Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1901-05-30
IN RUSKIN COLONY
georgia Colony Wherein Livins
Costs But Little.
system ny which the Expense OF sss-
tanning Life IL Reduced o .
Minim um-The Bill
Of Fare.

What is the lowest possible daily
cost Of food for an adult man in the
United States2 This Is a question that
Is receiving a great deal Of attention
from scholars and economists through
out the land. President Harper. OF
the University Of Chicago, Is of the
opinion that three square meals a day
can be had at the cost OF Is cents.
II may be well TO note, however. that
the eminent gentleman has not SUM-
cient faith in his theory to put II to .
practical test. Many students me dis
cussing the subject. and advance some
beautiful theories. Prof. Harrison. OF
the University Of Pennsylvania. reports
that the students OF that institution
are well fed at a cost OF 5 cents n day
a head. William A. Morse, OF Chicago.
says he has been living on one dollsr
a week for the last five years, which
is just II 2-7 cents a day. Edward At
kinson has theoretically demonstrated
that, with scientific cooking, ten per-
sons can be served n good meal at five
cents a head. OF IS cents a day. says the
Savannah (Ga.} News.
While these people have been theorix-
ing the Ruskinites have demonstrated
by actual experience the lowest possible
daily cost for food for their entire com
munity. This cost il so low as TO be al
most beyond belief. Before proceeding
.rther. I will state that the Ruskin-
| ties are socialists. living six miles south
west of Waycross. The colony settled
at Duke. In Ware county, just one year
ago, and numbers upward of 300 souls.
They believe firmly in the doctrine
that society should he recognized by
regulating property. industry, and the
sources OF livelihood. They also b,Ee,e
In a community OF property and the
negation of individual rights in that
property.
The co,onists have given much time
and study to economic questions. and
have solved the riddle how to live al
the lowest cost. When forced to leave
their Tennessee home the colonists
were hard pushed. but they possessed
stout hearts and willing hands, and 10
day are on a fair rond to prosperity
They live, and live we'll. at an actua
cost per capita OF less than ten cents
n day.
Everything they consume is bought
by wholesale in large quantities, and II
cooked in the community kitchen. II
the community dininR-room tables arr
set for 30 people. Those who do mo-
wish 10 eat with the crowd are given tn
privilege OF Purchasing company store
and cooking II at home. When vege
tables are scarce these people are al
lowed seven cents per capita a day
that Is, seven cents for each person. big
little, old, young, sick or well. Whel
vegetables are plentiful the cash allow
ance is only five cents. As the com
munity raises its own vegetables III
approximation cos is only about tw
cents per capita a day, making the az
tual cost Of living at Ruskin from seyc
TO nine cents a day for each man, o
an and child.
! Let usgo into the community dinini
room and see how they live. We go
the invitation of Prof. Denny, an EN-
nent socialist speaker and scholar. ]
n large room, 90 feet wide and 80 fe,
long, we see nearly 300 men, wome
and children seated at long table
Breakfast is our first meal. II Is we
prepared, savory, and daintily serve
We make n wholesome meal on ligi
bread furnished by the colony bake
butter, Georgia sirup, oatmeal, Iris
potatoes. milk. cereal coffee and sugn
Sometimes we have fried mush, wit
fruits and %iellies.
Our dinner generally varies accor
ing to the season. Meat only comes
the table twice II week. The bill
fare usually consists OF rice or pea
beans or macaroni. some W or mo
of these: Georgia's rup, beets. tom
toes. egg plants, potatoes, soup, brei
and cereal coffee-cereal coffee Is mat
by the colonists, as one Of their ma
industries.
For supper, cheese In some form. lei
onadc. cake, rice or beans. sugar, grit
mush, fried potatoes, cold tea al
bread. The person visiting Ruskin NJ
taking his meals in the community di
ing-room will have the above hill Of IA
placed before him, with slight vnri
'lbnrs nv VI ~ 'hbA ~ h'l vi
possible, but practicable. for people
live at a cost Of from seven to nine cen
n per capita. II is not merely G
isting, hut the meals are wholeson
satisfying and well prepared.
course, there are no little delicaci,
except for the sick. There il no wiz
simply a meal that will stick to I
ribs" and possessing sufficient nut
tion TO enable the people to do the har
est kind OF work. As will be- motto,
the c~olonists only get meat twice
week. They will do better OF this II
after awhile, when they get a start
stock raising, and then the per cap
will probably be reduced to even Il
than seven cents a day.