The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-06
THE COST OF LIVING
IN WASHINGTON
BY F. T. Lincoln ~

What does it cost to live in Wash
ington? This is question often put
to one who has lived there by people
back in the states and the answer
might in truth be made 'all that you
can earn"
But 1t will be of interest to our
readers to learn something ofsthe alb
solute cost of living in the Capitol
city as compared with that in other
large cities and the statement that it
costs"a one can earn" is to be taken
with degree of salt to use the en-
preston.
The opportunities to spend money
in Washington are many and the al
lurements so subtle and SO seductive
that one parts with the dollars almost
unwittingly, entranced by the charm
OF the beautiful metropolis situated
upon the banks of the historic Poto-
mac.
But to be fair and candid. the actual
cost of the commodities of life in
Washington is not in excess of that of
nearly any of the larger cities, in fact
considerable less and it is owing to
the following out of ones inclinations
TO live and enjoy the beautiful that the
cash seems to dwindle away so rapid
ly in the capitol city.
Washington is situated in the heart
of a productive country. Across the
broad Potomac, the fertile farms of
Virginia furnish an abundance of the
products of the dairy and the garden.
1t is Il common sight at early morn
ing time to witness truck cart after
truck cart moving along the roads
leading to the city laden with rich
products of the Virginia and Maryland
farms and gardens. The great mar
ket in the center of the city is the mec-
CD for which these gardeners are head
ed and in no market in this country
can more and a better quality of edi-
bles be purchased than in the markets
OF Washington.
Situated as it is on the Chesapeake
bay, sea foods can be obtained at "a
very reasonable price in the national
capitol In fact, oysters are pur-
chased by the bushel in Washington
and daily residents are seen driving
to the wharfs where fresh bivalves,
just taken from their bed in the ia
nous bay may be procured at % cents
bushel.
We of the far west can hardly APP
preciate this as oysters, at the best
with us are an expensive luxury and
the article we purchase here has little
of the flavor of the fresh, delicious
oysters of the coast.
| Dwelling houses in Washington can
be procured at fairly reasonable rates
seven room flat or cottage in Il
nice part of the city rents for from
500 to $50 month and as the winters
are not severe though often so chilly
as to require heat for same months,
the cost of a home to live in is not
eXhorbitant. Board in some one of
the many boarding houses will cost
from $25 to$30 per month, room in
cluded. and where two room together
this cut down in a liberal proportion
Government clerks who are employ
ed at Washington seldom save any
money. Easy comes, easy goes" is
an old saw and it is true in this case
Uncle Sam is good paymaster and
pays his help in fresh, crisp green
backs, and always on time. The work
of a government clerk is far from ar
duous and he has considerable of time
to himself. This is one reason for the
formation of the habit of extravaganza
which results in making true the as
sertion made in the first part of this
article, lit cost all one can earn"
Idleness is the mother of mischief,
says the sage and it is also strong
auxiliary to the wanton expenditure
of money. For these reasons few
clerks employed at Washington ever
save much, If any, of their salary and
when the AK falls and they find that
their influence, meaning the politi-
cal powers which hold them in their
position can no longer stand the pres
sure but must "let co., then there is
certain to be young man or young
woman who will write letter home
not entirely filled with discussions up
on the weather or the beauties, of
Washington. There are of course, en-
ceptiOns to the rule and some of the
employees have found it possible to
save a portion of their salary and still
enjoy the sights and the glamor of
magnificent distances. In justice to
Washington it must be said that under
ordinary circumstances it is no more
expensive as a place to live than other
large cities if the same economy is
practiced but if assumes consider
able magnitude and dignity in this
case.