Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-12-10
WHAT 1T COSTS TO LIVE
IN SOME LARGE CITIES

O.
Miss Caroline Goodyear's statemen,
that $3.50 year was the absolute
minimum on which family of six
could live decently in New York has
aroused wave of interest throughout
the United States, and statisticians
and economists have been figuring
out the comparative costs In other
great centers OF population. One New
York newspaper has obtained few
of these reports. They show that de.
cent living for a family of six costs
from $500 in Philadelphia to 81 900
in New Orleans
These figures are based on the alb
solute necessities of life. I.uxuries
such ms tobacco. theaters, cnEdy and
occasional outings for the family are
not included Beer, ales and light
wines, which are frequently an ex-
pense of considerable size in many
families, are also excluded from the
estimates
| Miss Goodycar's statement was en-
braced in paper read before the
New York state conference of chari.
ties and corrections at Rochester. and
as member of the New York char
ity organization she spoke with au
thority.
Her statement indicated that In her
opinion a family of six persons could
hardly exist In New York decently
even with an annual income of $3.50.
/ Even In case she cited 1t was inn
| nAcgfkta -, %,
rainy day" After declaring that
apartments of five rooms should cost
at least 81 per month per room. she
added:
Flats at this price rarely include
either bath. heat or private hall. and
IT Is necessary to make careful selec-
ton among tacm in order 10 find
Ing environment or from serious de-
fects of lighting, sanitation and re-
pair
''It would seem that reasonable
comfort can hardly be obtained for a
| family of average size until there is
at least ere room besides the kitchen
which Is not ordinarily used as a
/ 81 'I'ttR lbVHit iHibhbll hbt
experience in most New York homes
that an extra room is usually occu.
| pied by more or less permanent
guest may suggest the inexpediency
of TOO great liberality in this direc-
ton
In commenting on her statement
that a family OF six persons could
| hutsfltV al Hggantly In
an annual income of $3.50, Miss Good
year said that while the average fam
lily in the Easi Side tenement often
manages to exist on that amount or
less, the conditions of such an exist
ence are poisoning to both body and
soul.
THE temptation to overcrowding In
New York is almost Irresistible In
the matters OF light. ventilation and
privacy and is not by any means con
fined to dependent families. Vermin
and filth. disease. tuberculosis, the
impairment and loss of sight and the
necessity laid upon young men and
women of seeking their social life
outside the home in saloons and dance
| arc sunni VI INC hiOHh 'ohPPit'
Gus symptoms Of the trouble.
Prom five to ten years ago an
| annual income of $3.50 meant a much
nearer approach to an adequate stand
ard OF living than ii does now. The
| cost of rents, food and clothing has
increased in far greater proportion
than wages. Owing to the wholesale
| taa ,f,, ,f dvyaiIin0
| the erection of office buildings, the
two-room apartment which formerly
| filled the needs of many small fam
| lilies is far harder to find now than
| II was several years ago. Practically
none of the newer apartment houses
are built with less than three or four
rooms 10 the apartment. In this way
are forced to make their home In a
single room where formerly they had
at least one room besides the kitchen
that was not used to sleep in"
Sociological experts declare that
$500 per year is the minimum upon
which family Of six can live de
Gently in Philadelphia. The Civic
| CluD anu lNtW ttutuiy tiub VI thh'
city. composed of women. have each
made Investigations into the subject
and that figure is placed as the very
lowest at which life can be sustained.
The schedule runs as follows:
Per year.
Rent, s13 per month ............s s15S
Table. $5 week. ............... 260
'
CLONES ................... lVV
fCar iare ..'...-.'........ .-...'.' "u
tas ......-......-.. IL
lncidentals ,.,.....,.......... AZ
| IOthl. S"V'
Owing to the vast number. OF two
story houses containing from six to
eight rooms and renting from si2 tc
SIG per month in Philadelphia the
rent question takes second place with
that OF eating. The two-famlly house
and the flat can be said to be almost
unknown in PHILADELPHIA consequent