The Portland daily press., 1900-11-30
CHEAP LIVING AT RUsKIN.
Ten Cents Day Sunless for the Georgia
Commmnai coisnists.


(Savannan News)
What lie the lowest possible daily cost of
food for an adult man in the United
Statesy This IL question that is receiv-
ing great deal OF attention from scholars
ana economists throughout the land.
Presidents Harper Of the University OF
Chicago is of the opinion that three
square meals day can be had at ths cost
Of IS cents. 10 may be well to note, how
ever. that the eminent gentleman has not
sufficient faith In his theory to put 1t 10
a practical test. Many. students ara dis
oussing the subject, and advance some
beautiful theories. Prof. Harrison OF
the university OF Pennnsyivania reports
that the students OF that institution are
we'll fed at cost OF so cents day head,
William A. Morse Of Chicago says he has
been living on 81 week for the last nve
years, which Is just IA 81 cents day
Edward Atkinson has Theoretically
demonstrated that, with scientific cook
ing, ten persons can be served a good meal
at five cents head. or 10 cents day.
While these people have been theorizing
the Ruskinites have demonstrated by &C
tual experience the lowest possible daily
cost for food for their entire community.
This cost is 30 low as to be almost beyond
belief. Before proceeding further, VIII
state that the Ruskinites are socialists,
living six miles southwest OF Wayoross.
The colony settled at Duke, In Ware
county, Just one year ago. and numbers
- IL RaItoWQ firmly
In the doctrine that society should be
reorganized by regulating property, In
dustry, and the sources of livelihood.
They also believe In community OF
property and the nsgation OF individual
rights in that property.
The oolonists have given much time and
study to economic questions, ana have
solved the riddle how TO live at the lowest
cost. When forced TO leave their Iennes-
see home, the colonists were hard pushed,
but they possessed stout hearts and will
ing hands, and today are ON q fair road
to prosperity. They live, and live wall.
at an actual cost per capita OF less than
10 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 IDf OuO EOOptcs LnOpo VIM w NV WAnA
to eat with the crowd are given the priv
ilege OF purchasing company stores and
cooking at home. When vegetables are
scarce these people are allowed seven cents
per capita q day, that ID, seven cents Ter
each person, big, little, old. young, sick
or we'll. When vegetables are plentiful
the cash allowance is only i've cents.
AS the community raises Its own vegeta-
bles, the approximate cost Is only about
two cents per capita day, making the
actual cost of living at Ruskin from
seven to nine cents a day for each man,
woman and child.
Let us go into the community dining
room and see how they live. We 60 at
the invitation of Prof. Denny, an emil
nent socialist speaker and scholar. In
large room, 20 feet wide and 100 feet long,
we see nearly SOO men, women ana child
rem seated at long tables, breakfast is
our first meal. 1t lie we'll prepared, savory
and daintily served. We MAXI a whole
some meal on light bread furnished by
the colony baker, butter, Georgia strip,
oatmeal, Irish potatoes, milk, cereal
coffee and sugar. Sometimes We have
fried mush, with fruits and jellies.
Our dinner generally varies according
to the season. Meat only comes to the
table twios 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 colonists, as
one OF their main industries.
For supper, cheese In some form,
lemonade cake, rice or beans, sugar, grlts
mush. fried potatoes, cold tea and bread
The person visiting Ruskin and taking
his meals in the community dining room
will have the above bill of fare placed be-
fore him, with slight variations. He will
find that it Is not only possible, but
practicable for people to live at cost OF
from seven to nine cents day per capita.
1t is not merely existing, but the meals
are wholesome, satisfying and well pre-
pare1. or course, there are no little
delicacies, except for the sick. There is
no wine, simply a meal that will stick
to the ribs and possessing sufficient
nutrition to enable the people to do the
hardest Kind OF work. As will be
noticed, the colonists only fget meat
twice a week. They will do better on
this line after while, when they get
START at stock raising, and then the per
capita will probably he reduced to even
less than seven cents day.