The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-11-08
The Least Money a
Girl Can Live On
x x x - X X = * X
What can a girl live ono

1t depends on what YOU call living
on n girl and some several other
things. including the place where she
is trying to live. n what she car
get to on. avs the Philadelphia
North American.
It's not a new problem. nor yet ar
old one. But it is certainly one tina,
is pressing for solution. Out in Kan
Sas City. Mo-. where there Is a board
of public welfare which is trying To
1--we up to its name. Investigations have
been made recently that prove, OF
come pretty close to proving, that SO
a week is the least that can be CON
placed the figure at $40: Minneapolis
at 81.
1t would scarcely be in place to de-
clare that. in this instance. the proof
of the pudding is in the eating, be-
cause on 81 to $40 a week there is
very little pudding. But. at any rate,
the fruits of an investigation arc
much to be taken into account. So
here are findings of L.. a. Halbert.
welfare. who tells not only what girls
should have to live on. but what many
are compelled to live on.
After quoting tho Boston rate and
the Minneapolis rate. Mr.. Halbert
asks. what shall be our standard"
For those who would judge. he cites
the following figures:
In Kansas City two mercantile es-
adjustments employ together 573
girls. According to the MERCHANTS
statements which do not take into &C.
count fines. ETC.. f1fty-nine of these
receive 81 a week or less; 179 (near-
~ o~ne-third) receive IS "A week or
less: 294 (more than one-half.) re-
ceive IS a week or less.
-Four factories employ together 574
girls. thirty of these receive less thar
- a week: 1876 tnearly one-fourth)
receive $3.50 or less a week: e09
fmore than o%ne-third) receive IS or
less a week: 543 (three-ffths) receive
IS or less a week.
BY Minneapolis standard less thai
one-ffth Of these receive a living
wage. BY the Boston standard less
than one-sixth receive a living wage.
AS half of IL w~age-carning girls
get IS a week or less. Mr.. Halbert
calis to the proportion of
their earnings they must pay for rent,
and here are some of the specimen
rooms he found:
Cheapest single room found, 6xs
feet and seven feet high. at $1.25 a
week.
Double room for light housekeeping.
l-2x8 1-2 feet. at $2.25 a week.
Double sleeping room. s1-2 feet
square. 9 1-2 feet high, at So a week.
Two girls in a room for one, 71-s
feet square. and one single bed, 50 a
week.
Light housekeeping room, twelve
feet square. with alcove five feet
square and four windows, $3.50 q
week.
Light housekeeping for two, sixteen
feet square, 81 a week.
'sC4r1I 40, o-p.. AZ rr,
dressing himself to the general public.
afford one Of these rooms on Sc a
week?"
AS to the matter Of food. the fig
ures are scarcely more encouraging.
According to Mr.. Halbert. So is the
least that will buy a weeks whole
some board.
What does the girl with Sc a week
do?"
Light housekeeping, in Mr.. HAL
bert's experience. is Just another name
for economy at the expense of health:
and. while 50 worth Of groceries NAV
be sufficient for a week. all that some
girls can spend is $3.50.
When 1t comes to cheap restaurants
some that he has seen will furnish So
called meals at 10 cents each; bu.
a week.
THE girl of today is the mother OF
tomorrow" he observes. and then
asks. can society afford such a sacri-
f1ce?"
AS to clothing. Mr.. Halbert gives
details. such as these:
Where does. the clothing come
from?
A good room costs ............$2.OO
Wholesome meals cost cocoon. 300
lar are so
IA
But one must have clothes. Notice
these figures: Are they really enough
to last a year? SIS for q winter suit
IS for two hats: $40 for four pairs
of shoes; SO cents for rubbers; 81 for
hose; $3.50 for winter underwear and
corset: $3.50 for summer underwear
and corset: 81 for winter petticoat;
So for summer p%etticoat: $3.50 fol
summer waists: IS for winter waists;
IS for summer dress: 81 for hand.
~kerchiefs: 81 for nightgowns; SO TO,
one w%orkshirt; So for gloves: 81 10,
wool dress; SO for incidentals; $50
total for ono years clothing.
What Mr.. Halbert considers a liv.
ing wage and why is here set forth:
|. a girl must pay IS for room and
board. etc, c~arfare and everything
but. $3.50 for clothing. so cents fol
incidentals. 80 total expense per week
But In must save for times of sick.
ness and unemployment. Is 81 toe
much? 49,
And what happens to many who do
not get 50 II week? Here la what Mr.
Halbert discovered in the cases of SOC