Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-03
LESS THAN TEN CENTS DAILY.
What 1t Costs to Live in the Ruskin
Colony In Georgia
From the Savannah News.

From the Savannah News
What is the lowest possible daily cost of
food for an adult man in the United States?
This Is a question that is receiving a great
deal OF attention from scholars and econo-
mists throughout the land. President Har-
per of the University of Chicago Is of the
opinion that three square meals day can
be had at a cost Of 10 cents. 1t may be well
to note. however. that the eminent gentle
man has not sufficient faith in his theory
to put 1t to a practical test. Many students
are discussing the subject, and advance
some beautiful theories. Professor Harri-
son of the University of Pennsylvania re-
ports that the students of that institution
are well fed at cost of 80 cents a day
head. William A. Morse Of Chicago says
he has been living on 81 week for the last
five years. which Is just IA 81 cents day.
Edward Atkinson has theoretically demon
strated that with scientific cooking ten per-
sons can be served good meal at cents a
head, or Is cents a day.
While these people have been theorzng
the Ruskinites have demonstrated by actual
experience the lowest possible daily cost for
food for their entire community. This cost
Is low as to be almost beyond belief.
Before proceeding further. 1 will state that
the Ruskinites socialists. living six
miles southwest of Waycross. The colony
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
community 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 Tennes-
see home the colonists were hard pushed.
but they possessed stout hearts and willing
hands. and today are on a fair road to
prosperity. They live, and live well. at an
actual cost per capita Of less than ~ cents
a day.
Everything they consume is bought at
wholesale, In large quantities, and is cooked
in the community kitchen. In the COM
munity dining room tables are set for $50
people Those who do not wish to eat with
the crowd are given the privilege Of pur-
chasing company stores and cooking II at
home When vegetables are scarce these
people are allowed cents per capita a day
that L.. cents for each person. big. little
old. young. sick or well. When vegetables
are plentiful the cash allowance is only 5
cents. As the community raises its own
vegetables, the approximate cost Is only about
2 cents per capita a day. making the actual
cost of living at Ruskin from to cents a
day for each man. woman and child.
Let US go into the community dining room
and see how they live. We go at the invi-
tation of Professor Denny. an eminent So
room 20 feet wide and $50 feet long see
nearly 800 men. women and children seated
at long tables. Breakfast Is our first meal.
1t is well prepared. savory and daintily
served. We make a wholesome meal on
light bread furnished by the colony baker.
butter. Georgia syrup. oatmeal. Irish pota-
toes, milk. cereal coffee and sugar. Some
times we have fried mush, with fruits and
telies.
Our dinner generally varies according to
the season. Meat only comes to the table
twice a week. The tIll Of fare usually con-
some two or more of these. Georgia syrup,
beets. tomatoes. eggplants potatoes, soup.
bread and cereal cofee-cereal coffee Is
manufactured by the colOnists, and Is one
OF their main Industries.
For supper, cheese In some form, lemon
ade. cake. rice or beans. sugar. grits. mush.
fried potatoes. cold tea and bread The per-
son visiting Ruskin and taking his meals
in the community dining room will have the
above bill of fare placed before him. with
slight variations. He will find that It Is
not only possible. but practicable, for peo-
pie to live at a cost OF from seven to nine
cents a day per capita. II Is not merely
existing but the meals are wholesome
satisfying and well prepared. OF course
there are no little deicacies. except for the
sick There is no wine. simply meal that
will stick to the ribs. and possessing
sufficient nutrition to enable the people &c
do the hardest kind OF work. As Will be
noticed. the colonists only get meat twice
a week. They will do better on this line
after q WHILE when they get a start al
stock raising. and then the per capita vii
probably be reduced to even less thar
seven cents day.
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