The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-02-22

i SCi edu eAl6uJ LhcSe cars VIII De uSeu
! In commercial way to satisfy bust
ness needs. However, they probably
Will not give strictly economic re-
turn of over ten per cent on the in
| vestment. Ali the rest is devoted to
! the increased delight Of living. They
may add to health if their users keep
on the upper side of the machine. This
is a great economic expenditure to
satisfy new desire, but it gives little
economic return.
Again, the telephone becomes a
necessity. We save time and energy
by it's use. This is an economic saw
ing. 1t simply brings business and
Increases economic production. Yet it
must be paid for by the user ard
means an increased expense, If you
can turn the time and energy saved
into money, it is a good thing. But
he must have an increased income to-
pay the bill.
Must be Proportionate Increase.
Instances might be multiplied
showing how many things we now
have to enjoy that formerly we did
not have. We have q better life, but
it costs more. There are important
points to- be observed from these ex-
amples. Armies of men who must
have wages, great corporations with
millions of capital must have interest,
and thousands of promoters and man.
ayers who must have profits are paid
to provide the greater enjoyment, to
satisfy increasing desires for better
life. Bankers, lawyers, traders, ply
sicians, teachers, miners, preachers,
business managers, transporters,
manufacturers, etc. compose an ever
increasing number to be fed and
clothed by the products of the soil.
Unless there Is proportionate in
crease in agricultural products, the
latter are high. There has not been;
therefore prices of agricultural pro-
ducts are at present higher relatively
than prices of other commodities.
Another thin to be noticed il that
the improved standard of living de-
mands a continually increased outlay
and a continually increasing income
IL the individual lives normal life.
1t is impossible to satisfy all of the
economic desires arising from this
active, expanding, modern life. But
certain of them must be satisfied in
order that the individual shall have
normal progressive life-the chief
aim of our civilization. To do this.
income should keep pace with the cost
of living according to an ordinary
standard of living. Granted that
person can live no better today on
$1,000 per annum than fifteen years
ago on $500, he must have over $1,000
now If he have any benefit of the In
creased standard of living-if his ex-
panding desires receive any return.
Costs More Than Old Life.
Truly. this life costs more than the
old life because we have the benefits
Of the achievements of the arts and
sciences, of education and business or
ganization, of invention and discovery.
Suppose we say to a man, Live more
simply and it will cost you less; give
up the books, magazines, newspapers
that you formerly did not have; take
your children out of school and give
them three months schooling a year
as formerly; exclude the musical in
strument from the home; do not help
pay the increased expense OF church
and charitable institutions; cut out
the telephone; avoid the electric car;
DENY the nickel show and other forms
of amusement; refuse to profit by
modern medical and dental skill; buy
last years clothing for your wife and
children: cut out the gas and electric
lights; buy Or make tallow dip and
then go to bed early to save lights;
Danish bananas, oranges and olives
from the table; dispense with hun
bred things you formerly did not en-
joy, and you will in measure reduce
the cost of living. You will pay less
for poorer article called life