The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-11-26
LIVING IN RUsKIN COLONY.
Ten Cents a Day Sufficient in the Geor-
gia Community.

Ten Cents a Day Sufficient in the Geor-
gia Community.
What is the lowest possible daily cost
of food for an adult man in the United
States? This is a question that Is re-
ceivlng great deal of attention from
scholars and economists throughout the
| land President Harper of the Univer-
| sity of Chicago is of the opinion that
three square meals a day can be had
| at the cost of fifteen cents. 1t may be
we'll to note, however that the eminent
gentleman has not sufficient faith in
his theory to put it to a practical test.
Many students are discussing the sub
ject, and advance some beautiful theo-
ries Professor Harrison of the Univer-
slty of Pennsylvania reports that the
students of that institution are we'll
fed at a cost of fifty cents a day a
head William A. Morse of Chicago
says he has been living on one dollar a
week for the last five years, which is
just fourteen and two-seventh cents a
day Edward Atkinson has theoreti-
cally demonstrated that, with scientific
cooking, ten persons can be served a
god meal at five cents head, or fifteen
cents a dav.
While these people have been theoriz-
ing the Ruskinites have demonstrated
by actual experience the lowest possible
daily cost for food for their entire COM
munity. This cost is so low as to be
almost beyond belief. Before proceed
ing further, l will state that tn1
Ruskinites are socialists, living six
miles southwest of Waycross The col
ony settled at Duke, In Ware county,
just one year ago, and numbers up
ward of three hundred souls. They be-
lieve firmly in the doctrln that society
should be reorganized by regulating
property, industry and the sources of
livelihood. They also believe in a COM
munity of property and the negation
of individual rights in that property.
The colonists have given much time
and study to economic questions, and
have solved the riddle how to live at
the lowest cost. When forced to leave
their Tennessee homes the colonists
were hard pushed, but they possessed
stout hearts and willing hands, and to-
day are on fair road to prosperity.
They live, and live well, at an actual
cost per capita of less than ten cents
day
Everything they consume is bought
by wholesale in large quantities, and Is
cooked in the community kitchen In
the community dining room tables are
set for 300 people. Those who do not
wish to eat with the crowd are given
the privilege of purchasing company
stores and cooking it at home When
vegetables are scarce these people are
allowed seven cents per capita a day;
that is, seven cents for each person.
big, little, old, young, sick or well.
When vegetables are plentiful the cash
allowance is only five cents. As the
raises its own vegetables
the approximate cost is only about two
cents per capita a day, making the ac-
tual cost of living at Ruskin from sew
en- to nine cents day. for each man,
woman and child.
Let us go into the community dining
room and see how they live. We go at
the invitation of Professor Denny. an
socialist speaker and scholar.
In a large room, twenty feet wide and |
$50 feet long we see nearly three humid |
red men, women and children seated al |
ong tables. Breakfast is our first meal |
1t is well prepared, savory and daitilv |
served. We make wholesome meal |
Of light bread furnished by the colony
baker, butter Georgia syrup, oatmeal, |
irish potatoes, milk, cereal coffee and |