DÜSSELDORF.
217
and by kiosks located in convenient positions in the streets. Potatoes are
bought by the “ Becher ” (or bowl), a measure containing 6g lb. For fuel the
working classes use coal and briquettes. Coal is used almost exclusively for
the cooking-stove ; it is bought either by the pailful, in the case of poor people,
at a price of 2d. or 3<d. a pail, or by the hundred-weight, in which quantity it
is delivered in the house at 11 \d. a cwt. For the heating-stove briquettes,
which cost 10\d. per cwt., are largely used.
The following were the predominant prices of various articles of common
use paid by the working classes in October, 1905, and May, 1906. There was
little change of price in the interval :—
Predominant price.
Commodity.
Coffee ... ... ... per lb.
Sugar :—
Loaf ...
White Granulated
Bacon :—
Fat
Streaky
Eggs :—■
Box per Is.
Country
Cheese :—
Dutch per lb.
Limburg
Swiss
Butter
Margarine
Potatoes ... ... ... per 7 lb.
Flour,Wheaten (Household) ,,
Bread (Rye) ... ... per 4 lb.
Milk per quart
Coal per cwt.
Paraffin Oil per gallon.
At October, 1905.
At May, 1906.
lid.
2fd., 3d.
2#
9§d.
lid.
13
11
9|d. to lO^d.
5&d.
10£d- to lid.
Is. 24d. to Is. %\d.
7|d.
2\d. to 3d.
Hid.
5\d. to öd.
2$d.
llid.
9fd.
lid.
2|d., 3d.
2#
9|d.
lid.
17
14
94d. to IQid.
5&d.
10fd. to lid.
Is. 2fd. to Is. 3fd.
7#
2|d. to 3d.
llid.
5\d. to öd.
2#d.
ll^d. to Is Ofd.
9fd. to 9fd.
The following comparative statement of prices has been extracted from the
price lists of a “ multiple ” firm doing a large working-class trade
Averaqe Retail Prices of certain Commodities in 1879, 1880, 1881, 1905, 1906,
and 1907.
Commodity.
Coffee (roasted) :—
1st quality
Ordinary ...
Wheaten flour :—
Finest
Seconds
Rice :—
Carolina
Rangoon ...
Margarine
Bacon (smoked)
Mett sausage (best)
Cheese :—
Dutch
Limburg (common)
Swiss
Petroleum
per lb.
per 7 lb.
per lb.
per gallon
I
1879. 1880.
1*. 7 d.
9f d.
la. 7f(7.
la. Ifd.
.3f (l.
2 d,
8p7.
6f(7.
7f(7.
7f d.
5 d.
11 d.
llid.
la. 7d.
Is.
la. Id,
la. Ifd.
3f d.
2(7.
8f(7.
6f(7.
8\d.
8f(7.
5 d.
Hid.
1 Id.
1881.
la. Id.
lid.
la. Id.
la. 2id.
3f(7.
2d,
7 d.
6fd.
8f(7.
8f(7.
5 d.
11 id,
9f(7.
1905. ! 1906.
la. 3fd.
8f(7.
la. Ifd,
10(7.
3f(7.
If d.
S\d.
8f(7.
la.
10f/7.
l\d.
la.
8f(7.
la. 5id.
8f(7.
la. lid.
11&(7.
3 Id.
2d.
8f(7.
9^(7.
9(7. to la.
10(7.
5£(7.
1907.
la. lid.
9f¿.
la. 3p7.
la. lf(7.
3f(2.
2(7.
It may be added that a system of discounts, corresponding to the
“ check ” system known in England, exists in connection with the working-class
trade. With each purchase above 2\d. a ticket is given entitling the buyer to a
discount of about 5 per cent, when his tickets reach a certain amount, as a rule
20s. This discount is returned in goods selected by the customer.
2 E
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