its value for centuries.
As has been shown, washing can be
done comparatively to the best advantage
and while cooking and marketing would
be more difficult to arrange satisfactorily,
and experiments would have TO be made
with the natural mistakes incident to all
new undertakings, there is no inherent
reason why it might not be made work
ing success. Some one experienced in
feeding numbers at the lowest possible
cost might make the estimates, and the
sum required to be contributed at the end
OF each week by a sufficient number OF
families to make the purchase of supplies
at wholesale possible, adding a certain
amountforthe labor of those preparing the
food. a model tenement might contain a
kitchen with all the latest convenience OF
domestic science, as do the afore-men-
toned laundries; and this could
be saved out of the space necessary
for kitchens in the apartments,
making them smaller and conse-
quently cheaper, but at the same time
equally spacious to the occupants. Some
one or two persons, selected for their
knowledge and ability, would devote their
entire time to the work; and, their wages
being paid by a hundred people, they
might get excellent remuneration for their
skilled labor, and vet the hundred people
pay only half dollar a month each for g
competent and trained cook. In the same
way their food would be reduced in cost
by the purchase of supplies in bulk; and
the attention of capable person being
entirely concentrated upon marketing to
the best advantage, preparing the best and
largest amount of food in the best way for
the lowest price, the cooperative familie:
would get double the value Of their money
as now expended, and not suffer the mum
berless ills resulting from Improperly
nurtured bodies.