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 Statistics of [xpenditure and Consumption in Canada. 
 
 By prof. JOHN DAVIDSON, M. A., Phil. D., 
 
 FREDERICTON, N. B. 
 
 From the Transactions of the Nova Scotian Institute of Science, 
 Vol. X, Session iSgS-gg. 
 
 
 
 
 
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 IMB'i, f'«ii.'fwjjf.>^fm>'mmmffs^n..wm im^ii***m','>^Wrir^ll}'IVf-W 
 
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 I. — Statistics of Expenditure and Consumption in Canada, 
 — By Pkofessor John Davidson, M. A., Phil. D., 
 
 Fredericton, N. B. 
 
 (Read Nov. Uth, 189S.) 
 
 The ultimate test of a nation's prosperity is the quantity and 
 quality of the goods it contains. Other tests are relative and 
 indicate business activity rather than national welfare. All 
 wealth is produced to be consumed, and the whole process of 
 production is carried on for the benetit of the consumer. For 
 him there is seedtime and harvest ; for him the factories and 
 the stores are run ; for him railroad and steamship lines operate, 
 and banks conduct their business. It is conceivable that the 
 volume of business may be lar<je within a nation which yet is 
 poor and relatively unprosperous. Increased activity does not 
 always mean increased welfare ; and that community alone is 
 rich and prosperous at whose command this activity places a 
 large stock of consumable goods ; and the most satisfactory evi- 
 dence of this command is provided by the statistics of the 
 consumption of the community. That is direct evidence ; all 
 other evidence is indirect and presumptive. 
 
 Unfortunately, direct evidence is not always available. We 
 depend for information almost entirely upon government bureaus 
 and departments ; and these are concerned chiefly with their owa 
 
 PROC. & Trans. N. S. Inst. Sci., Vol, X. Trans.— A. 
 
 :y 
 
STATISTICS OF EXPENDITURE AND 
 
 affairs. They collect fii^ures of exports and imports because of 
 the obvious bearinrj of such fio'iires upon the collection of a 
 revenue ; and in some cases provide us with information regard- 
 ing^ the industry carried on within the country because certain 
 articles of manufacture are subject to internal revenue duties. 
 Where there is no question of collecting revenue, tlie information 
 afforded us is not usually carefully collected. We know more 
 accurately what is imported than what is exported : we know 
 better how much beer is consumed than we do how much meat 
 or grain is consumed ; how much tobacco Ijetter than how 
 much clothing. The interest of the government is nuiinly 
 in the collection of revenue. An enlightened government may 
 make provision for the collection of other statistics ; it maj' 
 establish labor bureaus and agiicultui'al depai'tments ; it n)ay 
 publish banking returns and railroad earnings : but since the 
 interest of these things is not so immediately practical, the infor- 
 mation affor(]ed is apt to be meagre and to cease, short of the 
 point of completeness. For instance, the main industry in 
 Canada is agriculture ; but we know less of the output of our 
 farms than we do of the output of our breweries. Ontario and 
 Manitoba collect elaborate agricultural statistics ; but in the other 
 provinces the gathering of iiiformation is perfunctorily performed 
 or not performed at all ; ami, consequently, we cannot even use 
 what information we have, because statistics of interprovincial 
 trade are lacking. In tlie census years, elaborate returns are 
 made ; but even here there are gaps in our information, and too 
 much of what is set down depends on the memory of the private 
 citizen; which is not a scientific instrument. In Canada there is 
 an additional difficulty in the way of obtaining adequate con- 
 sumption statistics. Nearly half of om* population is dependent 
 on agriculture. In time, and with organization, we may learn 
 the amount of eggs and potatoes, nnlk and meat and vegetables, 
 maple sugar and cordwood marketed ; but it will always be next 
 to impossible to ascertain how much of these commodities the 
 autonomous producer uses in his own consumption. Private 
 investigation may step in to make up for the deficiencies of 
 
I 
 
 CONSUMI'TION IN CANADA — DAVIDSOX. 
 
 8 
 
 governmental machinery ; but until the coinnmnity is so far 
 educated that there is a statistical or economic association in 
 every parish, we can hardly hope for the fullest information. 
 Consumption is in its nature a private concern, and man will 
 require to be much more methodical than he is at present before 
 we can present anything- like a picture of the consumption of a 
 people. At the present time we arecoinpelled to use what infor- 
 mation we have as an indication of the complete result ; and 
 rreneializing from the experience of individuals, treat the con- 
 sumption ut certain articles, for which the (Tovernment provides 
 statistics which may be relied upon, as representing the wdiole. 
 
 It is necessary first to shew in what proportions the people 
 of Canada expend their incomes, because otherwise we should 
 not be able to estimate the importance of the results obtainable 
 for the consumption of specific articles. If the total expenditure 
 of a people on food amounts to no more than fifty per cent, of 
 its income, an increase in the consumption of cofiee will mean a 
 less increase '>f prosperity then it does for a people which spends 
 seventy per cent, of its income on food. In the latter case it 
 means that the people are rising fiom the lowest class, where the 
 necessaries of life absorb the greatest part of the income, to a 
 condition where other considerations are becoming important; in 
 the former case it may mean a change in the form of consump- 
 tion only. This aspect of "the question has some immediate 
 practical importance. In the discussion of the financial aspects 
 of prohibition, little attention has been paid to the fact that not 
 all the expenditure of the Canadian citizen is on taxable goods. 
 Prohibitioni.sts claim that the fifty million dollars annually spent 
 upon intoxicants will necessarily be spent on other articles, and 
 that the o-overnment need not confuse the issue by dark sugges- 
 tions of direct taxation; for consumption will not be reduced, but 
 simply changed. But, though the .same amount will still be spent, 
 it does not follow that it will be spent in such a way as will 
 provide a revenue. In so far as it is spent on food, there would 
 be an increased consumption of food-stuflis on which, while the 
 consumer may be paying a tax in the shape of enhanced prices, 
 
4 
 
 STATISTICS OF EXPENDITURE AND 
 
 due to protection, the rifovernment may realize little or no 
 reve \ue ; while in so far as it is spent on education or on better 
 house accommodation, the government would gain nothing what- 
 ever to make up for the revenue from the taxes on beer and 
 spirits. No doubt, there would be increased expenditure on 
 clothing ; but the percentage of income spent in Canada is but 
 17 ; and the tax is already as heavy as it can be to be productive 
 of revenue. Probably seventy-five per cent, of the changed con- 
 sumption would yield no revenue whatever. 
 
 The investigation of expenditures has been carried so far that 
 certain empirical laws have been established. It may <e in to 
 some that the forms of expenditure are so much a matter of indi- 
 vidual taste and caprice that no general conclusion can be 
 established ; but, after all, the differences among men are not 
 very great. The fundamental necessities of life are the same for 
 all, and caprice does not enter in till the dominant wants have 
 been satisfied ; and by taking a large number of instances, the 
 effects of individual caprice may be eliminated and an average 
 set down. The first fairly complete investigation in this sphere 
 was made by Engel, and subsequent investigation has served to 
 establish his conclusions more firmly. 
 
 These are : — That the greater the income, the smaller the 
 relative percentage of outlay for subsistence ; 
 
 That the percentage of outlay for clothing is approximately 
 the same, whatever the income ; 
 
 That the percentage of the outlay for rent and for fuel and 
 light is invariably the same, whatever the income ; 
 
 That as the income increases in amount, the percentage of 
 outlay for sundries becomes greater. 
 
 We are fortunately able to present results for Canada, which 
 may be compared with the statistical data brought forward by 
 Engel and other investigators. The Ontario Bureau of Statistics 
 during several years presented statistics on the expenditure of 
 the working classes in certain cities of Ontario ; and in countries 
 
CONSUMPTION IN CANAliA— DAVIDSON. 
 
 5 
 
 like Canada.wbere there are few extremes of wealth and poverty * 
 the results thus established may he accepted as tolerably 
 accurate for the whole Dominion. Local variations there must, 
 of course, always be. Rent is higher and fuel dearer in the 
 towns than in the country; while in the country food probably, 
 and clothing certainly, on the whole, are dearer than in the 
 cities. The figures cover a period of four years, and their accur- 
 acy has been tested by the statistician and verified by comparisons. 
 The statistics of five of the more important towns in Ontario 
 have been selected by the writer for further analysis and 
 calculation, and the results are set forth in the tables on the next 
 page. 
 
 When these tables, which are extracted from the Bureau 
 Reports, are reduced to percentages and expressed in terms of 
 the number of day's labor necessary to command the various 
 ooods enumerated, we get the results in a form which permits 
 comparison with other countries. The results in this form are 
 contained in the tallies on p. 7. 
 
 'Compare the sections of this paper dealing with house accommodation later for 
 on enquiry into the existence of extremes of wealth in Canada. 
 
STATISTICS OF EXPRNDITUKE AND 
 
 KarniiiKH. 
 
 Day's labour 
 ill yi'ur. 
 
 Kent. 
 
 Kucl. 
 
 City ok Hamilton. 
 
 Clothing, 
 p«r heatl. 
 
 Food, 
 per head. 
 
 1880 
 18H7 
 ^88 
 1889 
 Average, 
 
 $4 »1> 
 415 
 417 
 418 
 424.7 
 
 210 
 2:11 
 2:{() 
 214 
 231 
 
 $70 
 81 
 
 81 
 
 m 
 
 $41 
 41 
 
 lis 
 
 m 
 
 $10.15 
 12.89 
 
 ]:^.4:{ 
 1:^.89 
 
 45.7(» 
 47.74 
 
 :i8.05 
 
 City ok Kingston. 
 
 1880 
 1887 
 1888 
 1889 
 Average. 
 
 $409 
 
 45:i 
 
 482 
 379 
 440 
 
 293 
 2(5(5 
 280 
 244 
 271 
 
 $70 
 70 
 70 
 
 m 
 
 42 
 41 
 31 
 
 $18.12 
 12.91 
 18 92 
 22.28 
 
 City ok London. 
 
 $43.90 
 '43! if)" 
 
 49.63 
 
 1880 
 
 $425 
 
 270 
 
 $73 
 
 1887 
 
 421 
 
 265 
 
 70 
 
 1888 
 
 4:^ 
 
 208 
 
 77 
 
 1889 
 
 431 
 
 244 
 
 (50 
 
 Average. 
 
 428 
 
 2(51 
 
 
 
 $40 
 40 
 40 
 37 
 
 $17.(50 
 15.58 
 18.59 
 15.91 
 
 City ok Ottawa. 
 
 $4.5.03 
 50.:-») 
 47.31 
 46.54 
 
 1880 
 
 $52:^ 
 
 1887 
 
 :^5 
 
 1888 
 
 mo 
 
 1889 
 
 440 
 
 v^erage. 
 
 403 
 
 188(5 
 
 487 
 
 1887 
 
 480 
 
 1888 
 
 520 
 
 1889 
 
 474 
 
 Average. 
 
