Transcriber's Note: The original publication contained 35 blank, unnumbered pages between the last page of the Conclusion and thepage entitled _Publications of the National Industrial ConferenceBoard_. National Industrial Conference Board 15 BEACON STREET, BOSTON, MASS. BRANCH OFFICE 724 SOUTHERN BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D. C. The National Industrial Conference Board is a co-operative bodycomposed of representatives of national and state industrialassociations, and closely allied engineering societies of a nationalcharacter, and is organized to provide a clearing house of information, a forum for constructive discussion, and machinery for co-operativeaction on matters that vitally affect the industrial development ofthe nation. FREDERICK P. FISH _Chairman_ MAGNUS W. ALEXANDER _Managing Director_ MEMBERSHIP AMERICAN COTTON MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATIONAMERICAN HARDWARE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATIONAMERICAN PAPER AND PULP ASSOCIATIONELECTRICAL MANUFACTURERS' CLUBINSTITUTE OF MAKERS OF EXPLOSIVESMANUFACTURING CHEMISTS' ASSOCIATION OF THE U. S. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COTTON MANUFACTURERSNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FINISHERS OF COTTON FABRICSNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERSNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOOL MANUFACTURERSNATIONAL AUTOMOBILE CHAMBER OF COMMERCENATIONAL BOOT AND SHOE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATIONNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR INDUSTRIAL DEFENSENATIONAL ELECTRIC LIGHT ASSOCIATIONNATIONAL ERECTORS' ASSOCIATIONNATIONAL FOUNDERS' ASSOCIATIONNATIONAL IMPLEMENT AND VEHICLE ASSOCIATIONNATIONAL METAL TRADES ASSOCIATIONRUBBER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. SILK ASSOCIATION OF AMERICATHE RAILWAY CAR MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATIONUNITED TYPOTHETÆ OF AMERICA ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATED INDUSTRIES OF MASSACHUSETTSASSOCIATED MANUFACTURERS AND MERCHANTS OF NEW YORK STATEILLINOIS MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATIONMANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION OF CONNECTICUT, INC. THE COST OF LIVING AMONG WAGE-EARNERS FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS OCTOBER, 1919 RESEARCH REPORT NUMBER 22 NOVEMBER, 1919 _Copyright 1919_ NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE BOARD 15 BEACON STREET BOSTON, MASS. CONTENTS PAGE FOREWORD vii PURPOSE OF THE INVESTIGATION 1 METHOD 1 FALL RIVER AND ITS PEOPLE 2 COST OF LIVING IN OCTOBER, 1919 3 FOOD 3 SHELTER 6 CLOTHING 6 FUEL, HEAT AND LIGHT 8 SUNDRIES 9 THE COMPLETE BUDGET 11 INCREASE IN THE COST OF LIVING SINCE 1914 13 FOOD 13 SHELTER 13 CLOTHING 14 FUEL, HEAT AND LIGHT 14 SUNDRIES 15 THE COMPLETE BUDGET 15 CONCLUSION 17 LIST OF TABLES PAGE TABLE 1: Minimum Food Budget for a Week for a Man, Wife andThree Children under Fourteen Years of Age, Fall River, Massachusetts, October, 1919 4 TABLEv 2: More Liberal Weekly Food Budget for a Man, Wife andThree Children under Fourteen Years of Age in Fall River, Massachusetts, October, 1919 5 TABLE 3: Cost of a Liberal Allowance of Clothing for a Yearfor a Man, Wife and Three Children under Fourteen Years of Agein Fall River, Massachusetts, at Prices Prevailing in October, 1919 7 TABLE 4: Average Cost of Sundries in Fall River, Massachusetts, October, 1919 11 TABLE 5: Average Cost of Living for a Man, Wife and ThreeChildren under Fourteen Years of Age in Fall River, Massachusetts, October, 1919 12 TABLE 6: Average Increase between October, 1914, and October, 1919, in the Cost of Living for a Man, Wife and Three Childrenunder Fourteen Years of Age in Fall River, Massachusetts 15 TABLE 7: Comparison of Distribution of Expenditures for theSeparate Budget Items in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1914and 1919, with the Average Distribution in the Country as aWhole in 1914 16 Foreword The accompanying study of the cost of living among wage-earners inFall River, Massachusetts, aims to establish the cost of maintaining awage-earner's family at a minimum but reasonable standard of living inthis textile manufacturing center; also the cost of maintaining such afamily at a somewhat better standard. The Board has already made several broad surveys of changes in thecost of living in American wage-earning communities since the outbreakof the World War in July, 1914. These cover the entire country and aredesigned to bring out the extent of change during the periods studied, not the actual cost of living. The results of the present investigationin Fall River, made independently of these broader surveys, throwan interesting sidelight on the wider studies and also permit of avaluable check on them. It is intended to make similar intensive studies from time to time inother representative industrial communities. The Cost of Living Among Wage-Earners Fall River, Massachusetts October, 1919 PURPOSE OF THE INVESTIGATION The following report summarizes the results of a study undertaken todetermine the cost of maintaining a minimum American standard ofliving in Fall River, Massachusetts, in October, 1919, and also thecost of maintaining a somewhat more liberal standard. At the sametime, an attempt was made to ascertain the increase in the cost ofliving at identical standards during the five-year period beginningwith October, 