class="fourth">.12 

½ lb. bacon .21  4 bananas .15  1 lb. dried cod .20  ½ 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 .16  ½ lb. oleomargarine or lard .18  1 lb. corn meal .07  1 lb. cheese .41  1 lb. rice .16  14 qts. milk 2.10  1 lb. macaroni .16  Vegetables   3 lbs. sugar .33  1½ pks. potatoes .77  3 lbs. rolled oats .21  3 lbs. carrots .12  1 pt. molasses .12  2 lbs. onions .13  Tea, Coffee, etc.   3 lbs. cabbage .14  ¼ lb. tea .15  2 lbs. dried beans .23  ½ lb. coffee .23  1 can tomatoes .15  ½ lb. cocoa .22      Condiments .11                  Total weekly cost $11.00 

 

From the food budget itemized in Table 1, which must be regarded as a minimum, it appears that the least that can be allowed for food for a man, wife and three children under fourteen years of age in Fall River in October, 1919, is $11 a week.

 

TABLE 2: MORE LIBERAL WEEKLY FOOD BUDGET FOR A MAN, WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE IN FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS, OCTOBER, 1919

(National Industrial Conference Board)

Item and amount	Cost, October, 1919	Item and amount	Cost, October, 1919
Meat and Fish		Fruit
2 lbs. flank	$   .32	3 qts. apples	$   .27
1 lb. hamburg	.25	½ doz. oranges	.24
3 lbs. leg mutton	.75	½ doz. bananas	.23
½ lb. bacon	.21	½ 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	.07
½ lb. oleomargarine or lard	.18	1 lb. macaroni	.16
1 lb. cheese	.41	2 lbs. rolled oats	.14
14 qts. milk	2.10	1 pkg. cornflakes	.15
Vegetables		½ lb. tapioca	.08
2 pks. potatoes	1.02	3 lbs. sugar	.33
2 lbs. carrots	.08	1 pt. molasses	.12
4 lbs. onions	.26	Tea, Coffee, etc.
2 lbs. cabbage	.09	¼ lb. tea	.15
2 lbs. dried beans	.23	½ lb. coffee	.23
½ 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 five persons, worked out in co-operation with the visiting housekeeper of the League for Community Welfare of Fall River and given in Table 2, was planned so as to include foods in particular demand among wage-earning families. From this it appears that to feed such a family according to a standard somewhat above the minimum, $12.15 a week would be required.

These food budgets have been arranged with due consideration for food values and variety, although of course the tastes of many families might require a somewhat different combination of articles. Nevertheless it is probable that an adequate supply of food for an average family of five could be purchased in Fall River in October, 1919, for $11 per week, while $12.15 is sufficient to insure a somewhat more liberal diet. This would mean an annual expenditure