 492 
 
 305 
 
 223 
 228 
 
 $ 81 
 
 97 
 
 71 
 
 110 
 
 $34 
 32 
 37 
 
 City ok TcmoNTo. 
 
 272 
 
 $ 92 
 
 246 
 
 112 
 
 270 
 
 121 
 
 2(52 
 
 110 
 
 203 
 
 
 $40 
 41 
 45 
 89 
 
 $21.90 
 1()..52 
 13.14 
 11.94 
 
 $:i5.40 
 30.55 
 
 35.15 
 
 $23.96 I $54.32 
 
 10.93 I 47.92 
 
 15.87 45.62 
 
 16.67 50.89 
 
CONSUMITION IN CANADA— DAVIDSON. 
 
 lul. 
 
 DATS 
 
 OF Laiior ^wkmsary to Pkocurk 
 
 Pkroint 
 
 AORH OK INCOMB Kxi'RNDIH ON 
 
 
 
 
 ciothiiitr 
 
 
 
 
 C\oth\ag 
 
 
 
 Kent. 
 
 Fuel. 
 
 . »"-T. 
 
 Food. 
 
 Rtiit. 
 
 Fuel. 
 
 per 
 
 Food. 
 
 
 
 
 Minilv. ' 
 
 
 
 Family. 
 
 
 Hamilton. 
 
 im] 
 
 '.m 
 
 19 
 
 :^ 
 
 128 
 
 17 
 
 
 18 
 
 i'7 
 
 1HS7 
 
 45 
 
 2:i 
 
 .S5 
 
 124 
 
 ' 19 
 
 
 i 1'"' 
 
 50 
 
 IHHS 
 
 4.-) 
 
 21 
 
 1 '^^ 
 
 128 
 
 19 
 
 1 f\ 
 
 15 
 
 55 
 
 1H81) 
 
 .52 
 
 22 
 
 •Al 
 
 108 
 
 21 
 
 
 1 15 
 
 42 
 
 Aver. 
 
 44.5 
 
 21.2 
 
 3(J 
 
 118.2 
 
 19 
 
 
 : 15.7 
 
 51 
 
 
 
 
 KlN(>HTON. 
 
 
 
 
 1H8(J 
 
 44 
 
 22 
 
 52 
 
 124 i 
 
 15 
 
 7 
 
 18 
 
 48 
 
 1887 
 
 41 
 
 25 
 
 ;r> 
 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 .... 
 
 1888 
 
 40 
 
 2:{ 
 
 46 
 
 105 
 
 14 
 
 8 
 
 16 
 
 HH 
 
 1881) 
 
 45 
 
 20 
 
 58 
 
 127 1 
 
 18 
 
 8 
 
 24 
 
 52 
 
 A ver. 
 
 42.5 
 
 22.5 
 
 47.7 
 
 118.6 
 
 15.5 
 
 I 
 
 8 
 
 18.2 
 
 44.3 
 
 
 
 
 Ottaw. 
 
 V. 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1880 
 
 47 
 
 19 
 
 (n 
 
 128 
 
 15 
 
 6 
 
 20 
 
 40 
 
 1887 
 
 .5:i 
 
 18 
 
 82 
 
 10(i 
 
 28 
 
 8 
 
 14 
 
 49 
 
 1888 
 
 .^2 
 
 16 
 
 :i4 
 
 124 
 
 14 
 
 8 
 
 15 
 
 5;^ 
 
 1889 
 
 (54 
 
 19 
 
 89 
 
 1(K) 
 
 25 
 
 8 
 
 14 
 
 49 
 
 Aver. 
 
 49 
 
 18 
 
 42.2 
 
 115.5 
 
 19.2 
 
 7.5 
 
 15.7 
 
 47.7 
 
 
 
 
 Loxuoj 
 
 i. 
 
 
 
 
 1886 
 
 46 
 
 25 
 
 5^1 
 
 141 
 
 17 
 
 9 
 
 20 
 
 48 
 
 18S7 
 
 41 
 
 25 
 
 48 
 
 141 
 
 16 
 
 9 
 
 16 
 
 50 
 
 1888 
 
 47 
 
 24 
 
 .58 
 
 107 
 
 17 
 
 9 
 
 19 
 
 40 
 
 im) 
 
 H7 
 
 20 
 
 44 
 
 180 
 
 15 
 
 8 
 
 18 
 
 .53 
 
 Aver. 
 
 42.7 
 
 22.5 
 
 49.7 
 
 12{).7 
 
 1(5.2 
 
 8.7 
 
 18.2 
 
 46.5 
 
 
 
 
 TORONT 
 
 0. 
 
 
 
 
 1886 
 
 51 
 
 22 
 
 .58 
 
 148 
 
 19 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 20 
 
 50 
 
 1887 
 
 51 
 
 21 
 
 .8(5 
 
 107 
 
 28 
 
 8 
 
 17 
 
 48 
 
 1888 
 
 62 
 
 16 
 
 84 
 
 124 
 
 23 
 
 8 
 
 14 
 
 57 
 
 1889 
 
 61 
 
 21 
 
 87 
 
 98 
 
 2:^ 
 
 8 
 
 14 
 
 49 
 
 Aver. 
 
 58 
 
 20 
 
 40 
 
 117 
 
 22 
 
 8 
 
 16.2 
 
 49.7 
 
8 
 
 STATISTICS OF EXPENDITURE AND 
 
 ■! ! 
 
 \\ ( 
 
 For purpo.ses of compaii.son, however, the corresponding 
 figure.s and percentages for the whole number of towns taken 
 together, and for the whole province, are more useful ; and suit 
 our purpose of international comparison better : — 
 
 Province of Ontario. 
 
 
 Earnings. 
 
 Days of 
 Lfibor. 
 
 Rent. 
 
 Fuel. 
 
 Clothing 
 
 per 
 
 Head. 
 
 Food per 
 Head. 
 
 1886 
 1887 
 1888 
 1889 
 Aver. 
 
 $451 
 449 
 479 
 467 
 462 
 
 270 
 257 
 269 
 272 
 267 
 
 $76 
 82 
 77 
 81 
 
 $40 
 
 37 
 41 
 
 $20.8:^ 
 15.85 
 17.41 
 17.10 
 
 $42.:^0 
 44.37 
 42.76 
 44.14 
 
 
 
 
 
 Days Labor Necessary to Procitre 
 
 Percentages of Income Expended on 
 
 1886 
 1887 
 1888 
 1889 
 Aver. 
 
 Rent. 
 
 1 
 Fuel. 1 
 
 1 
 
 Clothing 
 
 per 
 Family. 
 
 Food per 
 Family. 
 
 Rent. 
 
 Fuel. 
 
 Clothing 
 
 per 
 Family. 
 
 Food per 
 Family. 
 
 45 
 45 
 41 
 47 
 44.5 
 
 24 
 22 
 20 
 23 
 22.2 
 
 57 
 41 
 46 
 46 
 47.5 
 
 91 
 
 91 
 
 115 
 
 122 
 
 105 
 
 17 
 18 
 16 
 17 
 17 
 
 8 
 8 
 7.7 
 
 8.8 
 8.1 
 
 21 
 16 
 18 
 17 
 18 
 
 33 
 35 
 43 
 44 
 39 
 
 The average of the averages of the five cities above may be 
 placed beside the provincial average (taken from returns made 
 by artisans in the smaller towns and villages) : — 
 
 
 Earnings. 
 
 Days La- 
 bor ill 
 year. 
 
 Percentages Expended on 
 
 Rent 
 
 Fuel. 
 
 Clothing 
 
 per 
 Family. 
 
 Food 
 
 per 
 
 Family. 
 
 City average, 1886-89 
 Prov. average, 1886-89 
 
 $451 
 462 
 
 256 
 267 
 
 18.4 
 17 
 
 8.3 
 8.1 
 
 17 
 
 18 
 
 47.8 
 39. 
 
 The results thus obtained are in substantial agreement with 
 the results established under greatly varying conditions in 
 
CONSUMPTION IN CANADA — DAVIDSON. 
 
 9 
 
 Europe and America, as the followinpf tabular comparison shews. 
 The table is taken in part from Schon berg's Handbuch and in 
 part from U. S. Labor Repoi ts : — 
 
 Percentages on 
 
 Great Britain. 
 
 Prussia. 
 
 Ontario. 
 39.0 
 
 Massachusetts. 
 
 Illinois. 
 
 Food' 
 
 .51.36 
 
 .50.00 
 
 49.28 
 
 41.38 
 
 Clothing 
 
 18.12 
 
 18.00 
 
 18.0 
 
 15.94 
 
 21.00 
 
 Rent 
 
 13.48 
 
 12.00 
 
 17 
 
 19.74 
 
 17.42 
 
 Fuel 
 
 3. .50 
 
 5.00 
 
 8.1 
 
 4.») 
 
 5.63 
 
 Sundrie.s. .. 
 
 13.54 
 
 1,5.00 
 
 18.9 
 
 10.73 
 
 14.57 
 
 These percentages are all calculated from working-class 
 family budgets, except in the case of Prussia, where a family of 
 intermediate class was taken to give gross incomes of something 
 like the same amount. The i ial measure of well-being probably 
 consists, at least for men of the same race, in the amount which 
 may be expended on the vague class of sundries ; and in this 
 comparison, Canada comes out well. The shewing would not 
 have been so favorable had we taken the average of the five 
 cities, for then it would have been 8.5 percent of the income only. 
 
 The question of the value of these returns is almost settled 
 by the large degree of correspondence between independently 
 reached results ; but the Provincial Statistician. Mr. Blue, was 
 at the trouble to meet the objection that, to say nothing of the 
 conclusions based on them, the figures themselves were untrust- 
 worthy, by carefully examining the food expenditures of various 
 public institutions. The force of the objection is that while most 
 householders can tell how much they spend on rent and fuel, and 
 perhaps also on clothing, they can make a rough estimate only 
 of the household expenditure on food. Mr. Blue went into the 
 matter exhaustively and examined the food accounts of colleges, 
 Bsylums, military barracks, etc., and embodied his conclusions in 
 A paper read before the American Public Health Association, and 
 reprinted in the Ontario Bureau of Statistics Report, 1886, in 
 which he says : — 
 
10 
 
 STATISTICS OF EXPENDITURE AND 
 
 " Now let US see how the cost of food, as computed from the 
 working men's returns, compares with its cost in the schools and 
 colleges and public institutions. At the average of summer and 
 winter returns in these, it is $44.17 {,'per cap.) ; at the prison's 
 rate it is $.S5.51 ; at the asylum rate it is S47.12 ; at the infantry- 
 school rate it is $54.75 ; at the college winter rate it is $59. . 
 . . . The working man's average, $47.67 per cap., is therefore 
 something more than a probable one ; it is well verified by sta- 
 tistics gatliered from other souroes, and I am disposed to think 
 that the cost of living is better known and more accurately 
 gauged in the families of the working classes than in the families 
 of any other class in the community." .... 
 