1914. METHOD For the purpose of this study, the cost of living was estimated withreference to the needs of a man, his wife and three children underfourteen years of age. No attempt was made to secure family budgetsfrom representative wage-earners. Instead, the amount of food, clothing, fuel, heat, light and other items needed to meet therequirements of a decent standard of living was carefully estimated onthe basis of several budget studies made by other authorities, andprices of these various items were obtained. Thus, while the finalestimate of the money cost of maintaining a definite standard ofliving is not based on actual family expenditures, but rather is ahypothetical budget designed to maintain a hypothetical family at aspecified standard, it should closely approximate the true conditions. In practice, expenditures for the different items in the budget mayand undoubtedly will vary considerably to meet the needs or tastes ofindividual families, but although the sums allowed for the total costof living may be distributed in a large variety of ways, the averagesgiven are as nearly representative as any that can be reached. Itshould always be borne in mind, however, that the figures areaverages, even though they include a large variety of data. The investigation covered a period of one week in October, 1919. Astudy was made of available statistical data relating to Fall River, and various sections or "villages" of the city were visited to obtaina picture of the home surroundings of the people. The latter wereobserved on the street, as purchasers in stores, at work in the mills, at a dance for women wage-earners, and, in several instances, in theirown homes. Visits were made to the headquarters of the various social andcommunity agencies of the city, from which much valuable informationon the cost and standard of living was secured. [1] To obtain the costof the various items entering into the family budget and the increasesin cost over a five-year period, figures were collected from retailfood and clothing stores, coal dealers, and other corporations, associations and individuals in close touch with the local situation. [1] The following organizations and individuals were consulted: Chamber of Commerce, Association for Community Welfare, King Philip Settlement, Instructive District Nursing Association, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Women's Union, Boy Scouts, Immigrant Aid Society, Fall River Cotton Manufacturers' Association, President of the Textile Council, Superintendent of Schools, superintendent of one of the mills, physician in charge of the city clinics for children, a Roman Catholic priest, mill operatives. FALL RIVER AND ITS PEOPLE The population of Fall River in 1915 was approximately 125, 000, ofwhom 75, 000 were native born and 50, 000 foreign born. A largepercentage of the native born are of foreign parentage. FrenchCanadians and Portuguese are the leading foreign nationalities and arerepresented in approximately equal numbers. Together they compriseover half the foreign-born population. The English are next mostimportant in numbers, approximately 10, 000. Over 4, 000 were born inIreland, over 3, 000 are Poles and some 2, 000 are Russians, themajority of the latter undoubtedly Jews. The people originally settled in neighborhood groups of a singlenationality rather than around the particular mills in which they wereemployed. There are, in fact, ten different villages, so called, intowhich Fall River outside of the center may be said to be divided. Thenationalistic character of these villages, however, is now to someextent breaking up, owing to decreased immigration, the Americanizingeffect of the war, and the efforts of the Immigrant Aid Committee andother local social agencies, so that French, Portuguese, Irish andother foreign nationalities are coming in closer contact one withanother. Families in Fall River often are large; the French Canadian andPortuguese not infrequently have eight or more children, and sometimes12 or 15. This means that in many families there is inevitably a periodof poverty before the children become old enough to work; this is oftenpartially relieved by the employment of the mother. When, however, thechildren begin to go into the mills, a considerable increase in incometakes place very rapidly. The most important industry in Fall River is the manufacture of cottoncloth. There are in the city 111 cotton mills and an additional numberof industries directly allied to cotton manufacturing. Retail sellingis confined, with the exception of two or three large food stores andthree or four department stores, largely to small neighborhood stores, the proprietors of which are of the same nationality as the people towhose trade they cater, or, in the case of specialty clothing stores, Jews. COST OF LIVING IN OCTOBER, 1919 _Food. _ To obtain the average cost of food, several budgets includingarticles sufficient for a week's supply for a family of man, wife andthree children were used as a basis. From these were constructed foodbudgets designed to meet the requirements of a minimum standard and ofone slightly above the minimum. Prices were collected from four of thelarge down-town stores, from branches of two different chain stores, one of them represented by 21 separate branches, and from variousneighborhood grocery stores: one Polish, one Portuguese and twoFrench. When there was more than one quality of an article the priceused was the lowest consistent with what appeared to be good value. The quotations collected for each article were averaged and are givenin Tables 1 and 2. TABLE 1: MINIMUM FOOD BUDGET FOR A WEEK FOR A MAN, WIFE AND THREECHILDREN UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE, FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS, OCTOBER, 1919 (National Industrial Conference Board) ====================================================================== | Cost, | | Cost, Item and amount |October, | Item and amount |October, | 1919 | | 1919------------------------+---------+--------------------------+-------- _Meat and Fish_ | | _Fruit_ | 2 lbs. Flank |$ . 