Telegram-herald., 1891-11-23
COST OF LIVING.

ine fscts set forth IN the report were
gathered from 24y0 families scattered
over the United States. and ITO in
vauous parts OF Europe and Great
Britain, and such families were chosen
as might fairly Dc called representative
Of the whole body OF employees in any
particular establishment because of
their surroundings and conditions. The
word family as used in the family
as = tolality. and includes the husband,
wife, children, boarders. everybody that
went 10 make up the household for
which facts were given. Separate
tables are made out for each industry,
but review of the cost of living of the
families engaged IN the industry of pig
iron may be taken As illustrative of the
cost for those engaged in the other in
dustries. The tables show that the
average income of the 1852 families
engaged IN the pig iron industry In the
United States Is $ll7.43 per each indi-
viduai. In Belgium the average earn
ing per individual for those in the same
industry Is s6i.37. and in Great Britain,
s9}.97. OF the s62 United States fami-
lies, lss own their homes and the
others rent four rooms, on an average,
for each family. The average rent for
these rooms is $500; III Belgium the
average rent is S3l.72 per family, and
in Great Britain, $39.47. The average
cost of ali food used by each family is
$235.66 IN this country, as against
$l69.79 in Belgium. and $222.24 in
Great Britain. The item for ex-
pense of fuel is largely influenced by
the climate. ranging from $S.72 per
family in Georgia to $4l.30 in Illinois,
the total average for each of the 762
families being S27.26; in Belgium, for
all families in the same industry, the
expense is sl6.7i per family, and in
Great Britain, S2o.7s. Life insurance
forms considerable portion Of the ex-
penses Of families. being $ls.l3 on the
average for the 762 families; IN Great
Britain it Is sl2.21. Labor organiza-
tions cost each fam ly S7.26 in the
United States; 1857 IN Belgium, aud
1912 in Great Britain. Each family of
the United States pays out $7.76 for re-
ligion; while IN Belgium the expense Is
$l.24 per family, and in Great Britain,
S.. An estimate Of the literary habits
of these families may be made from
the fact that each of these families
spends $50 for books and newspapers
in the United States, s2.51 in Belgium,
and S5.l0 in Great Britain. Fer amuse-
ments and vacation the average United
States family expends $ll.2s; the Bel
gan family 1851; the British family
$l9.05. A good temperance lecture
could be based upon the fact that it
costs each United States family $l7.6I
for intoxicating liquors, and sll.46 for
tobacco, while IN Belgium the amounts
are ss.cS and $5.54 respectively, and in
Great Britain s2l SO and sl6.33. OF the
762 families engaged in the pig iron IN
dustry IN the United States. oil had an
average surplus of 1923 for their
years work, and 249 showed 9 deficit
of $64.75 on the average. In Belgium
6 OF the II families engaged in the same
industry had . surplus Of $22. "a on the
average, 5 had q deficit Of S22 "a, and
in Great Britain so of the 65 pig iron
families had an average surplus of
$47.02, while had deficit of S4.97.
or the reports Of the 2490 families en-
gagged in the several industries, pig
iron, bar iron, steel, bituminous coa.,
coke and iron ore. the bar iron families
show the largest average income IN the
United States, it beng S7s411.
The smallest income is for the
iron ore families. siei.s5. Turningto
Europe. the highest income is that of
the families IN the steel industry,
t530.l0 while the lowest income il that
of the iron ore families, s34s.7f. OF the
2490 families considered for the United
States, 2l.s9 per cent own their homes,
while in Europe only 400 per cent own
houses. The bar iron families of the
United States, who it will be remem-
oered have tns largest average income.
lead IN the amount paid out for rent.
food, fuei, Lighting. taxes, amusemen.s
and vacations, and IN the amount of
surplus above all expenses. The steel
workers OF the United States psy ou.
more money for Intoxicating liquor.
than do those engaged in the other in
dustries. In beth the United
States and Europe the familie.
of the iron ore miners pay oul
the least average for such beverages
In summing up. Of the 249o American
fAmilies considered, $40 own houses
and the average rental for Others il
lsis.2s per individual; for food. sac
per individual; for all purposes, sllo.ss
With sn average individual income oi
sl,A1I. For Europe, 81 families ou
Of 20 own their houses, and the aver
age expenditure for rent is g. oil per Ia
dividual. The average expenditure fol
food n Europe is sti.so ~ sgsins
$3.50 IN the Unites states. The tosa
expenditure for all purposes per IN
dsvsdusl sss2.25 10 Europe. ss sgsins
tIl1.ss in the United States. While 10,