 We are jnstifiad, therefore, in accepting the average budget 
 based on these returns as represbntntive of the actual expendi- 
 ture of some hundreds of working men throughout Ontario. It 
 is true, no doubt, that men capable of intelligently making such 
 returns arc likely to spend their incomes more rationally than 
 others of their class : but the extravagances and waste of the less 
 prudent and thrifty in part offset each other, and must for the 
 rest be neglected. We may assume, therefore, that in the Prov- 
 ince of Ontario 39.0 per cent, is expended on food, 18.0 percent, 
 on clothing, 8.1 per cent, on fuel, and 17 per cent, on rent ; or if 
 we take the average of the 4 year averages of the five important 
 towns as our standard, 47.8 per cent, on food, 17 per cent, on 
 clothing, 18.4 per cent, on rent, and 8.3 per cent, on fuel. 
 
 These percentages are not without meaning even as an indi- 
 cation of absolute well-being. The smaller the percentage 
 expended on food and subsistence the larger the total provision 
 for the wants of our nature. Here and there an individual may 
 be found who stints himself of the imperious necessities of life 
 to obtain some coveted comfort or luxury ; but the great majority 
 satisfy the lower wants first and rise to the higher if sufficient 
 provision is made. Conset[uentl3^ the smaller percentage in 
 Canada expended on food is an indication of a higher well-being. 
 But it is necessary to investigate still further to find the degree 
 of well-being and to present quantities rather than percentages. 
 
 « 
 
* 
 
 CONSUMPTION IN CANADA — DAVIDSON. 
 
 11 
 
 What value does the average Canadian receive in food, house 
 accommodation, fuel and clothinn^ for the percentages of income 
 thus expended ? This is not a question of prices, but of weights 
 and measures. Prices are of importance only as they indicate 
 whether an increased or decreased consumption of any article is 
 due to a change in price or to an increased command over the 
 goods of life. The increased consumption of tea and sugar, for 
 instance, is due to the fall in price ; but the increase 1 consump- 
 tion of coffee, in so far as it is not simply a transfer of taste from 
 one article to another, shows an extending margin of consumption. 
 An increase of consumption due to a fall in the price of an 
 article does not necessarily mean that the cilizens are better off. 
 Their real wages and incomes have risen but their money wages 
 nT\y be constant ; but an increased use of an article whose price 
 has not fallen indicates an increase of money wages and a more 
 extended command over the floods of life. 
 
 It is not possible, unfortunately, to enter into a detailed 
 examination of the absolute values received in each class of 
 expenditure. In the case of rent and food, we are able to present 
 some of the more important items ; but fuel and clothing 
 remain indefinite. 
 
 The item of fuel is the only one which takes a higher per- 
 centage in Canada than in any other country. The cause is not 
 an enhanced price, but the fact that a larger (juantity must be 
 used. The amount of fuel consumed per head of the population 
 is unascertainable. Fiom the mining statistics and the tables of 
 trade and commerce, we can estimate how much coal, bituminous 
 and anthracite, is used ; but how many of the people of Canada 
 use coal? Probably the majority of the population do not use 
 it in any form ; even in industry coal is not always used ; and it 
 is in the larger cities only that coal is used exclusively. The 
 quantity of wood consumed as fuel is not ascertainable ; and since 
 the quantity varies according to the house and according to the 
 habits of the individual, no estimates, even approximately cor- 
 rect, can be made. 
 
12 
 
 STATISTICS OF EXPEXDITURE AND 
 
 i' M 
 
 iw 
 
 'i ! 
 
 f i 
 
 Whether, under the head of fuel, lighting is also included, as 
 it usually is in the statistics of other countries, is not stated ; but 
 the omission is not of serious importance, becauso we are unable 
 to discover how much the individual spends and what value he 
 receives for his expenditure. The three chief illuminants, gas, 
 electricity, and oil, are being used in increasing quantities. The 
 Census Reports of 1891 give figures for the production of gas 
 and electric lighting works ; but there has been a very great 
 extension in the use of electric lighting since 1891, and possibly 
 some increase in the use of gas also ; and figures taken from the 
 Census Reports would give a wrong impression. It is interesting 
 to note that in spite of the increase in the use of these methods 
 of lighting, the consumption of petroleum is increasing steadily 
 year by year. The urban population of Canada (those residing 
 in towns and villages of more than l,oOO inhabitants) has 
 increased from 912 984 in 1881 to 1,390,910 in 1891 ; or from 21.1 
 per cent, to 28.77 per cent, of the population of the Dominion ; 
 and the number of towns of more than 3,000 inhabitants which 
 may be taken as the minimum for which gas or electric lighting 
 is provided, has increased from 08 to 94. Gas lighting held its 
 own during the decade 1881-1891, and electric lighting was prac- 
 tically introduced in the decade (in 1881 there were two men 
 employed in electric lighting works ; in 1891 there were 1,190;) 
 yet the consumption of petroleum increased per capita more than 
 fift\' per cent., although there was no corresponding decrease in 
 the retail price. In 1882 the consumption was 2.0 galls, per 
 head, in 1891 it was 3.2 gall ., and in 1896 3.1 galls, (a decrease 
 from 3.5 galls, in 1894 and 1895). The increased use of the more 
 primitive illuminant, alongside of the development of the more 
 modern methods, shews a real increase in well-being in the 
 community. 
 
 The expenditure on clothing must remain in the obscurity of 
 percentages. It might be possible, by help of the Census 
 Reports and the trade tables to determine how much cloth and 
 clothing was manufactured or imported in the year 1891 ; but it 
 is not possible to shew how much was consumed. Trade tables 
 
CONSUMPTION IN CANADA— DAVIDSON. 
 
 10 
 
 d, as 
 but 
 
 able 
 he 
 
 The 
 
 gas 
 
 are trustworthy only when they extend over a nunnberof years^ 
 and speculative influences can be discounted. An alteration in 
 the tariff, for instance, may affect the imports for a given year, 
 as it did in the case of sugar, and strictly an average of several 
 j'ears ought to be taken. The census year is no more likelj' to 
 escape such fluctuations than any other year ; and it might be 
 seiiously misleading to take the manufacture and importation of 
 textiles as typical. Moreover, there has not as yet been estab- 
 lished in the matter of clothing any standard of consumption as 
 has, in a measure, been done in the case of food. Caprice and 
 local climatic causes have here an undue influence. All we can 
 say is that in Canada the average family spends on the average 
 $83.79 on clothing, the family expenditure in the United States 
 being $112.23 ; in Great Britain, $80.59 ; in Germany, $57.21 ; 
 in France, $72 60; in Belgium, $84.61 ; in Switzerland, $65.38*. 
 
 The statistics available for the further analysis of the expen- 
 diture on rent are not sufficient for the purposes of comparison 
 either of classes or of different periods. With the exception of 
 some interesting sociological studios of a portion of the city of 
 Montreal by Aid. Ames of that city,t we have the Census Reports 
 alone to rely on ; and the Census Reports of 1881 offer but a 
 very meagre amount of information. The Ontario tables quoted 
 above shew that on the average in the province of Ontario the 
 respectable working classes spend 17% of their income in rent. 
 Since there is comparatively little class distinction in Canada, we 
 might, perhaps, assume that 17% represents the proportion spent 
 by the average Canadian on house rent. In the city below the 
 hill in Montreal rental absorbs, according to Mr. Ames, 18% of 
 the earnings : — " For families of the real industrial class 16 per 
 cent, is a fair average. . . It is among the well-to-do and the 
 very poor that rental is permitted to absorb fiom 20 to 25 per 
 cent, of the earning.s." The City Below the Hill, p. 40). Mr. 
 
 "■U. S. Commissioner of Labor. Report 1891, Vol. II., pp. 8G4-5. 
 
 t (1) The City Below the H 11 : privately printed. (2) Incomes. Wages and Rents in 
 Montreal (U. S. Department of Labor, Rnlletin 14, Jan. 1?48) ; and a lectnre on House 
 Accommodation which I have been privileged to see in manuscript. 
 
14 
 
 STATISTICS OF EXPENDITURE AND 
 
 'i i 
 
 Ames, in a letter in answer to some queries made, has further 
 explained that the last sentence refers only to families with an 
 annual incoine of ^1000 or less. " My experience, he adds, has 
 gone to prove that rental consumes from one-Hfth to one-third of 
 the income of the very poor. Then the proportion <fro\vs jiriadu- 
 ally less as we reach tln^ classes where the family income runs 
 from SH.OO to S12.00 per ue(k. Those families receivinjr from 
 SI 2.00 to i?15.00 seem to pay a smaller proportion of income as 
 rent, hut classes receivin<:j horn -Si 5.00 to .S20.00 seem to grow 
 nmhitious and desire to move into larger quarters. I am of the 
 opinion, although I have no facts to suhstantiate it, that if we 
 were to take classes receiving annually $1000 a yea'- and over, 
 we would find the rental proportionately diminishing tlie higher 
 we ('•o" Thus, Mr. Ames's results hardly hear out Engtd's law, 
 that the percentage expended on rent is invarirhly the same 
 whatever the income ; and it appears necessary to modify the 
 law, at least, if we admit subdivisions of the working classes. 
 The proportion is highest for the very poor, varying frf)m 25 to 
 80 per cent. ; for the ' real industrial ' classes it falls to 1(5 per 
 cent. ; and then rises to 25 per cent, for highl}'^ skilled mechanics, 
 and then gradually falls for families whose income exceeds one 
 thousand dollars. 
 
 Before we go on to enquire what sort of accommodation is 
 ohtained for this expenditure of income it is necessary to verify 
 the assumption made in last paragraph that there is compara- 
 tively little distinction of classes in Canada. In a sense this is 
 an ohvious fact, a matter of ordinary remark by every observer. 
 While there are few in Canada who are very wealthy, there are 
 probably as few who are in actual distress. The Census Report, 
 1801, enables us to verify to aceitain extent this common obser- 
 vation. For each census district we have given, in a .series of 
 tables, the number of houses ami the number of rooms in each 
 house. It would be obviously impossible, having regard to the 
 limits of time and space, to analyze the returns for the whole 
 Dominion ; and since in the country districts there is little differ- 
 ence of class, it is necessary onh' to examine the returns for the 
 
CONSUMPTION IN CANADA — DAVIDSON. 
 
 15 
 
 larger towns. In the large towns, if anywhere, we shall find 
 distinctions of class appearing. The first of the following tables 
 is taken directly from the Census Reports ; the second is based 
 on it and expresses the same facts in terms of percentages which 
 have been calculated : — 
 
 City. 
 
 I'opula- 
 tioii . ■ 
 
 Total 
 
 No of 
 
 Houses. 
 
 No. OK MorsKs WITH Rooais 
 
 (J-IO I 11-15 
 
 Vancouver 
 
 i:^7(H) 
 
 Winnipeg. 
 
 2Ju<(.) 
 
 St. John , 
 
 K):«5 
 
 I'jilifax.. 
 
