New-York tribune., 1890-05-30
SrDUPRty WAYS IND MEANS.

Among
- the poets have told MS nothing, we must
reckon discussions of the economy OF SUBURBAN
life as compared with life in the metropolis
The AneIo-Saxon land hunger the spring fer
mont which the ducst city hack vaguely ac-
knowcdecs and the prospect of house AT less
cost than an urban pieconhoc are all on the
side of the suburban real estate agent lc',
after the spring fever has been cooled by the
first shower of suburban bills, the situation is
sometimes construed differently. II Is familiar
experience to find life in the country more eN-
pcnsivc than was rcckoncd upon. Ihe various
necessities which classified rs farm produce
are not to be- obtained from tie convenient ana
arec-mindcd farmer of the hOusckccpcrs dream
but they must be purchased from grocer ana
buckster who buy their wares in Ncw-iorl and
require varying percentage OF proht. Inc
local butchers prices are apt 10 he those oi
uptown retail shops. The nav Of the furnace
appears rcmorsccss and Unsuitable to those who
have been accustomed to stcam-hcatcd apart
| mcnts or compact city houses. AS Tor The
flowers and grass which fill the foreground Of
the usual picture. it is found that they involve
transactions in seeds and lawn-mowers and III
labor paid for 10y the day,
These considerations may appear grossly ma
,cral and out Of harmony with the promise Of
isrcnce Of all manner Of compcnsatonS and adj
vantaccs Bat in the majority Of cases the ways
and means Of living are of immediate concern 70
suburban residents. and it is, therefore, perth
rcnt inquiry whether the substitution of combine
tion for individual effort might not reduce cN-
pcnscs rs well rs wear and tear. Suppose for cY-
ample that ten or twenty houschodcrN are buy
int tea and coffee by the pound sugar and canned
goods in comparatively small quantities. and po-
tatocS by the bushcl from the local grocer Each
purchaser pays a profit. which IN the course Of n
year amounts 20 n considerable sum. But II they
unite and buy their tea by the chest. coffee by
the bag, sugar 10y the barrel, and canned goods
| lv The dozen. they can have the advantage 81 the
| wholesale prices which are paid by the grocer.
| such purchases can be- made directly from the
large wholesale houses in this city and shipped
| rs freight at o small cost, or possibly the local
| Grocer con be- employed as IN agent on the pay
| mcni of moderate commission. This is per-
iccty simple and feasible. and yet tie eNtrara-
| -,ncc Of individual buying i'm small quantities
end paying an added proht is I'll" usual plan. So
! far as meat. fruit and fresh vegetables are con
ccrncd tie hampers and barrels sent ont daily
! from Washington and Fulton Markets represent
n very large number OF suburban customers. who
IN some case, are saving from = - 10 a
true economy FOR families to combine in making
their purchases and in tho case of other article,
| Ike coal combination would have still more
| important results There is no reason why sub
urban families should not join forces and buy
their coal by The carload in tie sum
mcr instead of by ihc ton i'm winter
n would hc simple matter 70 apply thc sIw'
principle 10 tie ownership N COWS and over
horses one cow. whose cost would repre-
sent less than the milk bill Of on
family for n wear. sholld be able 10 supply three
small families bv giving her mind 70 the task
/ There is the crrond question. also. that hughca
4 husbands and of the few wives who are nm
Ike the ma 'orifv Of their scN in iccmiug "a do'
iu tie shops a burden. WHY should there not h
an crr,ud company with reliable agents o.
suburban lines Of travcl'
The truth is that If the average American ha
learned 90 economic in time. often unwiscly ~
in the case Of exercise and Of eating hc is ar
obtusc pupil where domestic economy is con
ccrucd. Nr. Edward Atkin,on's structures upoi
the wastcnncss Of our living impress MS NJ nor
deeply than Prince kraporkinc's argument th1
the prodical usc Of natural agricultural wealth
rycu i'm country as new as ours. must De fol
lowed soon hy n closer and more cconomicn
utilization Of tie soil Economy may not con
ccrn the millionaire. but it does concern In
average suburban resident. and hc has it. in hi
power 10 control and limit many unncccSsor
expenditures of time. STRENGTH and money. lhi
can bc done hy the individual. hut better hy CON
hiuation This does not mean communism mo-
Rcllamyism. nor any ism whatever. hut simpl
the application 10 household affairs of the sam
common-sensc which the merchant shows whc
he buys his goods AZ first hand, and obtains
discount by buying in large quantities and pay
ing cash II will he apparent also that The prir
cpc Of combination mioht bc applied 10 the Pun
| chase of labor not constantly required. Ike tha
Of gardeners and scamstresscs, and thus by
little trouble competent working men and womc
could be secured Tor suburban communities no,
dependent upon haph1Nrd, expensive and d;caril
inadequate labor.