32 | 3 qts. Apples |$ . 27 2 lbs. Chuck | . 40 | 3 oranges | . 121/2 lb. Bacon | . 21 | 4 bananas | . 15 1 lb. Dried cod | . 20 | 1/2 lb. Raisins | . 12 1 can salmon | . 27 | 1 lb. Prunes | . 24 _Dairy Products_ | | _Bread, Cereals, etc. _| 1 doz. Eggs | . 61 | 12 lbs. Bread | 1. 28 1 lb. Butter | . 66 | 2 lbs. Flour | . 161/2 lb. Oleomargarine | | 1 lb. Corn meal | . 07 or lard | . 18 | 1 lb. Rice | . 16 1 lb. Cheese | . 41 | 1 lb. Macaroni | . 1614 qts. Milk | 2. 10 | 3 lbs. Sugar | . 33 _Vegetables_ | | 3 lbs. Rolled oats | . 21 1-1/2 pks. Potatoes | . 77 | 1 pt. Molasses | . 12 3 lbs. Carrots | . 12 | _Tea, Coffee, etc. _ | 2 lbs. Onions | . 13 | 1/4 lb. Tea | . 15 3 lbs. Cabbage | . 14 | 1/2 lb. Coffee | . 23 2 lbs. Dried beans | . 23 | 1/2 lb. Cocoa | . 22 1 can tomatoes | . 15 | Condiments | . 11 | | |-------- | | Total weekly cost |$11. 00------------------------+---------+--------------------------+-------- From the food budget itemized in Table 1, which must be regarded as aminimum, it appears that the least that can be allowed for food for aman, wife and three children under fourteen years of age in Fall Riverin October, 1919, is $11 a week. TABLE 2: MORE LIBERAL WEEKLY FOOD BUDGET FOR A MAN, WIFE AND THREECHILDREN UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE IN FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS, OCTOBER, 1919 (National Industrial Conference Board) ====================================================================== | Cost, | | Cost, Item and amount |October, | Item and amount |October, | 1919 | | 1919------------------------+---------+--------------------------+-------- _Meat and Fish_ | | _Fruit_ | 2 lbs. Flank |$ . 32 | 3 qts. Apples |$ . 27 1 lb. Hamburg | . 25 | 1/2 doz. Oranges | . 24 3 lbs. Leg mutton | . 75 | 1/2 doz. Bananas | . 231/2 lb. Bacon | . 21 | 1/2 lb. Raisins | . 12 1 lb. Dried cod | . 20 | 1 lb. Prunes | . 24 1 can salmon | . 27 | _Bread, Cereals, etc. _| _Dairy Products_ | | 12 lbs. Bread | 1. 28 1 doz. Eggs | . 61 | 2 lbs. Flour | . 16 1 lb. Butter | . 66 | 1 lb. Corn meal | . 071/2 lb. Oleomargarine | | 1 lb. Macaroni | . 16 or lard | . 18 | 2 lbs. Rolled oats | . 14 1 lb. Cheese | . 41 | 1 pkg. Cornflakes | . 1514 qts. Milk | 2. 10 | 1/2 lb. Tapioca | . 08 _Vegetables_ | | 3 lbs. Sugar | . 33 2 pks. Potatoes | 1. 02 | 1 pt. Molasses | . 12 2 lbs. Carrots | . 08 | _Tea, Coffee, etc. _ | 4 lbs. Onions | . 26 | 1/4 lb. Tea | . 15 2 lbs. Cabbage | . 09 | 1/2 lb. Coffee | . 23 2 lbs. Dried beans | . 23 | 1/2 lb. Cocoa | . 22 1 can tomatoes | . 15 | Condiments | . 17 | | |-------- | | Total weekly cost |$12. 15------------------------+---------+--------------------------+-------- The more liberal food budget, covering a week's supply for fivepersons, worked out in co-operation with the visiting housekeeper ofthe League for Community Welfare of Fall River and given in Table 2, was planned so as to include foods in particular demand amongwage-earning families. From this it appears that to feed such a familyaccording to a standard somewhat above the minimum, $12. 15 a weekwould be required. These food budgets have been arranged with due consideration for foodvalues and variety, although of course the tastes of many familiesmight require a somewhat different combination of articles. Neverthelessit is probable that an adequate supply of food for an average familyof five could be purchased in Fall River in October, 1919, for $11 perweek, while $12. 15 is sufficient to insure a somewhat more liberaldiet. This would mean an annual expenditure for food of $572 for theminimum standard and $631. 80 for the more liberal standard. _Shelter. _ For information as to rents, the social agencies of FallRiver, the Real Estate Owners' Association, the Renting Department ofthe Chamber of Commerce, individual renting agencies and landlordswere consulted. A number of rented houses also were visited. The ordinary tenement in Fall River contains from three to five roomswith toilet, and the rents range from $1. 25 to $4 per week. For thelarger sum, a bath would be included. There are very few heatedapartment houses and rents for these would be more than $20 a month. The majority of wage-earners probably pay between $1. 