 :^S195 
 
 Toronto . 
 
 14 1()2H 
 
 Loudon . 
 
 222S1 
 
 Kingston . 
 
 li)2l« 
 
 Hamilton.. 
 
 17245 
 
 Montreal .. 
 
 182095 
 
 Quebec .. . 
 
 mom I 
 
 Ottawa . . . 
 
 •.mm 1 
 
 2231 
 454:^ 
 
 wm 
 
 51 SI 
 25810 
 4:?17 
 4725 
 0221 
 
 0557 
 
 1401 
 
 :u 
 
 1 
 8i 
 
 m 
 
 ()| 
 
 :{7 
 
 15:} 
 
 4'-! 
 I7I 
 
 148 
 2!H) 
 1:55 
 
 ()H 
 ISl 
 
 54 
 148 
 
 72 
 
 ItlOO 
 
 470 
 
 150 
 
 104 :«i 
 •ACu 702: 
 4()7 72:1 
 120 147 
 752 2480 
 128 VM, 
 445 700 
 270 870 
 4(572 7815 
 827 1508: 
 240 Olli 
 
 22:{ 
 .504 
 740 
 52:-! 
 
 mm 
 
 775 
 
 708 
 1770 
 
 a:i25 
 
 701 
 1025 
 
 102:^1 
 
 2Hoo; 
 
 2{«)()j 
 
 :a5l I 
 
 17070' 
 
 2(5(«: 
 
 2H07 
 .5500 
 10782 
 •.i:m 
 :il85 
 
 81 
 102 
 
 1012 
 52!) 
 
 1740 
 223 
 240 
 488 
 
 2542 
 054 
 
 583 i 
 
 Over 
 
 I 15. 
 
 81 
 
 7!) 
 
 339 
 
 108 
 
 451 
 
 80 
 
 50 
 
 100 
 
 051 
 
 440 
 
 140 
 
 The populations are taken from Table TI. N'ol. 1. Ceu> is Report, 1S!)1. 
 
 1 
 
 CiTV. 
 
 Vancotiver 
 Winnipeg. 
 St. John. . . 
 Halifax . . . 
 Toronto. . . 
 London . . 
 Kingston . 
 Hamilton.. 
 Montreal . 
 Quebec . . 
 Ottawa . . . 
 
 (5.1 
 .5.(5 
 (5.0 
 7,4 
 5.5 
 5.1 
 4.0 
 5.1 
 5.7 
 7.5 
 5.6 
 
 I'KHtKNT.MiH OK TOT.M. NlMliKli OK HOISES WITU liOOMS 
 
 I I'ersons 1 
 I to a ]' 
 House, i 
 
 i(5.2 (5. 
 0.7 (5. 
 i().02. 
 10. 1 1, 
 lo.l 
 0.11. 
 
 !o.7 1. 
 o.olo. 
 
 '0.4(5. 
 
 0.5:5. 
 '0.2'2, 
 
 ti-la U 15, 
 
 Overt 4 and | 10 and 
 
 8.71 
 S.Oi 
 7.0; 
 2. 1! 
 2.0 
 2.0, 
 3.1 
 3.0| 
 14.0i 
 O.J) 
 3.7' 
 
 14.8; 
 
 15.4 
 
 10.0 
 
 8.0 
 
 0.0 
 
 10.0 
 
 10.4 
 
 0.4 
 
 24.4 
 
 18.1 
 
 13.8 
 
 1().0| 
 
 45.8 
 
 1.0; 
 
 13.0 
 
 50.8 
 
 3.5 
 
 11.1 
 
 15.1 
 
 1.5.2 
 
 10.0 
 
 04.(Sl 
 
 10.2 
 
 11.0 
 
 (5(5.1 
 
 0.7| 
 
 17.0 
 
 00.2 
 
 5.1 
 
 1(5.+ 
 
 50.7 
 
 5.0 
 
 10.2 
 
 (51.7 
 
 5.2 
 
 ' 10.4 
 
 33. 7 i 
 
 8.01 
 
 i 0.5 
 
 40.5! 
 
 11.4i 
 
 ' 15.0 
 
 53.1' 
 
 8.8 
 
 1,1 
 
 1.0 
 L7 
 5.1 
 
 n 
 
 1.8. 
 
 1.2! 
 1.0 
 2.0 
 5.2 
 2.1 
 
 les 
 
 more. 
 
 30.3 
 30.0 
 19.9 
 12.2 
 13.2 
 14.2 
 22.3 
 13.1 
 45.0 
 34.2 
 19.0 
 
 3.2 
 
 5,2 
 
 20.3 
 
 12.3 
 
 8.4 
 
 (5.9 
 
 (5.2 
 
 0.2 
 
 10.0 
 
 1(5.0 
 
 10.9 
 
 With the exception of four cities, Vancouver, Montreal, Que- 
 bec and St. John, more than half of the population live in houses 
 containing from 6 to 10 rooms ; in the case of Toronto the per- 
 centage rises to 66 per cent; while in three others, Halifax, 
 London and Hamilton, the percentage exceeds GO. Those cities 
 
16 
 
 STATISTICS OF EXPENDITURE AND 
 
 ! 
 
 i- i 
 
 
 
 which shew a low percentage of houses containino; 6 to 10 rooms, 
 per house (which gives souiething more than the standard 
 nccomujodation of one room one person) shew generally a high 
 percentage of houses of four rooms or less, and also of houses of 
 more than 10 rooms. Thus, in Montreal, 45.6 of the houses are 
 oi 4 rooms and less ; Quebec, St. John, Vancouver, Winnipeg and 
 Ottawa, also give high percentages of liouses of rather less than 
 the standard accommodation ; and with the exception of Van- 
 couver and Winnipeg, where the poor accommodation is, as we 
 shall see, due to the newness of the cities, the same towns shew 
 a high percentage of large houses of more than ten rooms. 
 Montreal has a percentage of 10.0 ; Quebec, 16.6 ; Ottawa, 10.9 ; 
 and St. John, the astonishing percentage of 20.3. Halifax is the 
 only other city where the percentage of large houses reache.s 
 double figures. If we combine the results of the last table and 
 recognize three classes of hou.ses only, those of 4 rooms or less, 
 those of 5 to 10 rooms, and those with more than ten, we .shall 
 see at a glance where the conditions are extreme and where the 
 .arithmetical average expre.sses the truth of the situation : — 
 
 4 rooms or less. 
 
 Vancouver 
 AVinnipeg . 
 St. John . . . 
 Halifax . . . 
 Toronto . . . 
 London . . 
 Kingston . 
 Hamilton . 
 Montreal. . . 
 Quebec . . . . 
 ()ttawa 
 
 5 to 10 rooms. 
 
 m 
 
 19, 
 12 
 
 i;i 
 
 14, 
 22. 
 
 i:i 
 
 45, 
 'M. 
 11). 
 
 55.8 
 6:^8 
 56.2 
 64.6 
 78.0 
 78.1 
 67.1 
 80.9 
 44.1 
 50.0 
 68.7 
 
 More than 10 room,s. 
 
 3.2 
 
 5.2 
 
 20.3 
 
 12.3 
 
 8.4 
 
 6.9 
 
 6.2 
 
 6.2 
 
 10.0 
 
 16.6 
 
 10.9 
 
 It appears, therefore, that class distinctions are marked in 
 three or four towns only: in St. John, Montreal, and Quebec, 
 and possibly in Ottawa ; that the three best hou.sed towns where 
 there are few extremes of wealth and poverty, are Toronto, 
 London and Hamilton — which, with Kingston and Ottawa, 
 
 m ■ 
 
CONSUMPTION IN CANADA — DAVIDSON. 
 
 17 
 
 where also the conditions do not show violent extremes, are 
 the five towns selected from the Ontario Bureau of Statistics 
 Reports for detailed analybis. It is probable that the very large 
 percenta(:;e of large houses in St. Jchn is an indication, not of a 
 larjre wealthy class, but of lack of nrudence and foiesijjht in the 
 inhabitants in the years which follov^ed the great fire. We 
 might therefore conclude that in two towns only, Quebec and 
 Montreal, do the extremes of wealth and poverty show them- 
 selves ; and that the average condition is also the condition of 
 the great majority of the inhabitants of Canada. We might, 
 perhaps, also conclude that the average income obtained from the 
 returns made to the Ontario Bureau is not far below the average 
 inconie in Canada. Mr. Ames shows that in the district he has 
 investigated there is a weekly average income of SlO.20 per 
 family, an average monthly rental of $8.73 per family, or 18 per 
 cent, of the family income, and an accommodation of 5.02 rooms 
 per family (U. &. Bulletin of Labor, p. 44 . The average weekly 
 income of the towns in Ontario is nearly S9.00, of which 17 per 
 cent, is expended on rent in places where rents must be much 
 lower than they are in industrial districts of Montreal, and where 
 accordingly better accommodation will be given for the money. 
 We may readily infer that the returns have been made by the 
 occupants of houses of 7 or 8 rooms ; and an overwhelming pro- 
 portion of the inhabitants of the towns, of which an analysis of 
 the house accommodation has been made above, occupy houses 
 containing from 5 to 10 rooms. Since, according to Engel, and 
 according also to the best canons of local taxation, the expendi- 
 ture on house rent is the best indication of income, we might be 
 safe in concluding that the average income set down above is the 
 average for Canada ; but at the best the conclusion is problematic 
 and based on a series of assumptions and inferences from data 
 which are themselves only approximately correct. 
 
 The main question is the actual accommodation obtained fon. 
 
.'I I 
 
 ii. 
 ii 
 
 ii! 
 
 ?i!ru 
 
 
 t.n..)i i 
 
 IS 
 
 STATISTfCS OF EXPENDITURE AND 
 
 the expenfliture, The best test, perhaps, would be the cubic feet 
 of air space obtained for a given rent.* 
 
 But statistics arc lacking in Canada to determine the actual 
 space received in return for the payment made. There may be 
 more actual air space in a log cabin or a dug out of one room in 
 the North- West and British Columbia than in a three or four 
 roomed house in a back tenement in Montreal ; and the general 
 sanitary conditions are without doubt superior. Mr. Ames has 
 taken the provision of water closets as his test, and shews how 
 a smaller house with sanitary conveniences may rent for as much 
 as a larger without them. But his investigation was confined to 
 a section of Montreal only. For the rest of the city, and for the 
 Dominion as a whole, we must rest content with a less satisfac- 
 tory test, viz., the number of rooms, the material of construc- 
 tion, the number of stories, the number of families in each 
 house, and the number of persons to a house and to a room. 
 
