How much did families pay to put food on the table in the Coal Region days of yore?

In this study, assembled 100 years ago, researchers gathered data on the cost of foodstuffs across the anthracite coal fields as part of their study into the costs facing miners and their families.

This set of data shows the disparity in costs of food across the various parts of the Coal Region. From their research, it became clear that food costs where highest across the Southern Field stretching from Wiconisco, Dauphin County to Mauch Chunk, Carbon County.

Here’s one particularly fascinating chart:

You can find the full report here

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