75 and $3 perweek and do not have a bath. The demand for the larger apartments withbaths far exceeds the supply. Many families are forced to live ininferior and crowded quarters at the present time because no othersare to be obtained. Two dollars twenty-five cents a week or $117 a year for four roomsand toilet may be set as a minimum figure for housing a family of fivein Fall River, according to existing conditions. Three dollars fiftycents a week or $182 a year will secure somewhat better accommodations. _Clothing. _ To obtain the cost of clothing for a family of five, budgets were constructed containing the different articles whichprobably would be purchased in the course of a year and prices werecollected from a number of stores which cater to wage-earners. Quotations were secured for comparatively low-priced but standardgrades of goods and these were averaged to obtain the prices given inTable 3. In deciding on the quantity of each article required, thequality of the goods was taken into account. In the case of articleswhich would not necessarily be replaced every year, what wasconsidered to be a proper fraction of the cost in October, 1919, isgiven. TABLE 3: COST OF A LIBERAL ALLOWANCE OF CLOTHING FOR A YEAR FOR A MAN, WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE IN FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS, AT PRICES PREVAILING IN OCTOBER, 1919 (National Industrial Conference Board) ======================================================================= | Cost, | | Cost, Man's budget | October, | Woman's budget | October, | 1919 | | 1919------------------------+----------+-------------------------+---------1 suit | $28. 00 | 1 coat or suit | $26. 001/3 overcoat | 7. 50 | 1/2 dress | 5. 251 pair heavy trousers | 6. 00 | 1 cotton skirt | 1. 981/2 sweater | 2. 50 | 2 waists | 3. 602 shirts | 3. 50 | 2 house dresses | 4. 253 work shirts | 3. 50 | 3 aprons | 1. 903 pairs overalls | 5. 65 | 1-1/2 pairs shoes | 12. 952 pairs shoes | 15. 75 | 1 pair overshoes | . 95Repair of shoes | 3. 35 | Repair of shoes | 2. 358 pairs hose | 4. 00 | 6 pairs hose | 3. 003 union suits | 3. 90 | 2 pairs corsets | 4. 652 nightshirts | 2. 80 | 4 union suits | 4. 004 collars | 1. 00 | 3 chemises | 3. 003 ties | 1. 50 | 2 petticoats | 2. 001/2 felt hat | 1. 75 | 3 nightgowns | 4. 50Straw hat | 2. 00 | 1 straw hat | 1. 75Cap | 1. 25 | 1 velvet hat | 2. 00Gloves | 2. 25 | Gloves | 3. 00Sundries | 3. 00 | Sundries | 4. 00 |--------- | |--------- All items | $99. 20 | All items | $91. 13------------------------+----------+-------------------------+--------- CHILDREN'S BUDGETS ============================================================================ | Cost, | | Cost, | | Cost, Boy | Oct. , | Boy | Oct. , | Boy | Oct. , Age 13-14 | 1919 | Age 5-6 | 1919 | Age 8-9 | 1919-----------------+------+------------------+------+------------------+------1/3 mackinaw |$ 3. 20| 1/3 coat |$ 2. 60| 1/3 coat |$3. 401/3 sweater | 1. 20| 1/3 sweater | 1. 15| 1/3 sweater | 2. 001 suit | 12. 75| 1 suit | 8. 65| 1 wool dress | 8. 001 pair trousers | 2. 25| 1 pair trousers | 1. 80| 2 cotton dresses | 5. 003 shirts | 3. 00| 3 blouses | 2. 75| 1 white petticoat| 1. 503 union suits | 3. 50| 3 union suits | 3. 65| 2 pairs bloomers | 1. 302 nightshirts | 3. 00| 3 underwaists | 1. 85| 3 union suits | 2. 758 pairs stockings| 3. 35| 2 nightgowns | 2. 35| 3 underwaists | 1. 892 pairs boots | 8. 00| 6 pairs stockings| 2. 40| 2 nightgowns | 2. 501 pair overshoes | . 95| 2 pairs boots | 5. 40| 6 pairs stockings| 2. 581 pair mittens | . 40| 1 pair overshoes | . 75| 2 pairs boots | 8. 002 caps | 1. 50| 1 pair mittens | . 40| 1 pair overshoes | . 803 ties | 1. 00| 2 caps | 1. 80| 1 pair mittens | . 40Repair of shoes | 2. 40| 1 Windsor tie | . 40| 1 felt hat | 2. 00Sundries | 1. 25| Repair of shoes | 1. 65| 1 straw hat | 1. 80 | | Sundries | . 50| Repair of shoes | 1. 65 | | | | Sundries | . 50 |------| |------| |------ All items |$47. 75| All items |$38. 10| All items |$46. 07-----------------+------+------------------+------+------------------+------ This clothing allowance for a family of five persons would cost$322. 25 a year at prices prevailing in Fall River in October, 1919. While the prices given are comparatively low and the quantity allowedis not excessive, clothing may be purchased for less and therequirements of decency and comfort at an American standard may be metwith fewer articles. As a matter of fact, a large proportion offamilies in Fall River do not spend so much as this for clothing, since many of them make certain garments at home or buy them atbargain prices, with a material reduction in cost. For this reason, the clothing budget as given must be regarded as ample rather than asa minimum. To allow for the different means by which the cost ofclothing may be reduced, approximately 25% was deducted, bringing theannual minimum cost of an American standard of clothing in Fall River, according to prices prevailing in October, 1919, to $243. 36. _Fuel, heat and light. _ The average wage-earning family in Fall Riverburns about three tons of coal per season. This provides fuel for akitchen range and usually for one other stove. Prices of coal quotedby three dealers were as follows: Chestnut, $13. 75, $13. 75, $13. 00;stove, $14. 00, $14. 00, $12. 75. This means an average annual expenditure of approximately $40. 63 forthe grade of coal generally bought. Many families, however, buy their coal in small lots from theneighborhood stores, which would make the total annual cost of fuelsomewhat higher, provided the same amount were purchased. For thisreason, and to allow for a minimum amount of kindling wood, it hasbeen estimated that at least $45 per year would be required for fuelat the prices prevailing in October, 1919. [2] [2] Some of the mills were reported to be selling coal to their employees in small quantities at low prices. Gas is commonly used for lighting. The local gas company reported thatthere were 27, 236 meters in use in the city, or one meter to every 4. 