The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-12-03
CHEAP LIVING AT RUSKIN.
Ten Cents a Day Suffices for the Geor-
gia Communal Colonists.

gia Communal Colonists.
What is the lowest possible cost OF
food for an adult man in the United
States? This is question: that is re-
ceiving a 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 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-
RES. Professor Harrison of the Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania, reports that the
students of that institution are we'll fed
at cost of fifty cents a day a head.
William A. Morse, of Chicago, says he
has been living on one dollar week for
the last five years, which is just four
teen and two-seventh cents a day. Ed
ward Atkinson has theoretically de-
monstrated that, with scientific cook
ing, ten persons can be served good
meal at five cents head, or fifteen
cents day.
While these people have been theo-
rizing the Ruskinites have demonstra-
ted by actual experience the lowest pos
sible daily cost for fiod for their entire
community. This cost is so low as to
be almost beyond belief Before pro-
ceeding further, will state that the
Ruskinites are socialists, living six
miles southwest of Waycross. The COL
ony settled at Duke, in Ware county,
just one year ago, and numbers upward
Of three hundred souls. They believe
firmly in the doctrine 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 home, the colonists
We're hard pushed, but they possessed
stout hearts and willing hands, and to-
day are on a fair road to prosperity.
They live, and live well, at an actual
cost per capita of less than ten cents a
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 three hundred 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 peo-
pie are allowed seven cents per capita
day, that is, seven cents for each per-
son, big, little, old, young, sick or we'll.
When vegetables are plentiful the cash
allowance is only five cents AS the
community raises it's own vegeta bles,
the approximate cost is only about two
cents per capita a day, making the ac-
tual cost of living at Ruskin firm seven
TONNE cents a day for each man, wo-
man and child.
Let us go into the community dining
room and see how they live. We go at
the invitation of Professor Denny, an
eminent socialist speaker and scholar.
In a large room, twenty feet wide and
one hundred and fifty feet long, we see
nearly three hundred men, women and
children seated at long tables. Break
fast is our first meal. 1t is we'll pre-
pared, savory and daintily served. We
make a wholesome meal in light bread
furnished by the colony baker, butter
Georgia strip oatmeal, Irish potatoes,
milk, cereal coffee and sugar. Some
times we have fried mush, with fruits
and jellies.
Our dinner generally varies according
to the season. Meat only comes to the
table twice a week The bill of fare
usually consists of rice or peas, beans
or macaroni some two or more of these.
Georgia strip, beets, tomatoes, egg
plants, potatoes, soup, bread and cereal
coffee-cereal coffee is made by the col
oniets, as one of their main industries
For supper, cheese in some form, lem
onade cake, rice or beans, sugar, grits,
mush, fried potatoes, cold tea and
bread The person visiting Rusl1in and
taking his meals in the community
dining-room will have the above bill of
fare placed before him, with slight va
riations. He will find that It is not only
possible, but practicable, for people to
live at a cost if from seven to nine
cents a ped per capita. 1t is not merely
existing, but the meals are wholesome,
and well prepared. OF |
there are no little delicacies I
except for the sick. There is no wine,
simply meal that will ''stick to the
ribs" and possessing sufficient nutri- |
ton to enable the people to do the hard
est kind of work. AS will be noticed, |
the colonists only get meat twice a
week. They will do better on this line
after a while, when they get start at !
stock raising, and then the per capita
will probably be reduced to even less
han seven cents a day.-Savannah
News.
Miss Fanny Brown of Newington left |