.CREFELD. 
161 
“ multiple shop ” system exists only in the case of a large coffee company which 
has several shops, which deal, however, only in coffee, sugar, and biscuits. 
Black pure-rye bread, grey bread, containing an admixture of wheat, and 
also white bread are all consumed by the working classes ; slices of black and 
white bread are frequently eaten together, in sandwich form. Loaves are sold 
at various prices, 45, 55, and 60 pfennige (5¿d., 6Jd. and l\d.), and not by 
weight. The price of a 4 lb. loaf of black bread in October, 1905, was 3\d. 
to 4d., of a grey loaf of the same weight 5\d. and 6^d., and of white bread 
6|d. and l\d. The prices of most groceries are fairly uniform throughout the 
town, the only important variations being in coffee (which is everywhere of all 
qualities and prices), sugar (which seems to be the commodity mainly affected 
by competition among grocers), and cheese. The price usually paid for coffee 
is 11 d. per lb. The practice of buying at small grocers’ shops “coffee water” 
(boiling water ready for use) is still common with a section of the factory 
population, especially where the wife works in the mill ; the sign “ Coffee water 
with milk sold here” may be seen in the windows of these small shops. The 
housewife takes her coffee in a jug, and obtains the necessary infusion at the 
price of \d. for two quarts. The principal kinds of cheese sold are Dutch and 
Swiss, but there are a good many other kinds upon the market, and in particular 
Limburg cheese. A very inferior Dutch cheese is obtainable for 6d. or 6|rd. 
Coal is principally used for fuel, little coke being burned, while briquettes, 
which are also used, cost 8Jd. per cwt. 
In connection with the question of food prices it may be noted that though 
wages are distinctly lower for the weavers (whether home or factory workers) 
outside the town and within it, food prices in the rural districts are no lower, 
and are frequently higher. An investigation made by the Landrath of Crefeld 
Rural District on 1st September, 1905, as to the average prices in the seven 
areas which make up that district showed that for pork, bacon, beef, veal, 
salt herrings, sugar, and petroleum the prices were in almost every case higher 
than in the town of Crefeld, and that for most other commodities the town 
and rural prices were about level. 
As the following Table shows, the prices of butter, milk, cheese, flour, 
bread, coal, and paraffin in September, 1907, were distinctly higher than at 
October, 1905 ; the prices of sugar, bacon, and potatoes, on the other hand, had 
fallen slightly :— 
Predominant Prices paid by the Working Classes in October, 1905, 
and September, 1907. 
Predominant Price. 
Commodity. 
October, 1905. 
September, 1907. 
Coffee ... ... ... 
Sugar :— 
Loaf **• ... ... 
White granulated ... 
Bacon :— 
Fat ... ... ... 
Streaky 
Eggs ... ..# ••• 
Cheese :— 
Dutch .. ... 
Limburg 
Swiss 
Butter ... 
Margarine 
Potatoes 
Flour :— 
Wheaten 
Rye ... M. ••• 
Bread :— 
White 
Grey 
Black 
Milk ... ... ••• 
Coal ... ... ••• 
Coke ... ... ••• 
Paraffin 
per lb. 
per Is. 
per lb. 
per 7 lb. 
per 4 lb. 
per quart 
per cwt. 
per gallon 
11 d. 
2# 
9# 
13 
8| d. 
5 \d. 
9\d. to 9|d. 
10 id. 
16 
9# 
7\d. 
9# 
Is. Id. 
7 d. 
2fd., 3d. 
11 \d. 
9fd. to lOfd. 
6W. to 7\d. 
5\d. 
3\d. 
3\d. 
4d. 
10 ^d. 
9\d. 
9 id. 
11 d. 
2W. 
2\d. 
8|d. to 9\d. 
9\d. „ 9fd. 
12 „ 14 
lid. 
3\d. to l\d. 
11 d. to Is. 
Is. 2\d. to Is. 3\d. 
8# 
2# 
Is. 0\d. to Is. lfd. 
10£d. to ll\d. 
7\d. 
3\d. to l\d. 
4RL 
2# 
Is. Ofd. 
9\d. 
11 d. 
29088 
X