The Washington herald., 1911-03-12
WHY COST OF LIVING HAS BECOME HOUSEHOLD PROBLEM
By ABRAM L. SMARTWnrr.


Forty-five years ago 1 lived, or boarded.
in Washington, and it may be OF
some interest to these times OF
controversy as to the high cost
OF living. to reCite some of the war
prices of supplies in 1866, and compare
them with the present. In passing I may
state that good bOarding-houses furnished
board and room at dollar a day. set
ting an excellent table and supplying A
neatly furnished small room; possibly
rents were not as high as now. provisions
and other needed articles were much
higher.
Sugar was just about four times the
present prices: Coffee A. an inferior
grade as compared to the Eranulated,
now in such general use. rctailed at Is or
% cents A pound. SirUp and mOlasseS
nearly four times the present cost Of
those articles. Tea fully three times the
present rates: S25N per pound was the
Gun Powder tea Coffee was much higher
than now
Some Interesting COmpOstA-
In the matter Of retail prices Of meats
1 am not able to speak so advisedly only
that they were CorrespOndingly high
Flour and all mill products were probably
at least twice the value Of such articles
at the present time. Fruits and vege-
tables were. of course. also in the same
scale of values as other eatables. Canned
goods were not very much in use at that
time and are hardly quotabIe as to prices
The internal revenue tax on many
things brought up the valnes Of such
articles. Matches, for instance, cost ten
times as much as at present ten cents
being charged for a small box now
bought at ten cents per dozen. Many
articles in constant use. and also business
papers of various kinds. must have the
regulation revenue stamp attached in
order to be valid or lawfully exposed for
sale
Imported goods were very costly in
those days. for customs duties Were high
and must be paid in gold. one dollar OF
which was worth $50 To s2-9 in the
currency then in circulation. All com
mOditIeS Were necessarily of correspond
ing value. All clothing and fabrics. bed
and table linen. cutlery. hardware, china
and glass ware, tin and wooden ware.
utensils of al sorts. jewelry. &c were at
war prices. We must however. take into
consideration the strict and deep econ
OmieS made necessary in homes and bust
ness by the four years Of war, akin 70
that practiced in the Revolutionary war.
Present Style of Living.
The many years of prosperity in this
country have since brought about higher
wages for a large number of the wage
earners, and the accumulation of wealth
by the people of the nation, with great
improvements in the conveniences in our
kitchens. our dining-roOms, parlors. bath
rooms. our travelling. our telephones, and
various sorts of communication People
in general have become accustomed to n
more luxurious style of living than for
merly was possible, and have acquired
the habit, more than prevailed in war
times. OF considering that things are not
real good unless the highest prices are
paid for. them. including cuts of meats
and selections OF other foods as we'll as
articles of clothing. house furnishing, &c
Yet people of different conditions are still
patronizing the bargain counters"
The Law of supply and demand governs
prices very largely even in these days.
Though we are lOath to believe all that
the dealers tell US about such matters,
time often proves them to be truthful
Tho supply Of hogs in this country has
been short for more than a year. and
proved so by the receipts in Chicago, the
great hog market. having fallen of tho
past year many thousands, as compared
with the previous year, as shown by late
reports. This shortage has affected the
prices of all meats. Again, the crop OF
potatoes in 1910 was immense. so now
we are enjoying a season Of cheap pota-
toes. that necessary vegetable for many
OF our meals.
The practice Of economy should he re-
sumed whore it has fallen into disuse.
and will be an effective weapon against
trusts and INSCRIPTIONS dealers Another
help to the family is the utilizing of the
back lot, or vacant lots in the vicinity
to secure a supply Of fresh Vegetables for
the dining-roOm, and Of beautiful flowers
for the parOr.