CHAPTER VI.

GENERAL COST AND STANDARD OF LIVING.

Explanation of study-Salient facts relative to the families studied-Food and general living expenditures.-Detailed expenditures of families studied. [Text Tables 214 to 216.]

EXPLANATION OF STUDY.

The series of tabulations next presented is designed to afford an insight into the cost of living and to furnish an idea of the general standard of living of families of representative races, whose heads are employed in the Pennsylvania bituminous mines. The data were secured from the records of mining and store companies, and the period covered is from April 1 to June 30, 1909. A total of 24 families of 9 races were selected for detailed presentation. The American families were chosen for purposes of comparison with those whose heads were foreign-born, and an effort was made to select American families whose heads were engaged in practically the same occupations as those whose heads were of foreign birth. The results of the tabulations are not considered sufficiently extensive to justify any sweeping conclusions, but are presented with the object of affording the basis for a general conception of the cost and standards of living which prevail in Pennsylvania bituminous localities.

SALIENT FACTS RELATIVE TO THE FAMILIES STUDIED.

The first table presented exhibits in a summary form the salient facts relative to the families studied. It shows the number of persons in the families, age and sex of children, occupations and earnings of head, and expenditures for rent, fuel, light, and general living.

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TABLE 214.-Summary statement of families whose budgets were studied, by race of head of family, April 1 to June 30, 1909.

Of the families studied, all except two show some surplus over and above the expenditures mentioned, which, however, are all that were incurred for the purposes mentioned. One of these families is a large boarding group for which a surplus or deficit could not be computed, and the other family shows only a very small deficit, which was probably met from some source other than the earnings of the head, or carried as a credit on the books of the company store.

FOOD AND GENERAL LIVING EXPENDITURES.

The following table shows in a general way the expenditures of the different households studied for various classes of food products:

TABLE 215.-Expenditures for food and general living in selected families, by race of head of family, April 1 to June 30, 1909.

TABLE 215.-Expenditures for food and general living in selected families, by race of head of family, April 1 to June 30, 1909-Continued.

In the above table all kinds of meats or meat products are classified under "meat," while vegetables include either fresh or canned vegetables; flour and foodstuffs include flour or any article of food the chief ingredient of which is flour, for example, crackers, bread, cakes, etc.; dairy products include butter, cheese, milk, and eggs; fruit includes all forms of fruits or fruit products, either fresh or preserved; groceries embrace such products as coffee, sugar, rice, etc.; while under miscellaneous are included any articles not coming under previous classifications but used in the household, as house furnishings, clothing, dry goods, tobacco, etc.

It is seen from this table that the proportionate amount of meat consumed per individual is much higher in the case of the Croatians than any other race. The Croatians and Slovaks are the only races where one-half or more of the total expenditure for general living is for meat. It is also noted that, generally speaking, the expenditures for meat are considerably higher in the case of the more recent immigrants than in the case of the older immigrant races and the whites native-born of native father. By referring to the itemized accounts submitted, it is seen that the quality of the meat consumed in the homes of these more recent immigrants, the Croatians, Slovaks, Poles, and Magyars, is, generally speaking, coarser than that used by the other races. In other words, they buy a great deal more pork, bologna, and other meats of this type, while the whites native-born of native father, and the English, Irish, Germans, and Scotch, buy principally beef and ham. The whites native-born of native father and the Welsh consume a much greater amount of fruit than other races. Generally speaking, the amount spent per individual for both fruit and dairy products is much lower in the case of the more recent immigrant races than the older immigrant races and the whites native-born of native father.

The Americans and older immigrant races from Great Britain and northern Europe show a much higher expenditure per individual for miscellaneous household supplies than the more recent immigrant races. Here the Welsh and American whites show considerably greater outlay than any other race, and the Croatians show by far the lowest.

DETAILED EXPENDITURES OF FAMILIES STUDIED.

For a detailed statement as to quality, quantity, and cost of commodities purchased by the selected families during the three months' period, attention is called to the following tables, which show by items and dates, as well as by race of head, the expenditures of the families studied:

TABLE 216.-Expenditures in typical families, by race of head of family, April 1 to June 30, 1909.

NATIVE-BORN OF NATIVE FATHER, WHITE: FAMILY NO. 1. EXPENDITURES FOR FOOD, CLOTHING, AND GENERAL LIVING.

[This family consisted of husband, wife, and two small children-one son 3 years of age and one daughter 1 year of age. The husband only was employed (motorman), and his earnings during the above period were $182.55.]