5persons. A gas stove is in practically every wage-earner's home. Thepresent price of gas is $1. 05 net per thousand cubic feet. The averagemonthly gas bill for wage-earners is said by the company to be about$1. 90 net. Electricity is burned for lighting purposes in many of thenewer tenements even when the rent is low, and the average bill forwage-earners for electricity is about $1 per month. In recognition ofthe fact that some families burn gas for cooking only and have anadditional expenditure for electric light, the yearly cost of gas andelectricity together is estimated at $25. 20 in 1919. The average annual cost of fuel, heat and light combined in Fall Riverat prices prevailing in October, 1919, may therefore be placed at$70. 20, or $1. 35 per week. For families having larger homes the costof these items would be somewhat greater. To allow for this, theexpenditure for fuel, heat and light has been increased somewhat inthe more liberal budget, making the annual cost of this item $84. 25, or $1. 62 per week. _Sundries. _ From information received from the local street railwaycompany, it appears that not over 25% of the mill operatives use thestreet cars in going to and from work. The single fare is ten cents, but a commutation ticket plan was put into operation in September, 1919, by which 50 rides could be obtained for $3 provided the ticketwas used within a month. It has been found, however, that many of themore poorly paid wage-earners are not able to spend $3 at one time forcar tickets and the street car company reported that, in practice, thetickets were sold mainly to those earning above $25 a week. Some ofthe mills have now arranged to sell the $3 tickets to their employeeson the instalment plan. The chief form of amusement in Fall River is moving pictures. Thereare a dozen houses in the city to which admission is usually 15 cents, or 17 cents with the war tax. Children are admitted to the smallerhouses on Saturday afternoons for six cents. The patronage is large. One or two of the theaters frequently offer vaudeville shows and playsfor which prices of admission range as high as $2. There are also anumber of public dance halls, to which admission is 25 cents. Doctors' fees, by recent vote of the local medical society, are $2 foran office call and $3 for a house visit. Almost all wage-earners in Fall River carry burial or life insuranceand the insurance business is said to be thriving. The PhilanthropicBurial Society alone, a local organization which has extended itsactivities to New Bedford and elsewhere, has a membership of 30, 000 inFall River. This society pays a funeral benefit of $125 in return formonthly dues of 15 cents to 30 cents. It was the belief of thesecretary of the society that most of its policy-holders were insuredin other organizations also. The Metropolitan and Prudential LifeInsurance Companies have offices in Fall River and together theyinsure 75, 000 persons. Their policy-holders make payments averagingabout 10 cents per week. In addition, Fall River has 73 lodges ofvarious fraternal organizations for men, many of which provideinsurance benefits for their members. Many of the mills are reportedto be carrying life insurance policies for their employees valued atfrom $500 to $1, 000. A contributory system of cash benefits forsickness also obtains in some of the mills. The price of daily newspapers, French and English, is two cents andthe Boston Sunday paper, which is extensively read, is seven cents. A considerable proportion of the amount spent for sundries apparentlygoes to the support of the church. The city is about 80% RomanCatholic. There are a large number of Roman Catholic churches, 17parochial elementary schools, a Roman Catholic academy and a RomanCatholic commercial school. These schools are maintained chiefly bythe French and Irish. The French parochial schools require a paymentof 50 cents per month per child and the child furnishes his own books. The Irish Roman Catholic schools on the other hand are supportedthrough contributions to the church itself and tuition and books arefree to any child in the parish. While of course public schools areprovided in the city, about one-third of the children attend theparochial schools. It is practically impossible to estimate the amount spent for eachseparate item in the sundries group, but in Table 4 is given anapproximation of expenses in this division of the budget. Sinceexpenditures for sundries vary widely as between different families, the total allowed may be spent in a large variety of ways. It isbelieved, however, that $5. 10 per week, or $265. 20 per year, for theminimum budget is sufficient; the more liberal allowance is $6. 80 perweek or $353. 60 per year. TABLE 4: AVERAGE COST OF SUNDRIES IN FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS, OCTOBER, 1919 (National Industrial Conference Board) ----------------------------------+------------------------------------- | Minimum standard | More liberal | | standard |--------+---------+--------+--------- Item | Average| Average | Average| Average | weekly | yearly | weekly | yearly | cost | cost | cost | cost----------------------------------+--------+---------+--------+---------Carfare: | | | | To work | $ . 30 | $15. 60 | $ . 30 | $ 15. 60 For shopping and recreation | . 20 | 10. 40 | . 30 | 15. 60Movies and other entertainments | . 55 | 28. 60 | 1. 00 | 52. 00Medical care | . 60 | 31. 20 | . 65 | 33. 80Insurance | . 