The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-03-14

Oo !uCI0dUeU, 80 Cn0I t0O00 receiving
$1,150 should get $1,4O0 and those ne.
"eiving $500 should get $1,000. In
"smttttng this report, Mr.. Wood
ccompanied 1t with communica-
= frRm the heads Of the various
Dur.Aus OF the treasury department,
each of whom urged the increase on
the ground that the clerks were un-
able to sustain themselves in proper
comfort on their existing salaries.
The most interesting feature of the
report 10 the diary Of Jonathan Seav-
er, $1,4O0 clerk in the office of the
second comptroller. ]. B. Thompson,
the comptroller, testified that Mr..
Seaver was "proverbial for economy
and correctness" He kept diary Of
all his household expenses for many
years, and included in his report an
itemized statement of his daily ex.
penditures for 1885. In the two years
preceding he was, able to make a small
saving from his salary of $1,4O0, but
IN 1885 his expenses were $47.96 more
than his compensation. Mr.. Seayer'a
cost Of living in 1885 was 31,323, 81
and in 1884 his expenses were ST..
12O.72.
Purchased for Cash.
Mr. Seaver's letter of transmittal
was written on April 20, 1886. "It may
be proper to state." he says, 'that It
has been my uniform practice to pur-
chase with cash, and that have not
paid house rent or pew rent. NY ia
mfly has generally consisted of three
grown persons, five children, and two
servants, and as my children were
taught at home, no expense for teach
ing has been incurred until last year:
at present four Of them, attend school.
1t may be proper also to remark that
the $95 for servant hire In 1886 COW
ers two years. wages paid to a nom
resident owner, and hence relates to
1894 and 1885"
that neither wines nor spirituous
liquor is used In my family. except
ag @adtGine, and i give no dinners" !"
The frst. item In Mr.. Seaver's diary
shows that on January 1, 1886, the
price OF butter was 20 centssa pound,
for on that day Mr.. Seaver purchased
from Mr.. Knight one, firkin of butter.
containing 86 pounds. for which he
paid $17.20. He continued making
daily purchases throughout January,
and on the 8th of that month purchas-
ed two hogs and two legs Of mutton
for $1S.40. Although butter was
cheaper. in 1885 than it is now, pres
ent-day prices of many other neces-
stiles are much lower than they were
IS years ago. On January 26, Mr..
Seaver paid 81 for so pounds of sugar,
and a week earlier he paid $9.4S for
a barrel of -four and some lard.
On the same day he had his hair
cut for which he paid 13 cents. The
price of a haircut was only IL 1-2
cents, and the next time Mr.. Seaver
went to the barber he paid only IL
cents.
Difference in Wages.
A feature of the diary is that 1t re.
veals in striking way the great diff
ference in wages in 1885 and at the
present time. and indicates also that
present-day prices Of articles of
clothing are much lower than they
were when the government clerks
were complaining that their salaries
were insufficient to meet their needs.
On March the following entry was
made in the diary: Hire of man. two
days, $1.62." On February 1 Mr..
Seaver purchased from one Coyle q
pair of boots for 1915. At that time
hides were on the free list, as they
are today.
Some of the other entries in the
diary were as follows:
February 2-Hair comb, so cents.
February 12-Cotton shirting, $500.
April 4-Fifty pounds of sugar,
$7.12.
April 11-servant left; paid in full,
sS.4O.
April 30-Scrubbing bush, 81.
May 6-Fffty pounds Of coffee, 81.
June 1.-Two and one-half tons
coal, $15.75. ~
June 1O-Newspaper for two years,
$l2.
June 19-Broom. 81 cents.
June 20-Two gallons lamp oil,
So. :.
June 23-Two and five-eighths
cords wood, hauling. and piling.
$33.25. q
July s-Two barrels -four. $12.
September 5-One barrel herrings
and hams, $3.50.
September 20-Tax on servant to
corporation, So.
September 22-Paid Mrs. Wilson for
hire Of slave, $95.
October Barrel -four and hauling.
$7.1S.
October s-Boots and shoes for
children, $3.50.
October 12-Three and one-half
yards broadcloth, $21.6.
October l2-One yard velvet for
vest. 81.
October so-Half bushel oysters. 25
cents. :"
oloyy, 81.
% cents.
pseemoer s-Load of hay for COW.
*s.2J.
enc tay. 15 .snts.
u.esmbcy ii-ccc! Ing stove, s:s.