The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-10-17

Olympia, Oct. 14.-Some interesting
figures on the advance in the cost of
living during the last twenty-three
years have been compiled by State
Labor Commissioner e. w. Olson
from census reports and statistics
gathered by the government. AS
means of ready comparison fifteen
everyday necessaries Of life have been
selected and the increase or decrease
of each article for certain periods
since 1890 have been reduced to a
percentage basis.
These figures divulge the fact that
some of the important food articles
used in everyday consumption have
more than doubled in price and are
still on the upward incline. Smoked
bacon, for instance, has advanced in
price since 1890 1876 per cent; round
steak. 107 per cent; pork chops, 11S
per cent, and lard, SO per cent. Po-
tatoes have advanced 50 per cent
while the staff of life has advanced
1910 per cent since 1890, although
this is not fair comparison owing to
the fact that in 1890 wheat was selling
at a much higher price than it did
from 1898 to 1903. Sugar during this
time has been on the constant de-
cline and it is particularly interesting
to note that in the last year this COM
modify has declined 16 per cent, while
from 1890 to the present year it has
declined % per cent. In compiling
these figures the United States has
been divided into five geographical di-
visions, as shown by the appended
table, which gives the increase in
price in aggregate of the fifteen food
staples. These figures are valuable
nasmuch as they show that the great
est increase in these foods since 1890
has taken place in the south central
division, while the least increase is
shown to have been in the western
division, which includes states west
of the Rocky Mountains. The aver
age increase of these foods through
out the United States during this
period was sc per cent as against 46
per cent in the western states.
For the purpose of comparison fig
ures are also given showing the ad-
vance in wages in the lumber manu-
featuring industry as well as the re-
Iduction in hours during different
periods since 1890
The following shows the per cent
increase of retail prices of fifteen diff
ferent articles of food from 1890 to
June 1913:
Per Cent Increase From 1890 to June,
1918.
Sirloin steak, 76.4; round steak,
l1O75; rib roast, 77.3; pork chops,
I11S7: smoked bacon, 1868; smoked
ham, S7.2; lard, $50; hens, 70; flour
(wheat), 16.7; corn meal, 55,3; eggs,
40; creamery butter, 42.5; potatoes,
I32.5; granulated sugar, 23.S*; milk,
I37S.
Per Cent Increase From April, 1911,
to April, 1918.
Sirloin steak, 2S.6; round steak,
SOL; rib roast, "a; pork chops, 30.2;
smoked bacon, 1874; smoked ham.
16.1: lard, 149; hens, 1872; flour
(wheat. s; corn meal 7S; eggs,
10; creamery butter, S69; potatoes,
SIS: granulated sugar, 7.2*; milk 5S.
Per Cent Increase From April, 1911,
to April, 1912.
Sirloin steak, 90; round steak, 9.S;
rib roast, rs; pork chops, 1O9;
smoked bacon, So; smoked ham, IL;
lard. 8: hens, 81; flour (wheat), So;
corn meal, 81; eggs, 11.5; creamery
butter, 25S; potatoes, 776; granulated
sugar 11.5; milk, 1.3.
Per Cent Increase From April, 1912,
to April, 1918.
Sirloin steak, 176; round steak,
1910: rib roast, 1853; pork chops, 17.5;
smoked bacon, 172: smoked ham, 1.5;
lard, 146; hens, 9.S flour (wheaD,
As; corn meal, les; eggs, A; cream
Continued on Page Four)