Evening journal., 1898-02-14
NEW YORK'S POOR.
Dietary Studies by Agricul-
tural Department.
INTEMPERANCE CAUSED BY BAD FOOD
Many Families Spend More Than They
Can Really AGqGi on the Table and
Xet Frequently Get Insum-
cient Nourishment.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE result
Of Investigations into the food habits
Of a number Of families in the congest-
cd districts Of New York city in 1896
and 1896 has been made public by the
agricultural department in a report en-
titled Dietary Studies In New York
City" The report was prepared by Pro-
fessors w. O. Atwater and c. ID. Woods.
under whose immediate direction the in
vestigations were conducted with the
cooperation of the New York Associa-
tion for the Improvement Of the Condi-
tion Of the Poor
The general plan Of the work consisted
in visiting a number Of typical families
in the worst congested portions of the
city observing the kinds and amounts
of food which they bought and the
prices which they paid. noting whether
they obtained good weight and meas
ure. and subjecting specimens Of the
food materials to analysis for the pur-
pose Of learning their nutritive values.
The work in New York was done mostly
by DR.. Isabelle Delaney.
The investigation consisted mainly OF
! studies OF the dietaries of families Of
the poorer classes, the majority OF
whom were on the east side, near the
JNliNAA'h u AuciIJ dllu 0dbncIlne
streets The people in whose families
the studies were made represented a
large number Of occupations. In some
instances they We're slovenly and shift
less and took little interest in the ap-
pearance Of their homes and tables.
| Other families, though ignorant. were
/ willing and anxious to learn how they
might improve their habits of living.
! The main results Of each study are
| given, with a brief discussion Of the
! chief features.
! In many of the families there was no
/ attempt made to spread an attractive
| table. One of the most common OBJ
/ servatlons among those who are famil-
lar with the habits Of the poorer classes
! Of wage workers, the report continues.
! is to the effect that a not inconsiderable
amount of the prevalence of intemper-
/ ance can be traced TO poor food and un-
/ attractive home tables.
Throughout all these dietaries there
/ was shown very little comprehension of
/ the actual nutritive value of the food
/ purchased, the selection apparently be-
/ ing made according to some whim or
/ taste, the presence of certain food ma
terials in the market, or because the
] housekeeper had become accustomed to
} purchasing certain kinds of food. The
! larger number of families spent more
than they really could afford for food,
and yet frequently received insufficient
| nourishment
The question how these people could
| have obtained more nutriment for the
| money expenditure is answered only in
the most general terms. 1t is suggest
ed that one of the best and surest ways
TO improve the condition of the poor IS
TO give them practical instructions and
object lessons in the preparation of at
tractive yet simple and cheap foods
Tho subjects upon which the womer
should be instructed include lessons
upon the best and most nutritious food
materials and those best adapted il
point Of cost and case Of preparation
to the needs and circumstances of the
family and instruction such as shall
enable the housekeeper to prepare sim.
pie, wholesome and palatable dishe.
from such food.