11 
In most cases, however, there are involved no principles so vital 
that the classification of the more doubtful goods in one way or 
another is a matter of great importance. The trouble comes from 
the fact that there is as yet no general agreement and consequently 
no assurance that the classifications used in various studies give 
really comparable results. The one used here has been arranged 
with two considerations in mind: Logical relation of the different 
kinds of goods used to the standard of living and the usage of other 
reliable workers. The classification used here makes possible com- 
parisons of the values of goods filling specific needs or purposes 
and affords, through the distribution of the total value of goods 
among the principal groups of goods, a more satisfactory index than 
expenditures of the standard of living. The main groups of goods 
in this classification are shown in the following list, together with 
the subdivisions for the groups in which the usage is most varied: 
CLASSIFICATION OF FAMILY GOoBs USED IN THE TABULATION OF DATA FOR THIS 
STUDY 
1. Food. 
2. Clothing (costs include sewing, dry-cleaning, pressing, and shoe repairing). 
3. Housing (costs include taxes, insurance, improvements, repairs and deprecia- 
tion ; 10 per cent of total value of house is used as annual cost of rent). 
4. Furnishings and portable equipment (costs include repairs). 
Bedding and household linens. 
Cleaning equipment : Brooms, brushes, carpet sweepers, vacuum 
cleaners, etc. 
Curtains, portieres, and window shades. 
Floor coverings : Carpets, rugs, linoleum, etc. 
Furniture : Beds, including springs and mattresses, chairs, tables, etc. 
Gas engines (portable). 
Kitchen utensils, including electrical appliances for cooking purposes, 
canning equipment, and the like. 
Lamps, lamp chimneys, bulbs, etc. 
Laundry equipment: Washing machines, wringers, irons, ironing 
boards, etc. 
Musical instruments. 
Pictures, vases, clocks, and ornaments. 
Screens, shades (when not included under housing). 
Sewing equipment : Machine, cutting table, dress form, etc. 
Stoves and heaters. 
Tableware : China, glass, silver, cutlery. 
Tools (for household use only). 
Trunks, suit cases, baby carriages, etc. 
Wash bowls, basins, etc. 
5. Operation. 
Automobile (costs include license, tax, operation, repairs, and deprecia 
tion at 25, 15, 12, 12, 12, 12, and 12 per cent of the original cost according 
to the number of years which the car has been run, as 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 
5, 6, or more. After all costs are computed what appears a reasonable 
proportion of the total, say 25, 40, or 50 per cent, are attributed to 
household use; the cost of the car when used for vacation trips is 
computed separately and placed under advancement). 
Fuel, including kerosene, gas, and electricity, for heat, light, and power. 
Household labor (hired). 
Ice and water (proportion of total cost chargeable to all household uses). 
Insurance on furnishings and equipment. 
Laundry work done outside. 
Postage, stationery, express, freight, drayage. 
Travel by bus, trolley, and train in connection with family and house- 
hold business. 
Supplies for cleaning, laundry, and miscellaneous purposes: 
Soap, matches, paper, tacks, etc. 
Telephone (proportion of total cost chargeable to all houehold uses). 
