The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-04-13
COST OF LIVING
IN BISBEE CAMP
Some Expenses Far In Excess Of
Those in Michigan

I'm its holding of copper ores of high
grade. says Editor George A. Newett
IL is high grade quantity camp
ahead Of any other in the United
States in this respect and its mine
operators can stand the higher wage
ana still keep up dividends. There is
an attempt on the part Of the Western
Federation To uniOniZe Bisbee, but II
Is not as yet brought under the the
domination of that most undesirable
labor organization. Should the at
tempt he made To have ,hC mining
companies recognize this union it
would fail, just as IL has in the Mich
igan field. So long as the federation
does not interfere with the business Of
the companies it is given little atteu-
ton from the latter. Men seeking
employment are not asked If they are
union members or not; the companies
do not care, and il the employees wishes
To contribute to the support of these
soft job artists they do not take issue
with them. But the Wese:n Fedora
mines here not for minute. If men
have grievances they can present them
and they will be given respectful hear
ing, but not as members of the West
esrn Federation.
The Bisbcc miner, while his wages
are big has some expenses that arc
far in excess of those of the Michigan
worker in his line.
In Bisbec the Michigan house that
tents for $500 per month would bring
$4,000
In Michigan, the miner has piec"
at ground that runs from a frontage OF
80 to so feet by depth of from 100
10 $50 feet and on which he can grow
garden stum of much assistance in his
living.
The Bisbee miner cannot grow sin
gle blade of grass without much labor
and expense. His home generally is
located on the steep,rocky sides of n
canyon where there is little or no soil.
Water is pumped from Naco, or 10
miles distant, and water is naturally
high in price, three or four times as
much as in Michigan.
There isn't SO much fuel used in
Bisbee. but the yearly cost is as much
as in Michigan. Soft coal sells at $l4.j0
per ton, about equal To $1,000 per ton
for the anthracite such as the Michi-
gan miner uses. Wood is generally
furnished To the miners here by Mex
leans who deliver it on the backs 81
| burros, il being packed in sacks and
we judge il would average more than
$4,000 per cord, probably nearer $4,000.
| II costs the single miner who lives
as well as the man in Michigan, about
| $40 per month for room and board and
| If he can get his cloths and laundry
| for an additional SO or S12 per month
| he must be economical. He can't in
dulge in any prolonged sprces because
beer seels here for IL cents per glass.
two glasses for % cents. Soft drinks
are the same in price.
Milk sells at 10 cents per quart, two
| quarts for % cents. ana at less price
per quart for greater quantity. Cream
| isn't often seen, and probably the
| greatest quantity of milk is obtained
at the store i'm cans. 1t is seen al
the homes of the miners, and in res
| taurants generally in this package. The
grazing lands in this section are found
at a very few ranches that supply on
| ly "A small portion of the community
Process butter is 80 cents per pound
| creamery, As cents, OF higher. Pota-
toes, old, from California. are $500 pei
| 100 pounds, or $l.75 per bushcl. Tur-
nips are cents per pound or $500 pei
bushel; carrots, . cents per pound;
cabbage cents per pound; celery anc
caulihower 10 cents per pound: bread
| 10 cents per loaf.
Loin steak is 80 cents per pound;
round. % cents; shoulder, II to >,
cents rib roast, - cents; pork chops
30 cents; pork steaks, % cents; bacon
80 cents; hens, 30 cents. We coudn'
buy any spring chickens. Fish from
the Pacific waters, sell from 90 To 3,
cents per pound. Sausage, weiners
and liver 10 cents; pork % cents
mutton sells the same as pork. Egg
45 cents per dozen. March cath.
shave is cents: hair cut, .
cents: shoe shine, 10 cents; MOVING
picture shows, with one exception, /
cents. Automobile hire per hour $500
gasoline. retail. 20 cents per gallon
quantity, 30 cents. Street car fare &
Warren, 10 cents; to Country club. |
cents. Railway fare is high. From Ri
bee To Douglas 20 miles, s1.25. or
cents per mile. Livery hire, Sundays
double team. $500; single, $3.50. TIL
automobiles are killing the livery bust
ness so the liverymen told us.
! There is an ice manufacturing plan
, in Bisbee. Price of ice: For 121a lbs
| 10 cents: for % lbs, 20 cents; for :
lbs. 40 cents; for 100 lbs. 80 cents.
Electric lights are expensive, to,
For the first 10 kilowatts. Is cents pc
T klowatt hour: for the next 80.
cents: for the next So. 10 cents. whe
consumption exceeds 20 kilowatts, I
cents. and so on with reductions "a
, large consumers. The city and count
pay 10 cents.
Gas sells at $l.9O per / 200 for tn
; first 1000 feet; $3.50 per 1000 for tn
, next 1000 feet and with that reduc
: ton for each additional 1900 fe,