22 THE HIGH COST OF LIVING 



of the twenty-five most common and necessary food 

 commodities of the average family have almost 

 doubled between April, 1915, and April, 1917. Ac- 

 cording to Dun's index figures dairy and garden 

 products increased 84 per cent, in price between 

 April 1, 1914, and April 1, 1917. Meat went up 46 

 per cent, in the same period; clothing 49 per cent.; 

 metals 69 per cent., and foodstuffs 105 per cent. 

 The figures of the Old Dutch Market, Incoiporated, 

 of Washington, D. C, show that during the period 

 mentioned there was an average increase of 85.32 

 per cent, in a fist of sixty table necessities, including 

 meats, canned goods, eggs, vegetables, etc. As a 

 consequence, the poor can no longer buy the same 

 quality of food they were previously able to obtain, 

 nor can they buy in adequate quantities. 



This is also the testimony of the food committee 

 appointed by the Commissioners of the District of 

 Colmnbia, which stated: 



^'Interesting figures were obtained," says the com- 

 mittee, ''from the proprietors of some of the smaller 

 stores whose business is with the poorer people. 

 They show clearl}^ that the poor have been com- 

 pelled to resort to the strictest economy in order to 

 provide food, on account of high prices. Their pur- 

 chases are of the cheapest possible articles, and in 

 smaller quantities than heretofore. The sale of ordi- 

 nary cuts of meats in this class of stores seems to 

 have been discontinued, and the meat now pur- 



