The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1903-02-06
FUEL IN FAMILY ECONOMY.
Should Rise and Fall A.
cording to Income.

The law Of expenditure as laid down
by DR.. Engel of Germany embraced the
rule that the percentage of a family's in
come expended for fuel or light is invar1-
ably the same, whatever the income. II
the Engel law is sound, the aggregate
expenditure on account of fuel for the
same family should rise and fall with the
income. Income remaining the same this
year as last, it follows that equal ex-
penditure this year with last will b%.
made for fuel by the average family; and
no more; and if coal remains ut from Sc
to ~ a ton, the quantity purchased
should shrink about 30 per cent. which
is the approximate increase in price over
last year.
1t is probable that this figure does not
exaggerate the actual decline in the de-
mand for coal which will be experienced
at present prices. 1t is more likely that
the percentages Of decline in demand will
ent 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. Amer
leans are the most extravagant people
in the world in the heating of their habi-
tatlons. The average house in these
heated pretty nearly from top to bottom
throughout the six months of cool and
cold weather.: In Europe a family will
expend, say 3 per cent. Of the income on
fuel, and get less for the same money
IMAM mere, compelling the confinement OF
iva; warmth nth to small fraction Of the dwell
ing ana the use Of portable stoves; but
an American family will expend 6 to 8
per cent. of income, 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 or 8
per cent. of income.
g ms is far more than anyone is JUST
fed in expanding for fuel: AS the rent
charge cannot be allowed to rise much
ABOVE II per cent. of income with due
regard for economy and saving against
sickness and old age, so the fuel charge
is TO be considered extravagant when it
exceeds 3 or per cent of income. But
coal at 50 ton will call for the expendi-
lure or a much larger percentage of in
come If the old standard of comfort is to
be maintained, and, accordingly, the old
Standard OF comfort in a good many cases
Will be compelled to give way in the
present emergency. One of the Boston
papers notes quite a general determina-
parts Of the house this winter. The par-
!ors and sometimes the sitting rooms will
be elosed-according to present intentions
and heat excluded from the sleeping
rooms, in which case the winter will
prove healthier than usual. One man
has calculated that; with the heat shut
off from the chambers and the parlor.
lie 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 sitting room than has
been known since the day Of the fireplace
as the exclusive means Of heat for COM
fort or cooking. 1t will be a tendency
not helpful to the coal corporations, nor
yet to the miners, but it may prove salu-
tary in general effect.-Springfeld Re !.
publican. t>..5 49, - -.