South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-04-27
GOOD ROADS TO REDUCE
HIGH COST OF LIVING
FRANKLIN Hobbs of Chicago
Says Cost of Living is De-
CreaSing, Not Increasing
ExtravaganCy Means Pros
perity.

That the cost Of living has not in
creased in 200 years: that it was a
pure legendary myth; that the cost OF
living when analysed was nothing
more than the national call for i'm
proved quality, and other statements.
were the gist Of a few sentiments ex-
pressed TO the News-Times by Frank
lyn Hobbs. OF Chicago last night, at
the Mishawaka hotel. Mr.. Hobbs is
an aduitOr Of statistics, OF national
repute. and is an authority on modern
financial affairs throughout the coun-
try.
In confederation Of his positive
For convenience statisticians fix So
years as the length of a generation.
Therefore 90 years ago your great
grandfather was about the age you are
today What did il cost him TO live ?
His wheat cost him $3.50: his corn.
rye and barley cost him 10 cents per
bushel: his cotton % cents per pound
his potatoes % cents per bushel; his
sugar cost him ten cents per pound.
and it was the common dark brown
sugar These are the figures taken
from the government. reports printed
officially in the Niles Weekly Regis
ter. of Baltimore Md. which was the
leading current price and financial
publication. of Dec. ?. 1915.
"All articles combined Of ordinary
consumption sell for lower prices to-
day than they did 90 years ago. All
commodities combined sell for 20 per
cent less than they did 60 years ago.
Any farmer OF MishaWaka who lived
s s years ago can tell you the same.
"A family therefore can today live
cheaper than the family Of the pre-
viOus generation if it Will be satisfied
TO live on the same quality of com
modities that were satisfying 33, sc
and 80 years ago. But the demand
today is for better quality; living is
propOrtionate 70 that demand.
The actual cost of living is con-
tlnually declining. but the style OF
living of the American people has been
continually improved. We earn more
money and we, spend more money. Yet
| il we did not spend as much as we dc
we would not be earning as much as
people.
Automobiles are regarded as ex-
| travagant instruments. Really, how
much money is there invested in auto
mobiles? My answer is that there is
nothing invested in this commodity
! Thus. if YOU pay $4,000 for a car
where does the money go? The agent
retains his commission and deposits
| il in the bank. the balance goes to pay
for labor. for leather, for steel. for
rubber. ETC. and the manufacturers
profit on his product. Every penny
| is working and eventually comes back
| TO the people.
THE cost Of living cannot be regu-
I lated through legislation. 4 man will
I spend according to his earnings. and
his ea-rnings are proportiOnate TO his
/ spendings. fOr by keeping the money
10 ating il eventually comes back.
The predominant feature today
v hich affects the cost OF articles OF
consumption and all other commOdi-
| ties is the cost Of getting them to the
market And IL is apparent that this
/ seems to be the least concern TO thS
commercial world in general. although
I OF late numerous producing associa-
tions. particularly of the west, have
combined in ar effort TO overcome
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