Evening star., 1904-03-11
LIVING HAS INCREASED
IREPORT OF THE MARYLAND BU-
REAU OF STATISTICS
Demand for Material for Rebuilding al
Baltimore Likely to Tax Deal
ers-Requests for Aid.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
BALTIMORE. March 11.-During the past
two years the cost OF living in Baltimore
has increased 16.1 per cent according to
the report Just issued by the Maryland
bureau of statistics and information, OF
which Thomas A. Smith Is chief. In COM
menting on this Increase the report states
''Of course, this increased cost Of living
Is sufficient to Justify an increase OF wages
of equal amount to keep the working people
anywhere near the same relative position
they occupied before the rise In the cost
of living; but If we take into consideration
the fact that with this rise In prices and a
10 per cent increase in wages, there Is also
a rise in the standard of living and an in
crease In the growing wants of the people.
II will be readily seen that the wage In
crease Is Inadequate"
The report on sweatshops Shows that In
two districts the compulsory education law
is being violated in 176 instances. where
children under sixteen years of age are en-
ployed; of these. % can neither read nor
write. There are S37 sweatshops in Balti-
more. of which 221 were inspected during
the year.
In these 221 buildings there are 1883 per-
sons employed, 724 of this number consti-
ltuting 152 families whose places of abode
are in these shops.
Compulsory Education.
The report also shows that the compul-
sorry education law is being violated in %
large mercantile establishments. where 201
males and POI females under sixteen years
of age and Al males and So females under
fourteen years of age are employed.
During last year there were % strikes and
lockouts In Maryland, of which q were In
baltimore. the same number as In 1902, and
twhile the loss In wages was greater the re-
fsults to the working people were more sat
isfactory The establishments affected by
strikes employed 6.310 persons and ALI
were benefited by the strike of 1912. The
loss In wages is estimated at $169 178 OF
the % strikes ordered by unions ID were
successful, unsuccessful and are still un-
settled There are III labor organizations
in Maryland. with a membership Of p, ,343
in good standing. During the past year
10 new unions were formed.
Conjecture Over Building Supplies.
There is much concern felt among
business men who contemplate rebuild
ing over the question to whether
the supply of building material will be
equal to the demand. This is the Sc
rious problem that now confronts the
contractors and builders. now that 1t is
definitely known that work in all sections of
the burnt district may be begun next Mon
day.
One of the most prominent builders in
the city takes anything but an optimistic
! view of the situation. In discussing the
subject he said to The Star correspondent
today: ''The demand for material this
spring will be the greatest ever known, and
1t seems very doubtful II the manufactur-
ers. even IL they work three shifts a day,
can produce material in sufficient quantity
to keep the builders steadily at work.
1.-The most serious situation exists IN the
structural iron supply. as structural iron
is the axis around which building opera
tions revolve. Why. last year, when nor
NAL conditions prevailed. 1 know of struc-
lures that were delayed two and three
months because of inability to secure struc-
tural ironwork. Never before was there
such activity in railroad building. and this
further drains the ironwork supply.
Then again, there's Rochester and sew
eral other cities of like size that have lost
great structures by fire. and will want a
large supply or iron when the work of re-
building is begun. Taken all In all, the
situation is anything but pleasant for the
builders to contemplate"
Buildings of Hopkins Estate.
Architects and builders generally are
anxious to learn what the trustees OF the
Johns Hopkins Hospital propose to do In
regard to the reconstruction of the many
buildings of the Hopkins estate that were
destroyed. President Henry D. Harlan Of
the board of trustees stated to The Star
correspondent today that the money real
ized from insurance is not sufficient to re-
place all the buildings
1t is understood however. that the trus-
tees have practically decided to rebuild as
many OF the structures as the funds at
their disposal will permit. An effort is also
being made by the trustees to secure a
benefaction. which will enable the hospital
to tide over its financial straits until all
the property from which its revenue was
received can be restored.
A striking feature of the work OF the
citizens relief committee is the fact that
although 5000 to 10000 persons were
thrown out OF employment, only 3S4 families
have applied for relief. The total amount
expended thus far is 81, 1.4O. as follows
Food. 1861 80: fuel. s21712: cash. 1914. .68;
clothing, si1.s6; sick diet, $12.63; bed
ding and furniture $2TT.11; rent. $S3. so;
tools. to enable applicants to resume work
at their trades, $S257.
Many of the persons who received cash
were reluctant to seek aid and only ac-
cepted the money on condition that 1t was
to be regarded as loan. The committee
has sufficient funds on hand to supply all
present wants. and express every confidence
that all distress can be alleyiated