The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-06-24


The cost OF foods to the average
poor family OF America has increased
Isixteen per cent since 1896.
| This statement is based upon the
figures contained in the eighteenth
annual report Of the Bureau Of La.
Dor for the year 1908, which was
published last week.
i This increase is confined to food
alone, and does not include the tre-
mendous increase in rent which has
Iburdened dwellers in our great
Icities during the past few years.
| The data were made up from in
formation gathered from 25 ,440 fam
lilies.
i These families consist OF an aver
age of 5 l 3 persons.
The income OF these families aver
ages 1927. l9 year.
The expenditures average s768. "a
per year.
The disbursements were:
! Food, 42.54; payments on mort
cages, taxes, property, life insur-
snce, religion, charity, amusements,
Intoxicating liquors, sickness and
death, 14.51
| Miscellaneous purposes not re-
ported, such as pocket money and
small presents, amounted to 5.S7.
l Rent, 1926.
| Clothing, 14.O4.
1 Fuel and lighting, 5 %.
Furniture and utinsils, 3.42.
l Tobacco, 14.2.
Outside OF food expenses no COM
Iputstion was made by the Govern.
Iment, but with the exception Of rent
land tobacco the Government expert
lis OF the opinion that they vary very
little from 1896.
In 1896 the averge cost Of food
per family was $296.76.
4 Last year it was $344.61.
In estimating the value OF this in.
Grease of sixteen per cent in the
cost OF food on the working popula-
Ition OF the country, many thing:
! Into consideration.
Few workingmen, and none wha.
ever engaged in manufacturing work
; are employed steadily, but all mus
eat steadily, dress steadily, and live
, lin houses steadily.
From this it will be seen tha
while the increase of the percentag,
, of expenditures is going on all the
thine, the increase of earnings which
has been granted in some trades
lgoes on only part OF the time.
We think il would be just to say
that a sixteen per cent increase in
the price OF food would require al
least twenty per cent increase in
wages to put the workingman in the
same position that he previously oc'
lcupied.
II is very unfortunate that the
Government expert was unable to
secure accurate figures OF the in
lcrease of cost Of wearing apparel,
,lhousehold furniture and rent.
|, | In a recent investigation held for
1.-THE purpose Of arbitrating the ques'
ltion of street car mems wages in
lSan Francisco il was shown that
Irents for such houses as were occo-
pied by men earning a thousand
\ dollars a year had increase twenty
per cent. Cross-examination failed
Ito shake this testimony, which in
avery case was backed up by the
trent receipts.
Similar proof was offered in recent
Investigations in Chicago, New York
land Denver.
i Owing to combinations among
manufacturers and dealers all such
commodities as coal and coal.oil
have increased not twenty per cent
|but nearer forty per cent.
i In view OF these facts, the work
,lingman may we'll ask what has be-
|come of his share of the great pros.
lperlty OF the country.
He may have received a fifteen
per cent increase in wages, but be
has had to pay sixteen per cent
: more for bis food, and twenty pei
cent more for his rent and coal.
Prosperity, instead of helping him,
,lhas crowded him between the upper
,lmillstone OF the trusts and the meth
Ter millstones Of high prices for food
products, brought about by high
prices for farm products, caused by
lforeign demand.
Where doss the prosperity for the
lplain people come in2
No mother would allow wine OF
whiskey in her home If she realized