KÖNIGSBERG.
283
the more common type with its one unbeatable room, the higher rent being
paid for the increased comfort to be derived from an additional stove—a
consideration of great importance in a cli mate so severe as that of Königsberg in
the winter months.
In summarising the results of the inquiry into working-class rents in
Königsberg the two classes of three-roomed tenements may be thrown together.
It is then found that of the 4,619 three-roomed tenements covered by the
inquiry, 2,206, or 48 per cent., were let at rents of £11 to £13 15s. per annum,
or 4s. 3d. to 5s. 3d. per week.
Predominant Rents of Working-class Dwellings.
Number of Rooms per Tenement.
Predominant Weekly Rent.
Two rooms
Three rooms
3s. id. to 4s.
4s. 3d. to 5s. 3d.
Rent in Königsberg is higher than in any other of the towns investigated
in the eastern portion of the German Empire. Representing the level of rent in
Berlin by 100, the corresponding figure for Königsberg is 62.
The above rent includes the water rate, but no element of taxation for
local purposes, such taxation being levied in the shape of an income tax
supplementing, and bearing a fixed ratio to, the State income tax. In
Königsberg the income tax for local purposes is exactly double the State
income tax, to which all incomes of £45 per annum and upwards are subject.
The amount payable in respect of local income tax for certain ranges of income
in Königsberg is shown below.
Incomes.
Amount of local Income
Tax.
£45 to £52 30s. ...
Over £52 10s. to £60
„ £60 to £67 30s.
., £67 10s. to £75
„ £75 to £32 10s.
„ £82 10s. to £90
,, £90 to £105 ...
„ £105 to £120
£ s. d.
0 32 0
0 18 0
14 0
1 32 0
2 2 0
2 12 0
3 2 0
3 32 0
Retail Prices.
Contrary to what one would expect in so important a town, the retail
provision trade of Königsberg, so far as working-class custom is concerned, is
still almost entirely in the hands of unpretentious shop-keepers, whose most
serious competitors (in certain articles other than groceries), would seem to be
the still less pretentious stall-holders at the semi-weekly markets held in
different parts of the town where they are least likely to obstruct traffic.
Working class co-operative distribution has made small progress, for the only
working class co-operative enterprise—the Konsumverein far Königsberg und
Umgegend—had, at the end of September, 1905, after three years’ existence, no
greater a membership than 824, while its sales during the previous year were
only a little in excess of £6,000. A second co-operative society composed of
members of the official and military classes was, however, flourishing.
The existence of a large number of small shop-keepers carrying on business
in close proximity to each other among a population confined to a wallencircled
town tends to produce local uniformity of prices, so that there was
little difficulty in ascertaining the predominant prices of the principal articles
of food, more especially as the municipal statistical office has for some years
been regularly collecting and publishing information on the subject.
29088
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