Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-08
FUEL IN FAMILY ECONOMY.
Encct OF Abnormal Price OF Coal on
New England Homes.
SprinRdeld Mass Renuhftc.,

Eject OF Abnormal Price OF Coal on
New England Homes.
Springfield Mass.) Republican.
n law OF expenditure as laid down b.
Or. EngeI Of Germany embraced the rule
that the percentage Of a family's income
expended for fuel or light is Invariably
the same. whatever the income. II the
Engel law is sound. the aggregate. expend-
iture on account of fuel for the same family
should rise and fall with the income. In
come Remaining the same this year az
last, It follows that equal expenditure this
year with last will be made for fuel By the
average family, and no more; and Il coal
remains at from So to 50 a ton, as now.
and as II may remain we'll into the winter.
the quantity purchased should shrink about
30 per cent, which is the approximate in
crease In price over last year.
1t is probable that this figure does NOT
exagserate the actual decline in the de-
mand for coal which will be experienced
at present prices. It is more likely that
the percentage Of decline in demand Will
exceed that Of increase in price, for pres
emit conditions must have the effect of
calling the attention Of the average man
to the very large item which fuel has
come to be In the family economy.
Americans are the most e~xtravagant people
In the world in the heating OF their habit
tations. The average house in these parts
OF the United States is srtincially heated
Pssssy nearly frVn tvp " DOt1Om through
out the six months Of cool and cold
weather. In Europe a family viii a.
pend, say, 5 per cent Of the income on
fuel, and gets less for the same money
than here, compelling the confinement Of
warmth to a small fraction Of the dwelling
and the use Of portable stoves. but an
American family viii expend 6 to 8 DER
cent OF inenmes and, with prices of coal no
more than they were last year, the average
family could not heat the whole house for
much less than s or Q per cent of income.
This IL Tar more than any one Is justified
IN expanding for fuel. As the rent charge
cannot be flowed to rise much above IL
per cent OF income. with due regard for
economy end saving against sickness and
OLD age, 30 the fuel charge is to be con-
sidered e~xtravagant when It exceeds & or q
per cent Of income. But coal at a a ton
Will call for the expenditure OF n much
larger percentage Of income II the old
standard OF comfort is to be maintained
and accordingly the old standard Of comfort
In good many cases will be compelled IN
give way in the present emergency. one Of
the Boston papers notes quite a general
determination among people whereabouts to
shut up DartaC OF the house this winter.
The parlors and sometimes the sitting
rooms will be closed-accordIng to present
intentions--and heat excluded from the
sleeping rooms. in which case the winter
win prove healthier than usual One man
has calculated that with the heat. shut on
from the chambers and the parIor he can
get along with half the amount Of coal
usually burned.
As matters are now disposed. there will
certainly be a more general turning Of the
kitchen into q sitting room than has been
known since the day OF the fireplace as the
exclusive means OF heat for comfort or
cooking. It will be a tendency not helpful
to the coal corporations nor yet TO the
miners, but It may prove s~aiutery IN gem
erai effect.