 The average house in Canada is constructed of wood, is of 
 one story, or a story and a half, contains probably from 5 to 10 
 rooms, more likely 5 than 10, and accommodates under its roof 
 1.08 families, or 5.6 persons, and thus gives the standard accom- 
 modation — one room one person. The standard of accommodation 
 is rising. In 18S1 there were 1.10 families under each roof and 
 5.8 persons. The one story house seems to be going out of 
 fashion, for while 39 per cent, of all the inhabited houses are one 
 story buildings, more than 50 per cent. (23,227 out of 40,000 
 classifie<l) of the uninhabited houses are of one story onlj', and 
 33 per cent, only (2,704 out of 8,077 enumerated) of the houses 
 under construction. (Census Bulletin, No. (J). It is, nioreover, 
 a well recognized fact that the sanitarj^ conveniences are being 
 improved. So that we may conclude that the people of Canada 
 are receiving better value for their money, or that through 
 increased prosperity they are able to spend a larger ab.solute 
 amount in house rent though, perhaps, the percentage of their 
 expenditure on house rent is decreasing. 
 
 'The poor probably viay more for rent, according to tliis .standard, than the rich 
 It has been found by comparison in Vienna that in a house in one of the slum districts 
 each cubic metro of air si)ace cost ;i fl. 21 kr , while in a house in the most fashionable 
 RiuKstrassc. and on the tirst tioor, the cubic metre cost 2 fl. 85 kr. only. (Scliiinbcrg's 
 Haiulbuch, I . p. 700.) 
 
 It •■. 
 
 t 
 f 
 
CONSUMPTION' IN CANADA — DAVIDSON. 
 
 10 
 
 cubic feet 
 
 the actual 
 re irmy be 
 e room in 
 !e or four 
 le general 
 \nies has 
 ews how 
 • as much 
 )nfine<i to 
 (i for the 
 sntisfac- 
 construc- 
 in each 
 )om. 
 
 )od, is of 
 » 5 to 10 
 its roof 
 1 accom- 
 jodation 
 oof and 
 out of 
 are one 
 46,000 
 •y. and 
 houses 
 ►reover, 
 » beinjj 
 'anada 
 h rough 
 :>solute 
 their 
 
 the rich 
 districts 
 lionablc 
 i>ii berg's 
 
 Wooden houses constitute 81.0 per cent, of the total number ; 
 brick houses 15.34«, and stone houses 3.1. The brick and stone 
 houses are probably mainly in the larger cities and occupied by 
 the wealthier classes. Thirty-nine per cent, of the total houses 
 inhabited are of one story, while 43 per cent, of the wooden 
 houses are of that humble size, and 1!) per cent, and 20 per cent, 
 only of the brick and stone houses fail to reacii the dignity of a 
 second story or even of an additional half story. The story and 
 a half and two story buildings are 57 per cent, of the whole, but 
 60 per cent, of the stone and 67 per cent, of the brick houses 
 are of these dimensions. Of the houses which have three stories 
 or more 14,211, or .59 per cent., are brick, 4,658, or 19 per cent, 
 are stone, and 5,746 only, or 22 per cent, are of wood. 
 
 The Census Reports do not enable us to discover whether 
 there is a larger number of rooms or of stories in a stone or brick 
 house then in a wooden house. Probably, the advantage in size 
 is in favor of the stone and brick houses ; but there is no definite 
 information on the subject, and we must rest content witli the 
 statement given in the Census Report, 1891 (Vol. IV'., Table A., 
 pp. 378, 379) of the percentage of houses of dili'erent sizes in the 
 several provinces of the Dominion : — 
 
 
 Perckntages ok HoisEs WITH Rooms 
 
 Ok Hoi ses with 
 Stokiks— 
 
 1 
 2.9 
 
 2 
 8.0 
 
 3 
 11.0 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 «M0 
 48.8 
 
 U-15 
 5.(5 
 
 Over 
 1.5. 
 
 1.2 
 
 1 
 
 
 3 
 
 . 1 
 
 Canada 
 
 1.5.8 12.2 
 
 («.5! :«.o 
 
 2.5 0.4 
 
 Br. (Johimbia . . 
 
 21.1 
 
 i:^.{j 
 
 10.2 18.5111.4 
 
 25.9 
 
 2.0 
 
 l.() 
 
 72.4 2<J.8 
 
 1.2 0.1 
 
 Manitoba . . . 
 
 12.0 
 
 20.2 
 
 17.8 17.0 10.1,21.4 
 
 1.8, {).()' rry.i) 42.1 
 
 0.8 0.2 
 
 N. Brunswick . . 
 
 2.1 
 
 8.7 
 
 9.8 14.1111.0 48 2 
 
 8.2 1.7! 79.9 10.7 
 
 8.0 0.4 
 
 Nova Scotia 
 
 1.0 
 
 5.4 
 
 8.4 
 
 15.4 i 12.9 
 
 50.2 
 
 5.8; 0.9,85.7 12 7 
 
 1.5 0.1 
 
 Ontario 
 
 1.2 
 
 5.1 
 
 7.9 
 
 18.8! 12.7 
 
 52.8 
 
 6.8, 1.2' 52.4 45.1 
 
 2.4 0.1 
 
 P. E. Island . . . 
 
 0.0 
 
 7.8 
 
 9.7 
 
 10.4:12.8 
 
 45.7 
 
 0.5 
 
 1.7 80.8:17.7; 1.4 0.1 
 
 Quebec 
 
 H.7 
 
 10.9 
 
 10.2 
 
 20.2 11.7 
 
 81.2 
 
 4.7 
 
 1.8 09.8:25.9' 8.4! 0.9 
 
 The Territories. 
 
 19.5 
 
 24.3 
 
 10.7 
 
 18.8 8.1 
 
 14.1 
 
 1.8 
 
 0.7 00.9 :«).5j 0.5j 0.1 
 
 The house accommodation aiforded varies from province to 
 province. The largest percentage of brick houses occurs in 
 Ontario, the smallest in Nova Scotia, where 99.4 of the houses 
 are built of wood. The largest percentage, though not the 
 
il 
 
 20 
 
 STATISTICS OF KXPKNIJITURK AND 
 
 • M H ;! 
 
 greatest absolute number of stone houses, are found in the prov- 
 ince of Quebec, the smallest, 0.1 per cent., in British Columbia, 
 Kevv Biunswick, and Prince Kdward Island. The proportion of 
 liouses of one story only is greatest in the Maritime Provinces, 
 where Nova Scotia heads the list with fS5.7 per cent., and Prince 
 Edward Island and New Brunswick follow with 80.8 per cent, 
 and 70.9 per cent. Manitoba and Ontario show the largest 
 percentages of two story houses, while Quebec and New Brun- 
 swick show the highest percentages of three storied dwellings. 
 Quebec contains 7Ji per cent, of all the 4-storied building.s in 
 Canada : and twice as high a percentage of the buildings in the 
 province are of that height or higher as in any other province. 
 Quebec and the North-West Territories have highest average 
 number of person.s under one roof (6.0), the Maritime Provinces 
 coming next, and British Columbia giving the low number of 4.9' 
 But British Columbia is the piovince where the largest number 
 of one-roomed houses exist. Twenty-one per cent, of the hou.ses 
 there have one room only, and 58.4 per cent, have four rooms or 
 le.ss. In Manitoba, which stands next to British Colunjbia in the 
 number of persons to the house (5.2), 12,0 per cent, of the houses 
 are one roomed, and 6G.5 per cent, have four or les.s. Prince 
 Edward Island, on the other hand, which crowds 5.9 people under 
 every roof, sees that they have some room under it, for le.ss than 
 one per cent. (0.9) of her houses are of one room, and 65.3 of her 
 houses have more than four rooms. 
 
 These facts are collected in the following table : — 
 Comparison of Housk Accommodation in the Provinces. 
 
 Canada 
 
 British Columbia.. 
 
 Manitoba 
 
 New Brunswick. . . 
 
 Nova Scotia . 
 
 Ontario 
 
 Pr. Edward, Island 
 
 Quebec — 
 
 The Territories. . 
 
 Stone 
 Houses. 
 
 8.0 
 0.1 
 0.9 
 0.1 
 0.2 
 3.3 
 0.1 
 5.0 
 1.0 
 
 nritk 
 
 Wooden 
 
 One 
 
 House.s. 
 
 Houses. 
 
 room. 
 
 15.4 
 
 81.5 
 
 2.9 
 
 2.8 
 
 97.0 
 
 21.1 
 
 3.7 
 
 95.2 
 
 12.0 
 
 1.6 
 
 98.2 
 
 2.4 
 
 0.3 
 
 99.4 
 
 1.0 
 
 21.1 
 
 75.5 
 
 1.2 
 
 0.4 
 
 99.5 
 
 0.9 
 
 17.8 
 
 77.1 
 
 3.7 
 
 1.0 
 
 96.0 
 
 19.5 
 
 4 rooms or 
 less. 
 
 37.7 
 58.4 
 66.5 
 35.3 
 32.2 
 27.5 
 34.7 
 50.0 
 73.8 
 
 Persons 
 
 under one 
 
 roof. 
 
 5.6 
 4.9 
 5.2 
 5.8 
 5.7 
 5.2 
 5.9 
 6.0 
 6.0 
 

 CON8UMl»TION IN CANADA— DAVIDSON. 
 
 81 
 
 From these figures it is possible to construct an index number 
 which shall express the relative house accommodation of the 
 various provinces more readily than the actual fi(,'ures. .There 
 are four possible tests within our reach : — The material of which 
 the dwelling is constructed, the nuinber of rooms it contains, the 
 number of stories in it, and the numbor of people who inhabit 
 it. But these are obviously not all ot equal importance. The 
 number of rooms is of much <rreater importance than the number 
 of stories, A house of five rooms with only one story is lietter 
 than a house of three or four rooms with a story and a half or 
 two stories ; and for many purposes it is indifferent whether the 
 house is built of wood or of stone, or brick. The material out of 
 which a house is built is determined sometimes l)y tiie relative 
 cheapness of materials on the spot and sometimes by municipal 
 rerjulations about a fire district. But from the fi^nires quoted 
 above, it is evident that a stone or brick house is at least more 
 fashionable than a wooden house ; and in the slum districts of 
 our cities the worst houses are built of wood. We must allow 
 some importance to these two considerations ; but not by any 
 means as much as to the others. If to the two taken touether 
 we allow half us much importance as to each of the others, taken 
 separately, we will not, perhaps, exa!jftj;erate its importance : but 
 in case of error, the index number will be stated, both inclr 'inir 
 and excluding these minor considerations. The figures quoted 
 above are taken negatively, i. e., instead of saying how many 
 houses have four rooms or less, we calculate on the number of 
 houses which have more than four rooms; but this is a matter 
 of arithmetical detail. The average for Canada is expressed as 
 100 in the cases of the number of houses containing more than 
 four rooms and of the number of persons in each house, and by 
 50 in the case of the two minor considerations : — 
 
22 
 
 STATISTICS OF EXPENDITURE AND 
 
 I I 
 
 I 
 
 Canada . . . 
 Brit. Columbia 
 Manitoba . 
 N. Bnmswick. 
 Nova Scotia 
 Ontario . . . 
 P. E. Island 
 Quebec ... 
 Territories. . 
 