70 | 36. 40 | . 90 | 46. 80Church and parochial schools | 1. 00 | 52. 00 | 1. 40 | 72. 80Candy, tobacco, etc. | . 45 | 23. 40 | . 60 | 31. 20Reading material | . 20 | 10. 40 | . 25 | 13. 00Household furnishings and supplies| 1. 00 | 52. 00 | 1. 10 | 57. 20Organizations | . 10 | 5. 20 | . 30 | 15. 60 +--------+---------+--------+--------- All sundries | $5. 10 | $265. 20 | $6. 80 | $353. 60----------------------------------+--------+---------+--------+--------- _The complete budget. _ In Table 5 have been combined the figures givenfor the cost of a year's allowance of each of the separate itemsentering into the average family budget. From this it appears thatat least $1, 267. 76 per year is necessary to maintain a family offive persons at an American standard of living in Fall River, Massachusetts, on the basis of prices prevailing in October, 1919. This would require an income of $24. 38 per week the year round. In order to maintain life at a somewhat more comfortable standard, through allowing for slightly more liberal expenditures, $1, 573. 90 peryear will be necessary, or a steady income of $30. 27 per week. In neither of these estimates is any provision made for savings otherthan insurance. It should be noted, however, that while allowance hasbeen made in the budget for medical care, recreation and insurance, these are to a certain extent provided free if operatives care toavail themselves of the facilities offered. Thus, life insurancepremiums are paid by many of the mills; social activities aresupported by a few and a nursing service by some. Although allowancefor parochial schools is included in the budget, there are good publicschools available in the city without cost. Taking these circumstancesinto account the estimates of the sums needed to maintain an Americanstandard of living in Fall River in October, 1919, are asrepresentative as any which can be reached. These sums provide for the maintenance of a family of five at anAmerican standard of living, where the father is the sole wage-earner. It should be recognized, however, that the foreign families arefrequently larger and that in many of them there are severalwage-earners. Their standard of living, on the other hand, isintrinsically lower. These averages may be compared with the results of an investigationmade by a totally different method by the United States Bureau ofLabor Statistics in Fall River in 1918 when the average cost of livingof 158 families earning roughly from $900 to $2, 500 per year was foundto be $1, 320. 84. [3] For 12 of these families, yearly expenses averaged$826. 23; for 56, they were $1, 058. 30; for 48, they were $1, 292. 54. Thus, nearly three-quarters of the families were spending about thesame amount or less than that determined by the National IndustrialConference Board to represent the minimum cost of living. Makingallowance for increases in cost since the Bureau's study was made, theresults of the two investigations are seen to be in substantialagreement. [3] _Monthly Labor Review_, May, 1919, p. 154. TABLE 5: AVERAGE COST OF LIVING FOR A MAN, WIFE AND THREE CHILDRENUNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE IN FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS, OCTOBER, 1919 (National Industrial Conference Board) ------------------------+---------------------------------------- | Minimum standard | More liberal | | standard |--------+----------+---------+---------- Budget Item | Average| Average | Average| Average | weekly | yearly | weekly | yearly | cost | cost | cost | cost------------------------+--------+----------+---------+----------Food | $11. 00 |$ 572. 00 | $12. 15 |$ 631. 80Shelter | 2. 25 | 117. 00 | 3. 50 | 182. 00Clothing | 4. 68 | 243. 36 | 6. 20 | 322. 25Fuel, heat and light | 1. 35 | 70. 20 | 1. 62 | 84. 25Sundries | 5. 10 | 265. 20 | 6. 80 | 353. 60 +--------+----------+---------+---------- All items | $24. 38 |$1, 267. 76 | $30. 27|$1, 573. 90------------------------+--------+----------+---------+---------- INCREASE IN THE COST OF LIVING SINCE 1914 _Food. _ It was difficult to compare the cost of food in Fall River inOctober, 1919, with the cost in October, 1914, since no stores couldbe found in the city from which prices of all articles at these twodates could be secured. One store, however, for years has published a"fair price-list" in one of the daily papers, covering most articlesof food except fresh meat and vegetables. It was possible to compareprices quoted in this list in October, 1919, with those in October, 1914. Prices of meats were obtained from advertisements of certainstores in 1914 and compared with prices prevailing at the same storesin 1919. From these lists and advertisements, two 1914 food budgets wereconstructed and compared with the cost of the same articles in 1919. The articles of food included were as nearly as possible the same asthose used in Tables 1 and 2. [4] The less expensive budget was foundto have increased 77%, and the more liberal budget 82% during thefive-year period. An estimate of 80% as the increase in the cost offood is therefore representative. This compares with an averageadvance of 89% up to August, 1919, on the basis of prices in 1913, asshown by the retail food price index numbers of the United StatesBureau of Labor Statistics. [5] August, 1919, prices of food were thehighest ever recorded by the Bureau and there has been a decline ofseveral points since that time. [4] In a few cases, owing