The evening Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1902-1902, 1902-06-10
THE COST
OF LIVING.

|
Smith, the government agents secur-
ing data as the cost Of living have
been amused by the complaints to
the police that they were suspicious.
f., Some time ago the government
decided to make an investigation on
these lines and special agents are
being sent to every city with more
than 30. 900 people. and are obtaining
the information directly from the
people themselves In this city the
agents will see about 200 people for
the purpose Of obtaining the desired
statistics from them. They will
also see the manufacturing establish.
ments and other employers Of labor
for the purpose of getting the aver
age rate Of wages paid for the pur-
pose of getting the average rate of
wages paid for the past ten years,
and will also see grocery store an d
provision storekeepers for the purpose
Of ascertaining the average prices of
standard articles of food during the
same period. The work done by these
agents is similar to that done by the
census ennumerators except that the
latter officials visit every family and
ask questions concerning age and
occupation Of the m m ber S
of the family, while these men
visit few in each neighborhood
and ask them questions concerning
the cost Of living. The questions
asked vary according to the ability of
the person questioned to answer.
Included in the questions are the
name of the head OF the family, the
nationality. the number OF the house
and the street upon which 1t is locat-
ed, the name Of the husband, the
wife and children, their average of
days idle. and the years earnings.
Under the head OF expenditures are
included questions as to the rent of
rooms or house, cost Of fuel, lighting,
clothing, food and all other expenses.
In other cases questions are asked
as to the total years earnings, the
income from other sources, and the
questions as to the cost of food, in
Guiding the cost of fresh and salt
beef, fresh aud salt hog products,
ether meats, poultry, fish, eggs,
milk, butter, cheese. tea, coffee, sugar
molasses, lard, flour and meal, bread,
rice, fruits, potatoes, other vegetables
vinegar and pickles, other food. cost
Of clothing for husband and wife and
children, taxes, property insurance,
life insurance, labor organizations,
other associations, charity, furniture,
and utensils, books and newspapers,
amusements and vacations, distilled
and fermented liquors, tobacco, sick
ness and death and ether purposes
whether there was surplus or de-
ficit at the end of the year. QueS-
tions were also asked as to how the
the surplus is expended if there was
one, or how the deficit was met if it
resulted.
While the names of the persons
questioned are taken no public use of
them is ever made. The statistics
will be printed by the government
without mentioning names, and the
name is taken merely for the purpose
Ofshowing the head of the depart
ment in Washington that the special
anent has attended to his duties and
has asked the proper questions. Those
who answer the questions and give
the desired information will be assist
ing the government in securing valu-
able statistics from which the cost of
living In different cities in this coun-
try may be obtained and compared.
The name is known only to the
special agent and to the head of the
department in Washington to whom
the report IS made.