Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-02-07
FEBRUARY 7, 1907.
The COST OF LIVING.

We see and hear so much about the
enormous increase in the cost of living
now as compared with a few years ago
that the following, which appeared in
the news columns of the Lynchburg
News of the LIST inst, will be interesting
to most of our readers. Says the News:
In looking over some old papers re-
Gently Mr.. John o. Taylor, book-keeper
for Mr.. N. H. Lavinder, came across an
account for groceries furnished a custo-
mer IN March, 1882. At the request of
a friend Mr.. Taylor placed present
prices against those which were current
for the same articles nearly a quarter
OF century ago. The differences in
prices is not after all very startling and
some staple goods are cheaper TODAY
than at the time the account was rem
dered.
Butter was then selling at IS cents a
pound; today it brings from 25 to 30
cents. Eggs, cheese, crackers, mack
eral and rice were about the same then
as now. Ham was charged at Is cents
pound and today is worth Is to 20
cents; hog jowls then were 10 cents a
pound, and today cents. Porto Rico
moiasses was fifteen cents higher a gal
Ion than now, and green tea 25 cents a
pound higher in 1882 A sack of Hurts
family flour is charged on the account
at SIPS and today sells at 20 cents.
while barrel of flour which can be
bought now for IS. 90 sold then for 81. so.
Granulated sugar was then quoted at II
cents and today sells for 81 cents. Irish
potatoes and sweet potatoes were quot
ed at 90 cents peck and today sell at
20 cents peck.
while apparently these figures seem
TO show that the cost of living now
ought not to be higher than twenty-five
years ago, it must be remembered that
rents, clothing, fuel, servant hire. fresh
meats, fruits and vegetables have all
advanced enormously, besides which the
conditions of life in Lynchburg TODAY
demand many other expenses which
were not even known in the early eigh-
ties, so that the comparison of the prices
OF groceries does not prove of great
value, although it may make interesting
reading for housekeepers.
The total amount of the grocery ac-
count of 1882 from which the FOREGOING
prices were obtained amounted to $40
OF and the same amount of groceries at
today's quotations is 1855, leaving a
oiherence of $6.s2 in favor of the cheap
er prices now prevailing.
1t has, however, been pointed out
that during the year from 1893 to 1900
groceries were considerably lower than
they were in the eighties or at pres-
ent."
The fact of the business is that the
necessaries of life, with a very few ex-
cephons, are as cheap, or cheaper, as
they were twenty-five years ago. If
there has been an increase in the cost
OF living it is due most largely to the
increased extravaganza of the people.
There is more spent now by the ordi-
nary family In luxeries and for things
not needed for q substantial living than
there is for the actual necessities re-
CURED to make life comfortable and
healthy. If a man of family will only
keep an itemized account of his ex-
penses, he will find at the end of the
year that more has been expended for
little things, the non essentials. than
for the large or essential things.
The Lynchburg News could make this
question more entertaining if it would
also produce some figures to show the
scale of wages paid skilled and I'M
skilled labor in Lynchburg in 1882 and
n 1906. We venture to say that the
Increase in wages will be found to be ,
very considerable, perhaps from fifty to '
'ne hundred per cent. If this be true. I
when taken in connection with the fact q
hat labor is now constantly employed.
he workingman is now in a better sit .
lation, by far, than he was twenty-five e
ears ago, even if there has 5een as ];
'reat increase in the cost of living as Il
ONE would have us believe.
We notice that Senafor nan;al :, IL q;