 % of houses 
 with more 
 than four 
 rooms. 
 
 Index No. 
 
 /of persons 
 to house. 
 
 62.3 
 
 100 
 
 5.6 . 
 
 41.6 
 
 66.7 
 
 4.9 
 
 as. 5 
 
 53 7 
 
 5.2 
 
 64.7 
 
 102.2 
 
 5.8 
 
 67.8 
 
 107.2 
 
 5.7 
 
 72.5 
 
 116.3 
 
 5 2 
 
 65.3 
 
 104.8 
 
 5.9 
 
 50.0 
 
 80.2 
 
 6.0 
 
 26.2 
 
 420 
 
 6.0 
 
 o 
 
 X 
 
 V 
 
 B 
 
 100 
 
 114.6 
 
 107.6 
 96.4 
 98.4 
 
 107.6 
 94.9 
 93.3 
 9:^.3 
 
 X O 
 
 jisc'c 
 
 36.5 
 27.6 
 40.1 
 20.1 
 14.3 
 47.6 
 19.2 
 30.2 
 33.1 
 
 of 
 
 c 
 a 
 
 JS 
 
 18.5 
 2.4 
 4.8 
 1.8 
 0.6 
 
 24.5 
 0.5 
 
 22.9 
 4.0 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 s 
 
 50 
 
 19.6 
 
 33.7 
 
 16.1 
 
 10.6 
 
 ft5.7 
 
 13.8 
 
 51.2 
 
 28.1 
 
 The index of relative house accommodation of the provinces 
 would be therefore according as we did or did not include the 
 minor considerations expressed in the first or in tl - second 
 column below : — 
 
 
 Two Considerations. 
 
 Four Considerations. 
 
 1 - . 
 
 Canada 
 
 British Columbia 
 
 Manitoba 
 
 New Brunswick 
 
 Nova Scotin 
 
 Ontario . . 
 
 Prince Edward Island . . 
 
 Quebec 
 
 Territories 
 
 200 
 
 181.3 
 
 i61.3 • 
 
 198.6 
 
 205.6 
 
 223.9 
 
 199.7 
 
 173.5 
 
 135.3 
 
 250 
 
 199.9 
 
 195.0 
 
 214.7 
 
 216.2 
 
 289.6 
 
 213.5 
 
 224.7 
 
 imA 
 
 The inclusion of the minor con.siderations reduces the rank 
 of all the Maritime Provinces, and raises Quebec from one of the 
 lowest to the second place, and still further increases the lead of 
 the Province of Ontario. In all probability the index number 
 depending on the two considerations alone gives the fairest 
 representation of relative housing in the various provinces. 
 
 Though the item of food continues, whatever the income, to 
 absorb the largest share of individual and national income, our 
 information on this point is far from being complete. Practically 
 we may say that so far as the foodstuffs consumed in Canada are 
 produced in Canada we have no adequate information. Esti~ 
 
 ii 
 
CONSUMPTION IN CANADA — DAVIDSON. 
 
 ?3 
 
 mates have been made of the consumption of wheat and potatoes ; 
 but too much reliance should not be placed upon them. The 
 consumption of meat might be approximately estimated after an 
 elaborate calculation, taking into account exports and imports 
 and annual mortality among farm stock ; but to give the esti- 
 mate even a semblance of accuracy we require to have at least as 
 complete an enumeration of the stock in the country during 
 successive years as we have for the isolated census years. Of 
 the consumption of fish and game, of butter and eggs, and milk 
 and cheese and vegetables, we have no means whatever of form- 
 ing an estimate ; and it is doubtful whether such an estimate 
 can be formed so long as 45 per cent, of the population are 
 engaged in, or dependent on, agriculture. The only accurate 
 statistics we have of the consumption of food are those relating 
 to articles not produced in Canada at all, or produced under such 
 conditions that the whole industry is under the constant super- 
 vision of the government. We can tell how much tea and sugar 
 and coffee, how much beer and spirits and tobacco, how much wine 
 and dried fruit is consumed in Canada ; and it is fortunate that 
 these are the articles, the large consumption of which indicates 
 prosperity. We are not concerned with the ethical question 
 whether the consumption of spirits is right or wrong. As a 
 matter of fact, and many a Finance Minister has had to confess 
 it with chastened sorrow, an increased consumption of intoxi- 
 cants is a sign of incieasing prosperity. 
 
 Bread stuffs and meats are for English speaking people 
 necessities, and a diminution in the quantity would indicate, or 
 at least might indicate, increasing prosperity. The poorer a 
 nation or a family is the iaiger the pioportion of its income it 
 spends on bread and potatoes.* This is one of the established 
 
 Prof. LcxiH, in his artiile on Consumption, Selibnberg's Handbuch I., fifl" «.(iuotes 
 tlie following estiniiito of the distribution of expenditure on food by various classes :— 
 
 Krpcnfliturcon Food. 
 ((! persons) 2,17.') marks 
 4 X)orsons) 1,28.5 •' 
 
 (588 " 
 
 \m " 
 
 395 " 
 
 Bread. 
 14.y 
 
 in.c. 
 
 31.3 
 38.7 
 39.4 
 
 Potatoes. 
 
 4.1 
 
 2.4 
 
 4.8 
 10.3 
 15.9 
 
 Meat. 
 26. .1 
 29 
 17.0 
 U.ti 
 3.0 
 
24 
 
 STATISTICS OF EXPENDITURE AND 
 
 ' 
 
 conclusions of the theory of consumption ; and it stands to reason 
 that the more of the luxuries of the table a family consumes the 
 less need has it for the grosser necessaries. But this conclusion 
 must be taken to apply to percentages rather than to absolute 
 amounts ; for where the great majority of the population are in 
 the condition of working class people, prosperity may show itself 
 both in a decreasing percentage and in an increasing absolute 
 amount. With a better use of the consumption power at their 
 command, probably the working classes in America would come 
 to consume less of the grosser necessaries of bread and potatoes 
 and meat, and rise to a higher conception of well-being than 
 mere profusion. The large consMjnption of bread stuffs in the 
 exporting countries i-» due to profusion rather than to a low 
 standard of living. It exists alongside of a large consumption 
 of the comforts and commoner luxuries of the table. 
 
 Speaking in general terms, Europeans eat more bread and 
 potatoes than Americans. Australians consume more meat and 
 less bread and potatoes than either the Americans or the Euro- 
 peans. In Canada the consumption both of bread and potatoes 
 is, according to statistics, high, probably much too high, consi<ler- 
 U}(f the standard of living common in the community. In the 
 Statistical Year Book for 1891 the average consumption, calcu- 
 lated by deducting the net exports and the estimated amount 
 retained for seed from the estimated crop during the 10 years, 
 1881-1891, is given as 6.75 bushels per head : — 
 
 Consumption' Pkr Head, in BuanELS. 
 
 1881 
 
 6.48 
 
 1884 
 
 8.96 
 
 1888 
 
 6.02 
 
 1882 
 
 8.19 
 
 1885 
 
 7.41 
 
 1889 
 
 5.38 
 
 1883 
 
 6.10 
 
 1886 
 
 5.70 
 
 18tK) 
 
 6.60 
 
 
 
 1887 
 
 Q.m 
 
 
 
 But the authors of this estimate do not themselves place 
 much reliance on it ; and if it were accurate, one would almost 
 be justified in inferring that in the lean years Canada was on 
 
CONSUMPTION IN CANADA — DAVJDSON. 
 
 25 
 
 Xhe verge of starvation ; for the consumption varies more than 
 three bushels and a half. The probability is, as the authors 
 suggest, that the crop estimates are by no means accurate. In 
 'the following year, in 1892, this estimate is dropped, and a com- 
 parative estimate of the consumption of wheat per head in various 
 •countries gives Canada an average consumption of 5.5 bushels per 
 liead, which is continued clown till 1895, the last year in v;hich 
 this comparative estimate appears. The estimate continr.es to be 
 put forward as an approximation only ; but no reason is ottered 
 for the reduction from 6.75 to 5.5 bushels. 
 
 The consumption of potatoes may be estimated in the same 
 Way for the single year 1891, the census year. This gives an 
 average consumption of 10 bushels per head, or about 600 pounds 
 — undoubtedly, by comparison with other nations which have a 
 similar or a lower standard of living, an excessive estimate. If 
 the estimates framed annually by the Statistical Bureaus of 
 Ontario and Manitoba are scarcely trustworthy, the casual esti- 
 mates of a census enumerator, or of the farmer be questions, are 
 still less likely to be trustworthy ; and all such estimates are 
 liable to err on the side of excess. 
 
 Mr, Mulhall gives the annual consumption of meat in Canada 
 at 90 lbs. per head, as compared with 109 lbs. in the United 
 Kingdom, 150 lbs. in the United States, and 276 lbs. in Australia ; 
 but imagination fails to suggest the source from which such an 
 estimate can be made for Canada. 
 
 The statistics at our disposal regarding the consumption of 
 certain typical comforts and luxuries, is as full as occasion 
 requires, and as accurate as returns made at the customs or to the 
 internal revenue officers usually are. The list might be made 
 indefinitely long, but we contine ourselves to such as are typical 
 and in fairly common use, — sugar and tea and coffee, wine and 
 beer, and spirits and tobacco. Dried fruit we shall also include, 
 selecting that rather than green fruit, the extension in the use of 
 which is one of the best siyns of a prosperous consumption, 
 because, in the case of green fruits, we have estimates of value 
 only which can be used, while the quantity of dried fruits can 
 
: i 
 
 29 STATISTICS OF EXPENDITURE AND 
 
 be more readily estimated in a single one of the tables of wei<vhts 
 and measures. The tables from which the per capita consumption 
 of suf^ar, tea. coffee and dried fruit has been calculated, were 
 compiled from the Annual Sessional Papers on Trade and Com- 
 merce ; the per capita consumption of beer, spirits, etc., is the 
 calculation of the inland revenue officials, and may be found in 
 Statistical Year Book for the current year.* 
 
 The consumption of these articles is recogn'zed as one of the 
 best tests of the prosperity of a country. The middle classes 
 everywhere are well provided with the comforts and decencies of 
 life, in which class these articles are placed, although sugar is 
 rapidly becoming a nece.ssary of life ; and an extension of the 
 consumption of these goods means that the working classes are 
 consuming more, the middle class, it being presumed already, 
 using as much as they desire. In a country like Canada, where as 
 we have seen there are few extremes of wealth, an increased 
 consumption means that the whole body of the people are con- 
 suming more. 
 
