Prosperous Times by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 10, 1904

Prosperous Times

By Editor

Prosperous Times.—According to investigations by Hon. Carroll D. Wright, United States Commissioner of Labor, the average cost of the average family living was 16.1 per cent higher in 1902 than in 1896. The average income for an average family of 5.31 persons was $827.19, while the average expenditure was $768.54, of which $326.90 went for food. This is $61.59 each a year, or a daily average of 17 cents to a person, surely not a sumptuous living. The average wage has not correspondingly increased.

Our thanks are due Congressman Walter P. Brownlow, of Tennessee, for a copy of his bill and other documents, for the improvement of county roads. As the National Government has appropriated money for river and harbor improvement, for pensions, for irrigation purposes, for public buildings in cities, Congressman Brownlow proposes that the Federal Congress shall appropriate $24,000,000 as national aid for the building of wagon roads, to be divided according to the population of the various States, no State to receive less than $250,000. It is claimed, and the claim seems true, that the distribution of this sum would be much more equitable than the $32,500,000 a year under the Rivers and Harbors Bill. Certainly the wise use of such a sum would greatly help the farmer, and facilitate the free rural delivery of mail. It is designed to stimulate State effort; for each State receiving is to add an equal amount. It is certainly a good thing. Under the proposed act California would receive $380,000; New York, $2,108,000. The latter is now expending over $4,000,000 a year.