The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-25
LIVING IN CHINA.
Large Advance in Household and Gen eral Expenses Reported by Our
 Consul.

Consul Wilbur T. Gracey of Tsin- Tau. China. makes the following report relative to the increased cost of living in the Far East:
 The cost of living in China has in creased considerably during the last few years. and the increased price of provisions rents and other current ex- penses Is becoming a continual subject for newspaper discussion.
 Then years ago 1t was possible to secure in Tien-Tsin or Shanghai asgood and commodious residence for eS5 to $40 gold month and a luxurious build ing for $60, but at the present time the minimum appears to be the latter fig ure. and houses which ten years ago were renting for $35 now bring double that amount A seven-room house in a row. without garden, rents for about $50. while a detached house with even a small garden cannot be obtained for less than $75
 'In Tsing Tau rentals are somewhat higher. averaging $70 for a seven or eight-room house, and running to $15O a month for an unprete1tious villa. with a small garden. containing prob ably ten or twelve rooms.
 Hong Kong rentals are about the same as Shanghai. but vary consider ably according to the situation, those at the Peak. mountain resort above the city. commanding about 50 per cent more than houses situated on the low CT lever.
 "Ten years ago 1t was possible to employ excellent boys at $3.5O to $5 gold a month; cooks from $4.5o to $6, and general house coolies for $2.50 or $3. Jinrikisha cooles could be secured for about the same price as house COO lies. and would work as indoor ser wants when they were not pulling the Jinriksha. At the present time in Shanghai. Hong Kong and Tien-Tsin, wages are $6 to $1O gold a month for boys, while in some cases they demand even higher wages; $6 to $75O gold for cooks, and $4 to $5 for coolies. Out door and indoor servants now will not exchange duties, which necessitates an extra man for those who keep their own jinriksha.
 Tn Tsing Tau wages are still high CT than in Shanghai or other places in China. and are 200 to 15O per cent more than in other places in Shantung Prov ince Boys here receive SIS gold a month. cooks $1O to $l5, coolies S5 to $6. childrens Chinese nurses demand SIS a month and their food. while in other parts of China the latter receive $S.50 to $5 gold a month. or possibly at the highest SS. and procure their own food.
 me prices or all houSenold commo- dities in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tien-Tsin 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 ad- vanced. as was also the price of oth Ter comm odties. but with the decline of silver there is no compensating reduc- tion In the prices of articles of con- sumption. It Is impossible for persons living in America to realize the great variation that is possible in the buying power of money where 1t is always on a fluctuating basis. A person who six or eight years ago received a salary of $3000 a year. equal to about $7000 in local currency. now finds that his $3,- 900 only brings him about $5,5 in To- cal currency. while the price of every thing has increased Fmously."