 An increased consumption of any article may mean one of 
 three things, — (1) it may result from a fall in price, which enables 
 the people to consume more without spending more ; (2) it may 
 mean a rise in the average income, which enables the people to 
 spend more on one article than they have been doing, without 
 curtailing their consumption of other articles; (3) it may mean 
 .simply that the form of consumption has changed and that the 
 well-being of society is the same, or but slightly increased. In 
 all probability, the increased use of cccoa, from the value 
 of S44.,240 in ISSOf to $158,849 in 1896 has been due to a 
 mere change in the form of consumption ; and the addition of 
 this amount to the consiumption of the community probably does 
 not indicate a corresponding increase of spending power. The 
 increase in the use of sugar and tea is due, not to increased 
 
 *I take this oijportiiiiity of acknowledging my indcbtcdnesH to tlie Dominion 
 Statistician, Mr. George .lolinson, whose work I have freely used in the preparation of 
 this paper. 
 
 tAverage of three years. 
 
CONSUMPTION IN CANADA— DAVIDSON. 
 
 27 
 
 spending power, but almost entirely to a fall in price. The per 
 capita consumption of 1896, 47 lbs. of sugar and 4.4 lbs. of tea> 
 cost no more than the 2C lbs. of sugar and the 2.7 lbs. of tea in 
 the year 1880. The increased use of tobacco, of coffee, and the 
 but slightly decreased consumption of spirits, in spite of a large 
 rise in price, indicate a larger spending power. An attempt has 
 been made in the third of the following tables to indicate how 
 far the increased consumption is due to a fall in prices, the price.'j 
 being taken from a table of Montreal prices given in the Statisti- 
 cal Year Book of 1806. 
 
 Consumption Pkk Capita ok Certain Articles in Canada. 
 
 
 Tea 
 
 Coffee 
 
 Su^ar 
 
 Dried 1 
 
 Beer 
 
 .Spirits 
 
 Wine 
 
 Tobae- 
 
 Cigars 
 (No) 
 
 
 (lbs) 
 
 (lbs.) 
 
 (lbs,) 
 
 Fniits(lbs). 
 
 (gals.) 
 
 (gals ) 
 
 (gals.) 
 
 co(lbs)- 
 
 1880 
 
 2.7 
 
 0.40 
 
 26 
 
 19 
 
 2.25 
 
 0.71 
 
 0.08 
 
 1.94 
 
 
 1881 
 
 3.8 
 
 47 
 
 31 
 
 .3.0 
 
 2.29 
 
 0.92 
 
 0.10 
 
 2.03 
 
 
 1882 
 
 4.3 
 
 0.71 
 
 30 
 
 3.4 
 
 2 75 
 
 1.01 
 
 0.12 
 
 2 15 
 
 
 1883 
 
 4.0 
 
 0.60 
 
 34 
 
 5.0 
 
 2.88 
 
 1.09 
 
 0.13 
 
 2.28 
 
 
 1884 
 
 3 8 
 
 0.53 
 
 38 
 
 5.2 
 
 2.92 
 
 1.00 
 
 12 
 
 2 48 
 
 i9 
 
 1885 
 
 4.0 
 
 94 
 
 43 
 
 4.1 
 
 2.64 
 
 1 13 
 
 0.11 
 
 2.62 
 
 17 
 
 1886 
 
 4.9 
 
 0.85 
 
 38 
 
 3.6 
 
 2.84 
 
 071 
 
 Oil 
 
 2.05 
 
 20 
 
 1887 
 
 38 
 
 0.41 
 
 43 
 
 4.2 
 
 3.08 
 
 0.75 
 
 09 
 
 2.06 
 
 18 
 
 1888 
 
 37 
 
 0.60 
 
 43 
 
 4.5 
 
 .3.25 
 
 0.64 
 
 0.09 
 
 2.09 
 
 19 
 
 18S9 
 
 36 
 
 0.66 
 
 47 
 
 4.6 
 
 3.26 
 
 78 
 
 0.10 
 
 2 15 
 
 19 
 
 1890 
 
 3.8 
 
 0.66 
 
 35 
 
 4.7 
 
 .3..% 
 
 0.88 
 
 0.10 
 
 2 14 
 
 20 
 
 1891 
 
 3.7 
 
 0.69 
 
 40 
 
 4.S 
 
 3 79 
 
 0.74 
 
 0.11 
 
 2 29 
 
 20 
 
 1892 
 
 4.4 
 
 0.73 
 
 68 
 
 4.7 
 
 .3. ,52 
 
 0.70 
 
 0.10 
 
 2.29 
 
 21 
 
 1893 
 
 3 6 
 
 077 
 
 51 
 
 4.4 
 
 3.48 
 
 74 
 
 0.09 
 
 2.31 
 
 23 
 
 1894 
 
 4.1 
 
 70 
 
 61 
 
 .5.3 
 
 3.72 
 
 0.74 
 
 0.09 
 
 2.26 
 
 23 
 
 1895 
 
 4.0 
 
 0.72 
 
 70 
 
 5 2 
 
 3 47 
 
 0.67 
 
 0.09 
 
 2.16 
 
 21 
 
 1896 
 
 4.4 
 
 0.70 
 
 47 
 
 5.6 
 
 3 53 
 
 62 
 
 O.07 
 
 2.12 
 
 21 
 
 These tables are sufficiently clear to explain theuKselves ; but 
 it should be observed that for some rea.son the year 1880, which 
 has been cho.sen as starting point, is an exceptional year of low 
 con.sumption, as we .shall see more clearly when we come to 
 present an Index No. of consumption ; and it has the additional 
 disadvantage of being the year of high prices in sugar, which 
 was then 20 per cent, higher tlian in 1875, and higher than it baa 
 been since. 
 
n 
 
 STATISTICS OF EXPENDITURE AND 
 
 It would be interestinjy to compare the consumption of the 
 different provinces; but there are no statistics available for such 
 a comparison. Mr. Johnson, in his Graphic Statistics of Canada 
 (1886) has shewn the relative provincial consumption of wine and 
 beer, and spirits and tobacco, in a i^raphic form ; and from his 
 repre.sentation we learn that on the average of 19 years to 1886, 
 «ach inhabitant of Ontario drank 1. 11 gals, of spirits, 0.4 gals, of 
 wine, and 8.2 gals, of beer, and smoked 1.8 lbs. of tobacco ; and 
 so on for the other provinces as in the accompanying table: — 
 
 Pek Capita CoN,«<rMPTioN According to Provinces. 
 
 . Pro v. 
 
 .Spirits (gal.> 
 
 Beer (gal.) 
 
 Wine (gal ) 
 
 Tobacco (lbs.) 
 
 Ontario 
 
 1.11 
 1.6S 
 
 3 2 
 19 
 
 0.4 
 0.28 
 
 1.8 
 2.4 
 
 Quebec 
 
 New Brniiawick . 
 
 80 
 
 0.66 
 
 08 
 
 2.17 
 
 Nova Scotia 
 
 O.fl.S 
 
 0.7 
 
 07 
 
 17 
 
 P. E Island 
 
 0.0-2 
 
 0.46 
 
 0.03 
 
 1.4 
 
 Manitoba 
 
 68 
 
 1.7 
 
 0.06 
 
 2 6 
 
 Brit Columbia . . 
 
 1.45 
 
 3 77 
 
 0.62 
 
 3 
 
 In all proliability this proportion holds in 1898 as in 1886; 
 and Mr. Johnson's conclusions are still true : — 
 
 " Ontdiio drinks nearly three times more beer than spirits ; 
 Quebec, nearly as much spiiits as beer ; New Brunswick, more 
 spirits than beer ; Xova Scotia, more beer than spirits ; Prince 
 Edward Island, more spirits than beer ; and Manitoba and British 
 Columbia, more beer than spirits," p. 86. To which we might 
 add that, according to this shewing. Prince Eilward Island and 
 New Brunswick are the most temperate of the provinces.* 
 
 *The consumption of s))irits in the Maritime Provinces and in Quobeci'^ probably 
 greatly untlerestimatod. The figures above slicw only the consumption on wliichduty 
 was paid ; but tliere lias always been a large amount smuggled into these provinces 
 from St. Pierre which exists ))ractically as an entrepot for smuggling. Probably lo/lOths 
 of the imports of the island are smuggbMl into Canada and Newfoundland. In 188-5 the 
 amount intended to be smngglcd exceeded that proportion. It is said that half the 
 spirits and tobacco consumed in Quebec pays tio duly. Since 1890 the import trade of 
 St. Pierre has fallen oOjjer cent, in consciiuence of the increased activity of the Cana- 
 dian revenue cruisers preventing the us\ial exports. 
 
CONSUMPTION IN CANADA — DAVIDSON. 
 
 20 
 
 It is, unfortunately, not possible to compare the quantities 
 consumed of the articles enumerated with their retail prices ta 
 ascertain exactly the relation betvA'een prices and consun)ption. 
 Where prices have fallen, it is generally assiimed that the whole- 
 sale prices have fallen further and more rapidly than retail prices, 
 though, in the case of suoar, all but the very poorest who may 
 buy in very small quantities have benefitted to the full extent of 
 the fall. Where prices have. risen, retail prices may have risen 
 higher than wholesale, or not so far, uccordinir to ciicumstances. 
 Tobacco has probably risen higher in retail price than in whole- 
 sale ; but the dealers in ciixarettes last vear were not able to raise 
 prices to follow the wholesale price. The following comparison, 
 however, is with Montreal wholesale prices as stated in the 
 Statistical Year Book. 1896:— 
 
 CoSSUMrXUlN AND PRICES. 
 
 
 Coffee 
 
 .Srci 
 
 AK. 
 
 Tf 
 
 A. 
 
 Tobacco. 
 
 SiTKITS. 
 
 y 
 
 
 - •/ 1 
 
 
 — ■/ 
 
 
 « X 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 .«£ 
 
 ^ 
 
 c£ 1 
 
 £ 
 
 c£ 
 
 .2 
 
 .£ — 
 
 - 
 
 .|S 
 
 ? 
 
 YEAK 
 
 ^ » 
 
 
 "■w - 1 
 
 
 '^. r. 
 
 ^H 
 
 ■^— J 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 be 
 
 
 O.'C 
 
 ta 
 
 ^^ i 
 
 u 
 
 Q.rS 
 
 1. 
 
 PL'S 
 
 ^ 
 
 fts' 
 
 u 
 
 
 5 ^ 
 
 V 
 
 
 u 
 
 •" s 
 
 u 
 
 STee 
 
 s 
 
 C " 
 
 o 
 
 
 ft 
 
 S 2 ' 
 
 ft 
 
 c 1 
 
 ft 
 
 S a 
 
 ft 
 
 C O 
 
 ft 
 
 
 rr ■"* 
 
 9, 
 
 CC . 
 
 o 
 
 
 c 
 
 
 u 
 
 tT* 
 
 o 
 
 
 C ^ 
 
 u 
 
 f" *^ 
 
 
 s b. 
 
 o 
 
 
 _o 
 
 ii u 
 
 _o 
 
 1880 
 
 Oft 
 
 .4 
 
 £ 
 
 1- 
 
 
 c 2 
 
 a. 
 
 
 'E 
 
 ^ 
 
 5- 
 
 0. 
 
 27 cts. 
 
