The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-11-08

etsssmsns or . Man who Counted HI
psnsss Twsnty-six Years

Statements 81 . Wan " No So3at~o -
psnsss Twenty-six Years
What does il cost to bring up a family
A gentleman whose experience will be
recognized as having points in common
with other householders, has preserved
an account Of the expense to which he
has been i'm rearing family OF four
children. He has entered the fol-
lowing statement in hit diary IL might
be a valuable statistical fact for the
census takers:
To-day close my diary. Twenty
six years ago to-day ! undertook to
keep an accurate statement Of all my
earnings and expenses, so that l might
know actually how much 1t costs to live
in the married state. Then all was an
ticipaticn. and my young wife
counted our resources and our expecta-
tons received SIS week. with a
promise OF more. owned house COM
Portable enough for frugal young people
TO begin life in. We were spared house
rent, therefore, and our expenses have
never included this item. Retrospect
lively I see that we have brought up
four children in comparatively easy cir
cumstances. My health has been good.
and my earnings constantly received.
now receive $50 week, and we still
own the homestead without any great
additions to its wealth. except in an in
creased amount Of furniture. Ihave lit
tie more money than had when first
married. Perhaps, all told. have 81. 500
now of assets; then HAD perhaps 81, 500.
We have never wanted for bread. Some
times we have felt in need OF more
money. Three of the children are now
making their own way. Next week tho
fourth graduates at the high school.
having received the same schooling that
the others have had, and will begin to
look out for himself.
II shall not necessarily DO at any more
expense ON account of my children, and
the diary properly ends now. Would
be willing 10 go through the same expert
ence again OF raising family? asked
my companion, who had borne the greater
part, this question, and know that she
spoke with q heart full OF love, but was
compelled to say: Not for all that
money could buy would / go through
again what has been necessary TO rear
family
Expressed in dollars, the totals are
these: In % years we have received from
my wages and incidental moneys that
came through my wife and the children,
$40, 900-or say $40, 000-besides the
amount of increase in the permanent as
SETS Given plant OF about 81, 600 and
two employees, man and wife, il has
taken therefore about $4,000 to each
man produced. This, of course, includes
all employees expenses. The plant is
slightly enhanced in value, but the EN-
ployees have seen their best days. The
quality of the goods Is yet to be demon
strated. Prospects happily point TO cess
sation of labor and an increase OF re-
ceipts, but there is no certainty about
this. The employees are proud of their
work, but don't want another job.
"Some of the items Of expense have
been these: Doctors bills ca years.,
So, 100 (and all paid. probably the only
instance on record); groceries, average
per week first five years, 81; next three,
50; remainder of the 90 years, $l3 a
week For 10 years it has taken on an
average one pair OF shoes per week foi
the family, including myself and wife.
The ~lost annoying thing l have ever
known is the rapidity with which chill
dren wear out shoes Only one thing
approaches 1.-THE high prices Of chill
dren's shoes never could understand
how, with all the civilization Of the age.
and the demand for cheaper results. chill
dren's shoes have not been reduced in
price. The human shoe Is failure. No
man not rich can afford 10 buy shoes for
family. and IL had il TO do would
go TO Timbuctoo, where neither horses.
mules, camcls, nor men are shod I'm
dianapolis News.