The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-03-05
NORTH DAKOTA
PRICES LOWER
THAN IN EAST
Girls Live Here for Less, Expert
+" Investigator of Wage
Board Says
WOULD PAY $16.50 WEEKLY
Minimum Upon Which Young
Woman Can Exist Decent
ly Named in Report

1t will interest those who are in
clined to believe North Dakota prices
the highest in the world to know that
girl can live for 55 cents less per
year In North Dakota than in the
District Of Columbia. This is the
opinion expressed by Miss Helen Far
kasch, an expert investigator employ
ed under the minimum wage act. IN
her report to the minimum wage COM
mission. Miss Farkasch allows Il North
Dakota girl but two pairs of gloves
per unnum. while three are held es-
se,ltial in the District of Columbia.
and, because our rainfall is less, she
finds that one-third Of a parasol will
protect the North Dakota girls best
hat. while half an umbrella is re-
uuired Oh the potomac. .. . a.,
Miss Farkasch finds that 2corset
covers cost so cen is more i'll North
Dakota than they do in the District
OF Columbia. probably, because back
less gowns have not yet gained wide
popularity among Flickertail working
girls. Purses cost So in the District
of Columbia as against 81 in North
Dakota, but a North Dakota girl wears
out $35 worth of shoes a year, while
her Columbian sister use" bat $31.6O
worth. Winter union suits cost 81
more and summer suits 81 less, in
North Dakota; North Dakota girls
wear stockings 81 better than those
shown on the bahkst Of the Potomac
and North Dakota nighties must be
much fanclcr for Miss Farkasch es-
Inmates that they. cost SO as compared
with ST in the District Of Columbia.
Miss Farkasch dresses her North Da-
kOta sisters in half kimOna at $1.25,
while the same improper fraction Is
acquired in the District Of Columbia
for 81.
TOWN COSTS DIFFER LITTLE
There is little differance in living
costs between the larger cities and
the villages III North Dakota, says the
expert investigator. While board an:l
room are trifle higher in Bismarck.
Minot, Devils Lake. Grand Forks and
Fargo. clothing and sundries are
higher in the smaller towns, thus even
ing up the total. For mercantile EN-
ployes. Office ana clerical help. wait
resses and telephone operators. whose
clothing costs them Is cents more per
week than does that of laundry work
ers, chambermaids. factory workers
and kitchen help, Miss Farkasch finds
minimum weekly. expense of $16.25
For the second class the weekly outlay
is estimated at $3.50. and she woul1
have these amounts set as the mini
mum weekly wages for the two classes
enumerated:
OTHER STATE MINIMUMS
Other states minimums as reported
by Miss Farkasch are: Minpesota
all occupations. $l1; Kansas. all fac
tories, $11: Oregon. all improvements
$500; Massachusetts candy factories,
$3.50; Washington. all employmentS
$13.2O: California. all enpIOyments
| $13.75: District Of Columbia. all EN-
ployments. $3.50.
In her investigation Miss Farkascf
visited 1927 places where women w.ri
employed. Of which 235 complied WITH
the eight-hour law. while 81 were
viola ting the law at the time Of in
vestigation. The majority of violatOrs
She says. were hotels. restaurants anC
hospitals She states as matter OF
fact that no hospitals were comply
ing with the law, altho most of then
had reduced the number of hours.