 2G 
 
 lOicts 
 
 2.7 
 
 51 
 
 1.94 
 
 54 cts 
 
 0.71 
 
 §1 50 
 
 1881 
 
 .47 
 
 25 
 
 31 
 
 lo' 
 
 3.8 
 
 52 
 
 2 03 
 
 ooi 
 
 0.92 
 
 1.60 
 
 1882 
 
 .71 
 
 23 
 
 80 
 
 H 
 
 4.3 
 
 51 
 
 2.15 
 
 57 i 
 
 1.01 
 
 1.60 
 
 1883 
 
 .6 
 
 22 
 
 34 
 
 9 
 
 40 
 
 51 
 
 2.28 
 
 47' 
 
 1.09 
 
 1.60 
 
 1884 
 
 .53 
 
 21 
 
 38 
 
 Ti 
 
 3.8 
 
 51 
 
 2,48 
 
 •.3i 
 
 1 IK) 
 
 1.60 
 
 1885 
 
 .94 
 
 20 
 
 43 
 
 
 4.0 
 
 51 
 
 2.62 
 
 51 
 
 1.13 
 
 1.67 
 
 1886 
 
 .85 
 
 19 
 
 38 
 
 U 
 
 4.9 
 
 49 
 
 2.05 
 
 53 
 
 0.71 
 
 1 81 
 
 1887 
 
 .41 
 
 24 
 
 43 
 
 m 
 
 3.8 
 
 43 
 
 2.06 
 
 51 
 
 75 
 
 1 81 
 
 188.S 
 
 .6 
 
 25 
 
 43 
 
 n 
 
 3.7 
 
 45 
 
 2.09 
 
 51 
 
 64 
 
 1 81 
 
 1889 
 
 .66 
 
 26 
 
 47 
 
 8 
 
 3 6 
 
 45 
 
 2.15 
 
 .)1 
 
 0.73 
 
 1.83 
 
 1890 
 
 .66 
 
 26 
 
 35 
 
 m 
 
 3 8 
 
 45 
 
 2.14 
 
 ■)1 
 
 0.88 
 
 1.84 
 
 1S91 
 
 .69 
 
 27 
 
 40 
 
 6 
 
 1 3.7 
 
 42 
 
 2 29 
 
 53^ 
 
 0.74 
 
 2.48 
 
 1892 
 
 .73 
 
 29 
 
 68 
 
 4.\ 
 
 i *•* 
 
 39 
 
 2.29 
 
 56 
 
 C70 
 
 2 88 
 
 1893 
 
 .77 
 
 29 
 
 fl 
 
 ^-h 
 
 3.6 
 
 38i 
 
 2.31 
 
 544 
 
 0.74 
 
 2 53 
 
 1894 
 
 .7 
 
 28 
 
 61 
 
 4A 
 
 ; 4.1 
 
 384 
 
 2.26 
 
 53^ 
 
 0.74 
 
 2 51 
 
 1895 
 
 .72 
 
 27 
 
 70 
 
 4 
 
 4.0 
 
 1 35i 
 
 2.16 
 
 56 
 
 67 
 
 2 51 
 
 1896 
 
 - 
 
 .70 
 
 26 
 
 47 
 
 4?t 
 
 4.4 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 33^ 
 
 2.12 
 
 56 
 
 0.62 
 
 2 68 
 
■\ 
 
 30 STATISTICS OF EXPENDITURB AND 
 
 From this table it appears that though the price of coffee has 
 not declined the consumption has increased 80 per cent., shewing 
 at once an increased desire for coffee and a larger spending power 
 in the community. Tliis is probably a real increase in the con- 
 sumption of the nation and not a transfer of taste ; for cocoa and 
 tea, the substitutes for coffee, have also been consumed in 
 increased amounts, and there has been no such diminution of 
 consumption of alcoholie drinks, for which coffee may be regarded 
 as a substitute, as would set free such an amount of consuming 
 power as would purchase the additional quantity of coffee. On 
 the contrary, although the consumption of spirits has declined 
 somewhat (18 per cent, since 1880), more is being spent on spirits 
 to-day per head than in 1880. The price has increased 78 per 
 cent., and had the consumption moved downwards at the same 
 rate as the piice moved upwards, the quantity used in 1896 
 should have been 44 per cent, less than in 1880. The decrease, 
 instead of shewing a diminution of consumption power, indicates 
 either an increase of money to spend or a growing desire on the 
 part of the people for spirits such as would lead them to transfer 
 their taste to alcohol fioni some other article. In face of the 
 temperance sentiment of the country, it is improbable that the 
 desire has increased, and we may safely conclude that the relation 
 between consumption and prices of spirits indicates increased 
 consumption power. The slight increase in the consumption of 
 tobacco (11 per cent.), in spite of a rise in price, points to the 
 same conclusion, viz , that the nation is growing more prosperous 
 and has a larger income to expend. On the other hand, the 
 increased consumption of tea and sugar justify no such con- | 
 
 elusion. They, of course, indicate a higher level of general well- 
 being, but not an increased consumpcion power on the part of the 
 community. They afford no evidence against such an increase 
 of income ; they simply do not afford any evidence in its favor. 
 The consumption of sugar has increased almost in the same rates 
 as the price has declined. The consumption of 1895 has risen 168 
 per cent.; the price has declined (1S95 price) 62 per cent. The 
 consumption has ri.sen just 5 per cent, more than the decline of 
 
 I 
 
CONSUMPTION IN CANADA — DAVIDSON. 
 
 81 
 
 price warranted — if the community was to continue to spend the 
 same money per head in 1805 as in 1880. Tea, however has not 
 increased so much as the price has declined. The consumption 
 is 48 per cent, greater than in 1880, hut the 1895 price is 35 per 
 cent, lower than the 1880 price. To preserve the same expendi- 
 ture of income on this article the con.sumption should have ri.sen 
 54 per cent., or 6 per cent, more than it has risen. 
 
 From this comparison of consumption and prices it is evident 
 that there has been not only an increase of well-being due to the 
 larger quantity of these commodities used, but an increase of 
 consumption power as well, and judging fiom the instances 
 before us, an increa.se of consumption power of considerable 
 extent. We can carry the investigation a little further, to find 
 out, so far as figures can tell us, how far the well-being of the 
 community has increased. The most obvious method of esti- 
 mating this increase is by constructing an index number for 
 consumption. Into the problem whether a permanent index 
 number of consumption is possible, it is not necessary to enter; 
 the following attempt is intended only as a method of illustra- 
 tion, not as an indication of cause. It is the more important to 
 state this liinitation, as the year 1880 was, as the table shews, a 
 year of very low consumption — a fact which was not apparent to 
 the writer till this calculation, the last made for this paper, was 
 made. So long as the result is not used by politicians for 
 partisan purposes, and is regarded merely as a summary of the 
 earlier table, it does not matter much which year is taken. 
 
 The method of construction was to take the seven articles — 
 tea, coffee, sugar, dried fruits, spirits, beer and tobacco — as typical 
 of the consumption power of the community, and to take the 
 quantity consumed per head in 1880 in each case as equal to 100 
 --the sum 700 being taken as the index number of the consump- 
 tion of that year. The articles are, of course, not all equally 
 important, and therefore it must be repeated that the index 
 number is intended for purposes of illustration only : — 
 
 . 
 
32 STATISTICS OF EXPENDITURE AND CONSUMPTION— DAVIDSON. 
 
 u 
 
 r* I 
 
 Index Numbkr of Consumption in Canada. 
 
 1 
 
 Year. 
 
 1880 
 
 Tea. 
 100 
 
 Cotfct). 
 
 Sugar. 
 
 Dried Frultn. 
 
 Spirits, 
 
 Tobacco. 
 
 1 
 Boer. 
 
 100 
 
 T'l Index 
 Number. 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 lOO 
 
 700 
 
 1881 
 
 140 
 
 117 
 
 119 
 
 159 
 
 129 
 
 106 
 
 101 
 
 871 
 
 1882 
 
 159 
 
 177 
 
 115 
 
 178 
 
 142 
 
 113 
 
 122 
 
 1006 
 
 1883 
 
 148 
 
 150 
 
 130 
 
 210 
 
 153 
 
 120 
 
 128 
 
 1039 
 
 1884 
 
 140 
 
 132 
 
 146 
 
 273 
 
 141 
 
 131 
 
 129 
 
 1092 
 
 1885 
 
 148 
 
 235 
 
 163 
 
 215 
 
 159 
 
 1.37 
 
 117 
 
 1174 
 
 1886 
 
 181 
 
 212 
 
 146 
 
 189 
 
 100 
 
 107 
 
 128 
 
 1071 
 
 1887 
 
 14(» 
 
 102 
 
 163 
 
 221 
 
 105 
 
 1(18 
 
 136 
 
 975 
 
 1888 
 
 137 
 
 150 
 
 163 
 
 23'3 
 
 90 
 
 110 
 
 144 
 
 1030 
 
 1889 
 
 133 
 
 165 
 
 180 
 
 242 
 
 109 
 
 113 
 
 144 
 
 1086 
 
 1890 
 
 140 
 
 1«5 
 
 134 
 
 247 
 
 124 
 
 112 
 
 149 
 
 1071 
 
 1891 
 
 137 
 
 172 
 
 153 
 
 252 
 
 104 
 
 120 
 
 168 
 
 1106 
 
 1892 
 
 1(52 
 
 , ir2 
 
 261 
 
 247 
 
 98 
 
 120 
 
 156 
 
 1226 
 
 1893 
 
 133 
 
 192 
 
 192 
 
 231 
 
 104 
 
 124 
 
 • 154 
 
 1130 
 
 1894 
 
 151 
 
 175 
 
 234 
 
 278 
 
 104 
 
 118 
 
 l(i-2 
 
 1222 
 
 1895 
 
 148 
 
 180 
 
 268 
 
 273 
 
 1 94 
 
 113 
 
 154 
 
 1231 
 
 1896 
 
 167 
 
 175 
 
 180 
 
 294 
 
 ! 87 
 
 111 
 
 155 
 
 1169 
 
 The year 1880 is evi(iently not an average year, an<3 there 
 were probably trade infiu^nees at work inducing a small 
 importation. And it is to be r ^marked that the figures on which 
 these index numbers are originally based are figures of trade 
 and not of consumption. In order to attain something like strict 
 accuracy by eliminating the effects of anticipatory importations 
 to avoid a threatened tax, and such like influences visible in 
 all trade returns, it would be necessary to make the consumption 
 for each year the average of a period of three or four years — 
 thus the figures for 1886 would be the average of 1884, 1885 
 and 1880 ; the figures for 1887 the average of 1885. 1886, 1887. 
 But such exactitude would be tedious, and the process might be 
 liable to the objection that it sought to attain a greater degree 
 of accuracy than the nature of the subject admits. 
 
 Within the limits set down this index number illustrates the 
 steady growth of the national prosperity and well-being— a 
 movement not uniform or without backward steps— but none the 
 less indicating that the command the nation has over the material 
 sources of satisfaction has increased. 
 
r