The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1917-02-08
wild EXTRAVACANCE
and Sad RESTITUTION
feature VIENNA LIFE
Two Year Review of Life and
Economic Situation In Aus
trials Gay Capital.
Special Correspondence Of the New York
Evening Post.

" Wv ~NN' -"
Evening Post.
/! Nienna.-nry as the figures may
seem to be with which l must begin this
| letter, they will explain much to those
l VINO can read them correctly. | am not
| In a position to say in what way and to
| what amount the number Of the popu
| !ation of Vienna have changed during
| tho second year Of the war. The women
nave IN q great number of concerns
usurped the places OF the men, and
though this fact alone must bring about
l quite a revolution In the economic cir
cumstances OF a great city. the financial
equilibrium has been maintained up to
n certain degree. Thus the banks and
aVing banks have increased their stock
or ready money. Fol instance, the taxes
collected in Vienna during August. 1916,
amounted to 1,191, 900 crowns more than
In August, 1915. The financial year Of
the city-beginning July /, 1914. and
ending June 80, 1915-closed with a
heayy deficit. The receipts amounted to
1919 900 crowns, or say S4S, 500, 900.
the expenses to PAS. 69S, 900 crowns.
where the ordinary expenses are con-
cerned, the receipts exceeded the ex-
penses by $500, 900 crowns, whereas
the extraordinary expenses Of 10000
600 crowns exceeded the previous pro-
vision for them by 1900, 900 crowns.
me accounts for the second year OF the
war were so much more unsatisfactory
that the semi-Semetic municipal council
or the city gave up the most important
OF us party principles, strictly maintain
ca since DIR. Lueger's regime, and de-
cla'cd that 1t would no longer object TO
receiving Jews in it's midst, since II
must decidedly decline TO bear the en-
tire burden of the responsibility OF the
city's finances.
$4,000 Seek Charity.
During the whole year, $4,000 persons
nave asked and received the boon of a
gratis dinner and "A piece OF bread. The
~oac winter threatens to in
crease the number of destitute persons
"a! the more. because the newly es-
tapNshed war kitchens, which offer
dlnners at cost prices, do not seem to
succeed in the a which might have
peen expected. AS yet only 1000 persons
nave resorted to these. Among the char
ltles instituted bv the municipality are
the sewing and knitting rooms. IN which
at present 1000 needy women are en-
ployed. They earn as much as SO a
week. and In II year have made l.
100000 pieces Of n~eedlework and knit
ing. The expenses for material and
wages MOUNT to 1000, coo. crowns,
the sale Of the goods, mostly to the wal
department, fetched 1900 900 crowns.
Half n million mattresses and as many
Doisters were made, 2,500,0 900 soldiers
shiitS n were sewn, 1000, 600
sandbags, 1900, 900 bread and oat bags,
muffS, gloves, caps, socks, stockings,
CATERS, comforters, mittens, jackets,
were a by the 10 thousands, by
these women alone, who also provide
the hospitals with sheets. blankets,
towels. n slippers.
The mayor, in making his report, de-
piorcs III fact that j. was impossible to
provide Vienna satisfactorily with even
inc lndispensable>vi ctuals. There were
not enough new potatoes to so all
round, II the old potatoes were scarce
ana bad. OF course. it Is to be hoped
that this difficulty will disappear, as
the potato harvest of 1916 comes to
market. There was cnouCh bread,
though its distribution still offers many
difficulties, partly due to the bread
MARKS which are, however, indispen-
sable where a fair distribution is nee
esSary. and partly because the num-
Der OF shops where bread is sold is
much too small in proportion to the
number Of persons who wish to be
served at the same time.
Lard. bacon, butter, soap and fat Of
every description were very scarce, and
induced the authorities to provide a fat
card, because all persons who had
ready money tried to buy up all the
lat there was, to preserve il for tho
winter, n be prepared against thu
dangers OF a ~prolongation OF the war.
The cards. which allow only q small
quantity Of fat for consumption to
every person, arc the only means OF
insuring 4 fair distribution among rich
and poor. In the summer and autumn
there were plenty Of fresh vegetables
and prices were not exorbitant, but
fruit, though plentiful, was very dear,
and the children OF the poor had, we
are afraid, to go without.
The price OF meat n eggs was so
high h a the reduced quantities Of
fered for sale were amply sufficient for
the demand. Figures will explain best.
arrived in the Vienna market. In Au-
gust, 1916, the number was $500
calves, 1884 in August, 1915; 1000 in
1916; pigs, 49,527 in 1915, 1859 in 1916.
The prices explain why there was not
q greater demand. Beef cost liz
not to be had; butter, 10 crowns, and
only sold in very small quantities:
margarine, which before the wal was
considered unwholesome and not used
In socalled better houses was will
!ngly bought at q crown more than
fresh butter. A kilogramme Of pota-
oes cost 36 hellers; sauerkraut. so:
onions. a crown, or 20 cents; beans. 2
crowns. An egg cost 80 hellers, and
was considered a prize when IL was
fresh. The price Of coal is only so per
cent higher than 1t was before the war,
/ Out COui MERCHANTS I.ldhe the customer
pay for delivery, 80 per cent of tho price
of the coal. A metric hundredweight OF
! coal costs 3 crowns and l crown car
! riage. Yet the statistical reports on
| the health Of the community show that
| there was less sickness n less NOR
tality last summer than in the same
months Of the preceding year.
Tradesmen Profit.
l The tradesmen have not come up to
| the mark during this anxious time.
Though not a day passes but somebody
is fined for taking undue profits. it Is
impossible for the authorities to keep
them within bounds Of honesty and
decency. Shopmen and shopgirls rave
entirely given up the over polite ways.
which were considered even a modest
customers due. I'VE are not asking
you to buy!" Is a remark one hears in
every shop almost. IF the price does
not suit you "a crown for a reel OF
white cotton Of the smallest descrip-
tom leave i'll! There are plenty who
are glad to buy!"
Indeed there are-people, no doubt,