to lack of October, 1914, quotations, it was necessary to make substitutions. [5] _Monthly Labor Review_, October, 1919, p. 76. _Shelter. _ Figures and estimates regarding increases in rents weresecured from the same agencies which supplied current prices ofshelter. From these, it appears that, in general, rents of the betterhouses had increased most. Since about 1, 500 of the very pooresttenements were reported to be vacant, it has been rather difficult toraise the rents of this class of property. The Real Estate Owners'Association voted to increase all rents 20% beginning in August, 1919, and the secretary of the association reported that landlords had verygenerally put this increase into effect. One owner controlling a largeamount of tenement property, who was consulted, had not done so. Another, however, reported increases in rents for his property ofsomewhat more than 20% in the five-year period ending October, 1919. Individual instances were given of increases in rents up to 40% insome cases. A renting agency set the advance at from 10% to 30%, thelarger increase being for the better property. From these various estimates, it would appear that an increase of 15%would be a fair allowance for the advance in rent of a tenementpreviously renting for $1. 50 or $2 a week, and 20% for a tenementrenting for over $2. The tendency of rents in Fall River is distinctlyupward at the present time. _Clothing. _ For men's and women's clothing, prices were collected forthe various articles of the budget which had been selling at aspecified price in October, 1914. The October, 1919, quotations fromthe various stores were averaged and the total cost of all items wasthen compared with the cost of the same articles in 1914. Thiscomparison shows an increase of 103% for men's clothing and 100% forwomen's. These increases were found to be applicable to children'sclothing also. It may be said, therefore, that the cost of ready-madeclothing in Fall River increased 102% between October, 1914, andOctober, 1919. When clothing is made at home, however, the increasehas undoubtedly been greater, owing to the fact that prices of yardgoods have advanced more than prices of made up garments, although asalready indicated, the absolute cost is less. To allow for this, theincrease in cost of the minimum clothing budget has been placed at125%. _Fuel, heat and light. _ The same method of averaging prices ofchestnut and stove coal by dealers was followed for October, 1914, asfor October, 1919. The resultant figures show the average cost ofthree tons of coal at the earlier date to have been $26. The presentcost, $40. 63, is 56% more than this. If the coal was bought in lessthan ton lots the percentage of increase was practically the same. Gas which in 1919 cost $1. 05 per thousand cubic feet net cost 80 centsnet in October, 1914. This represents an increase of 31%. Electricityhas advanced from nine cents to ten cents per kilowatt hour, or 11%. Combining the cost of fuel, heat and light in 1914 and 1919, it isfound that the average increase for the five-year period was 46%. _Sundries. _ Six tickets for car rides could be purchased for 25 centsin 1914, whereas the present price is 10 cents a single ride, anincrease of 140%. If, however, commutation tickets are purchased, theincrease is 44%. The three large down-town moving picture houses have not increasedtheir prices since 1914, except by the amount of the war tax, butthere has been an increase of 10 cents to 15 cents (17 cents with thewar tax) in some, at least, of the neighborhood theaters. Doctors' fees have increased 100%. Although insurance premiums in themselves have not advanced, peoplehave taken out more and larger policies to cover the increased cost ofburial and relief. The daily papers have not increased in price, butthe Boston Sunday paper, which is now seven cents, was six cents in1914. If the increases for the separate sundries items are combined on thebasis of the distribution of items within the sundries group, as notedabove, the total advance in the cost of sundries between October, 1914, and October, 1919, was 75% for the minimum budget and 74% forthe more liberal budget. TABLE 6: AVERAGE INCREASE BETWEEN OCTOBER, 1914, AND OCTOBER, 1919, IN THE COST OF LIVING FOR A MAN, WIFE, AND THREE CHILDREN UNDERFOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE IN FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS (National Industrial Conference Board) ================================================= |Increase between October, | 1914, and October, 1919 Budget items +----------+--------------- | Minimum | More liberal | standard | standard----------------------+----------+---------------Food | 77% | 82%Shelter | 15% | 20%Clothing | 125% | 102%Fuel, heat and light | 46% | 46%Sundries | 75% | 74%----------------------+----------+--------------- All items | 73% | 74%----------------------+----------+--------------- _The complete budget. _ In Table 6 are summarized the percentages ofincrease between October, 1914, and October, 1919, for the separatebudget items and for all items combined, for a family of man, wife andthree children under fourteen years of age. [6] From this it appearsthat the cost of living at a minimum standard increased 73% between1914 and 1919. The more liberal budget was 74% higher in 1919 than in1914. [7] [6] The allocations of budget items in Fall River in 1914, as determined by the Board's investigation, do not differ greatly from the standard adopted for the Board's study of changes in the cost of living for the country as a whole, as is shown in the tabulation below. Such differences as occurred may be accounted for by the fact that rents in Fall River are lower than the average for the country as a whole. The differences in allocations in 1919 are accounted for by the differences in percentages of increase of the various budget items. In any locality at any time, a minimum budget would show a larger proportion of the income spent for food and a smaller proportion for sundries, than would a somewhat more liberal budget. TABLE 7: COMPARISON OF DISTRIBUTION OF EXPENDITURES FOR THE SEPARATE BUDGET ITEMS IN FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS, IN 1914 AND 1919, WITH THE AVERAGE DISTRIBUTION IN THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE IN 1914 (National Industrial Conference Board) ---------------------------------+------------------------------------- | Average distribution | Average | of the budget, |distribution | Fall River | of the |------------------+------------------ Budget items | budget, | 1914 | 1919 | country |------------------+------------------ | as a whole, | | More | | More | 1914 | Minimum | liberal| Minimum | liberal | | budget | budget | budget | budget-------------------+-------------+---------+--------+----------+-------Food | 43. 1% | 44. 1% | 38. 6% | 45. 1% | 39. 8%Shelter | 17. 7 | 13. 9 | 14. 4 | 9. 3 | 11. 6Clothing | 13. 2 | 14. 7 | 17. 7 | 19. 2 | 20. 5Fuel, heat & light | 5. 6 | 6. 6 | 6. 8 | 5. 5 | 5. 3Sundries | 20. 4 | 20. 7 | 22. 5 | 20. 9 | 22. 5 All items | 100. 0 | 100. 0 | 100. 0 | 100. 0 | 100. 0-------------------+-------------+---------+--------+---------+------- [7] It is interesting to compare the actual cost of maintaining these two standards in 1914 with that determined by a special federal investigation in 1908. According to the latter, it was estimated that $731. 64 per year would be required to maintain a fair standard by English, Irish and French Canadian families, and $690. 60 by Portuguese, Polish and Italian families. A minimum of existence budget, based on the food allowance of the federal prison at Atlanta, Ga. , and with totally inadequate clothing, required at that time only $484. 41 per year for five people. (United States, 61st Congress, 2d Session, Document No. 645, Family Budgets of Typical Cotton Mill Workers, pp. 233-245. ) The results of the Board's study show that if the cost of maintaining a minimum standard of living has increased 73% since 1914, the sum necessary to maintain it at that time would have been $732. 81, exclusive of savings. The cost of maintaining the more liberal standard on the same basis in 1914, allowing for a 74% increase since then, would have been $904. 54. It should be pointed out, however, that these increases are estimatedon the basis of the maintenance of an identical standard in 1914 and1919. As a matter of fact, standards of living have changed greatlywithin the last five years. On the one hand, there have beensubstitutions as prices have mounted, and on the other, wage increasesgreater than advances in the cost of living have in many instancesenabled families to buy more and better goods than ever before. It isnot possible to say which influence has been the more important. CONCLUSION From the results of this brief survey of the cost of living among milloperatives in Fall River, it appears that to maintain a familyconsisting of man, wife and three children under fourteen years ofage, at a minimum American standard of living but without anyallowance for savings, $1, 267. 76 per year will be required, or asteady income of $24. 38 per week. The distribution of expenses amongthe different budget items is: =========================================== Item | Weekly | Yearly----------------------+---------+----------Food | $11. 00 | $572. 00Shelter | 2. 25 | 117. 00Clothing | 4. 68 | 243. 36Fuel, heat and light | 1. 35 | 70. 20Sundries | 5. 10 | 265. 20 |---------+----------All items | $24. 38 |$1, 267. 76----------------------+---------+---------- To maintain a somewhat more comfortable standard, again withoutspecific allowance for savings, $1, 573. 90 per year will be necessaryor a steady income of $30. 27 per week. The cost by separate items is: =========================================== Item | Weekly | Yearly----------------------+---------+----------Food | $12. 15 | $631. 80Shelter | 3. 50 | 182. 00Clothing | 6. 20 | 322. 25Fuel, heat and light | 1. 62 | 84. 25Sundries | 6. 80 | 353. 60----------------------+---------+----------All items | $30. 27 |$1, 573. 90----------------------+---------+---------- Between October, 1914, and October, 1919, the cost of living at aminimum standard in Fall River increased 73% and at a more liberalstandard, 74%, the advance for the separate items being as follows: ================================================== | Minimum | More liberal Item | standard | standard----------------------+------------+--------------Food | 77% | 82%Shelter | 15% | 20%Clothing | 125% | 102%Fuel, heat and light | 46% | 46%Sundries | 75% | 74%----------------------+------------+--------------All items | 73% | 74%----------------------+------------+-------------- Publications of the National Industrial Conference Board 15 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass. _Research Report No. _ 1. 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