Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1908-07-18
COST OF LIVING IN CHINA.
Large Advance In Household and Gen.
eral Expenses Reported BY
Consul.


Consul.
Consul Wilbur r. Gracey, Of Using.
Tau. China. makes the following re-
port relative to the increased cost
of living in the Far East:
"The cost of living in China has
increased considerably during the
last few years, and the increased
price, of provisions, rents and other
current expenses is becoming a con-
tinual subject for newspaper discus.
sion.
Ten years ago It was possible to
secure in Tien.Tsin or Shanghai
good and commodious Sesidence for
S35 to $40 gold a mon,a, and a lux.
urious building for $50, but at the
present time the minimum appears
to be the latter figure, and houses
which ten years ago were renting
for $35 now bring double that amount.
A seven.room house in row, with
out garden. rents for about $50, while
a detached house with even a small
garden cannot be obtained for less
than SIS.
I'm Tsing.Tau rentals are some.
what higher. averaging SO for
seven or eight room house, and run
ming to $3.50 month for an unpre-
tentious villa with small garden),
containing probably ten or twelve
rooms.
Hong Kong rentals are about the
some as Shanghai. but vary consider
ably according to the situation, those
at the Peak "a mountain resort above
the city, commanding about so per
cent. more than houses situated ON
the lower level.
Ten years ago II was possible to
employ excellent boys at $3.50 to
IS gold a month, cooks from $3.50 to
Sc, and general house coolies for
$3.50 or 50. Jinrikisha coolies could
be secured for about the same price
as house coolies, and would work as
indoor servants when they were not
pulling the jinrikisha. At the pres.
ent time in Shanghai, Hong Kong and
Tlen.Tsin wages are IS to $40 gold
month for boys, while in some cases
they demand even higher wages; 70
to $3.50 gold for cooks and "A to
S. for coolies. Outdoor and indoor
servants now will not exchange duties
which necessitates an extra man for
those who keep their own jinrikisha.
I'm Tsing.Tau wages are still high.
er than IN Shanghai or other places
In China. and are 100 to $50 per cent.
more than in other places in Shan.
tung province. Boys here receive $13
gold month. cooks SO to SIS, coolies
IS to SO, childrens Chinese nurses
demand SIS a month and their food,
while in other parts OF China the
latter receive $3.50 to IS gold month
or possibly at tho highest IS, and
procure their own food.
1.-THE price Of all household com.
modities In Shanghai. Hong Kong and
Tien.Tsln has increased 30 to 40 per
cent, and meats even higher. When
the price OF silver rose. some two
years ago. the price OF timed goods
was advanced, as was also the price
OF other commodities. but with the
decline OF silver there Is no cOmpen-
sating reduction In the prices OF arti'
cles OF consumption. 1t is impossi'
BILE for persons living in America to
realize the great variation that IL
possible in the buying power OF
money where It Is always on fuctu'
ating basis. A person who six or
eight years ago received salary Of
$4,000 q year, equal to about $1,000
In local currency, now fnds that his
$4,000 only brings him about $500
local currency, while the price Of
everything has increased enormous
, ly."