436
SOLINGEN.
From the following Table it will be seen that rent at Solingen is comparatively
high. If 100 be taken to represent rent at Berlin, the corresponding
figure for Solingen will be 61.
Predominant Bents of Working-class Dwellings.
Number of Rooms per Tenement.
Two rooms
Three rooms
Four rooms
Predominant Weekly Rent.
3s. to 3s. 6d.
3s. 6d. to 5s. 9d.
5s. 9d. to 7s.
These rents include the charge for water but otherwise no rates. Towards
the cost of municipal government the working classes, like the rest of the
community, are taxed on their incomes whether householders or not, but
incomes not exceeding £45 are exempted. In 1905 and 1906 the local income
tax was 215 per cent, of the State income tax, in 1907 it was 200 per cent. In
addition a church tax is paid of 36 per cent, of the State income tax by
members of the Evangelical Church, and one of 45 per cent, by members of the
Roman Catholic Church. Hence small incomes were in 1907 liable to the
following taxes :—
Income Group.
Over £45 to £52 10s.
„ £52 10s. to £60
„ £62 to £65 10s.
„ £65 10s. to £75
„ £75 to £82 10s.
„ £82 10s. to £90
„ £90 to £105 ...
State
Income Tax.
£ S. d.
0 6 0
0 9 0
0 12 0
0 16 0
110
16 0
111 0
Local
Super Tax.
£ S. d.
0 12 0
0 18 0
14 0
112 0
2 2 0
2 12 0
3 2 0
Church Tax.*
S. d.
2 2
3 2#
4 3§
5 9
7 6%
9 41
11 2
Total
Taxation.
£ S. d.
10 2
1 10 2|
2 0 3§
2 13 9
3 10 6f
4 7 44
5 4 2
If Evangelical.
Retail Prices.
Groceries and other Commodities.
The working classes buy for the most part from the miscellaneous retailers.
Ihere is a branch of the Ohligs “ Solidarity” Co-operative Society, which has
seven branches in the district wdth 1,740 members in all, but in Solingen it is
not yet very strong. There are also branches of a large Cologne grocery store,
the nearest approach that exists here to the “ multiple shop ” firms of England.
It may be remarked that the competition of the grocers appears to be chiefly in
respect of sugar, the prices of which, like the qualities, vary greatly.
Black bread and grey bread are eaten equally by the working classes ; and
the better kinds of both by other classes also. The black bread is made exclusively
of rye, coarsely ground, and is usually sold in loaves weighing 7*7 lb.
English, while the grey bread is a mixture of rye and wheat in varying
proportions, made in different weights. Small all-wheat loaves known as
“ Semmel ” are also baked, sometimes wdth currants, and in addition w heat rolls
(“ Brödchen ”) are usually eaten with coffee for breakfast.
The Solingen workman has in general a strong preference for a sandwich
made of a slice of white bread with one of black bread above it. Black bread
