Société de Saint Vincent De Paul
Fourneaux Economiques - Conseil des Conférences ("Economic Cookers")
Montpellier
Brass round, 22.5 mm
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About the "Economic Cookers" :
"These institutions, which we should multiply in the most populous districts, are intended to help the households of workers.
For a light payment, the poor workers can find dishes healthily prepared there; for 0 F 05, we have 50 centilitres of broth; for the same sum, we have the choice between 60 grams of cooked meat and 45 centilitres of accommodated dried vegetables (beans, rice and pea). Opened during the winter season, these institutions work under Policemen's surveillance and are served by sisters of charity. "Economic Cookers" are notably established in the following districts : IIIth arrondissement, passage des Gravilliers, n° 19 ; XVIIth arrondissement, rue Lacroix, n° 5 (avenue de
Clichy) ; XIIIth arrondissement, rue des Anglaises (Gobelins) ; XIVth arrondissement, rue
Vandamme, n° 44 ; XVIIIth arrondissement, rue Polonceau, n° 2l (La Chapelle) ; XXth arrondissement, rue des Amandiers, n° 6 (Ménilmontant), etc."
(Grand dictionnaire universel du XIXe siècle, Volume 8, "Fourneau" extract, translation).
"The first "Economic Cookers" date back, in France, at the time of the Restoration. Around 1828, a charitable association, known under the name of philanthropic Society, opened in Paris an institution in which we distributed, at the 10-centime price or in exchange for a token given by the Society, a helping of vegetables cooked in the water. These helpings did not consume on place ; We took them and we flavored them to his taste. In 1829, the high price of the bread increased considerably the clientele of the "Economic Cookers"; however, the example given by the philanthropic Society had not enough influence. It was only much later that Saint-Vincent de Paul's society organized "Economic Cookers" of the same kind held by sisters. The Empire, which had so often promised the well-being to the destitute classes, opened someone in 1855, under the patronage of the empress; later, the chief of police, Mr Piétri, received the order to found others under the name of the crown prince.
The organization of these "Economic Cookers", in some time and under such management as we take them, either in Paris, or in the cities which followed, in big number, the example of the Capital, is excellently defective. They are established so that, the more they work, the more they produce of deficit. In Paris, the cost price of the helpings that we charge 0 F 10 is 0 F 07; But, if we add to this price the expenses of administration, rent, etc., it is more than doubled.
Here is a statistics supplied by the administration itself on 117 days of functioning of the eight "Economic Cookers" of the crown prince, in 1867. These "Economic Cookers" distributed 1,244,756 helpings; there was 3,831 of lost by deterioration. In the cost price of the helpings, 0 F 07, it is necessary to add: rent, 6,320 francs; appropriation, 1,148 francs; purchase of furniture, 18,689 francs; staff of kitchen, 3,955 francs; expenses of administration, 19,602 francs. In short, receipts were 62,237 F 80 and the expenses of 110,624 F 28; difference, 48,386 F 48, in deficit.
With such an organization, the "Economic Cookers" can be only a matter of assistance, public or private; Destitute only have to take advantage of it without scruple, and it can develop only in proportion to the charitable resources put in their arrangement, or by the government, or by municipalities. In it, France is well late on Sweden, which can offer us models of "Economic Cookers" , remaining by means of their customers and even offering profits to their shareholders. The "Economic Cookers" of Christiania, which works since 1857, is not a work of charity ; It is a private company, constituted by joint-stock, and so well administered that it produced at once 5 per 100 to the shareholders during the period when it was necessary to create the amortization fund, taken on profits. Since 1870, time in which the reserve was considered self-important, the "Economic Cooker" produce approximately 10 per 100 to the shareholders. The joint stock is 42,000 species (210,000 F), divided into 150 stocks from 100 to 25 species (the species is approximately worth 5 F). The budget balance by 60,000 species of receipts and 60,000 species of expenses, including the profit of 10 per 100 of the shareholders. There are three steam engines; the one, of 12 horses-power, is of use to the cooking of food; the two others, of English manufacture, are intended to chop the meat, the necessary operation, in the Norwegian kitchen, for what we call beefsteaks, that is minced meat a sort of pancake of which we shape. The only one of these two machines is in service; the second is there to replace the other one in the event of an accident, without that it would be necessary to stop the distribution. There are thirty four employees, among whom twenty five women. Every day, 1,300 to 1,400 consumers, workers, clerks, employees of the State or the administrations, the traders, small renters, come to sit down in the immense tables, brilliant of neatness, where is made the consumption on the spot. Every consumer appears at the ticket office, pays by receiving his helping and is going to take place at a table, unless he prefers to take his helping, what is optional. Approximately 500,000 helpings are annually consumed on the spot or taken at home. The price of a complete meal is 8 skillings (0 F 32 - 0 F 35); we have a soup, a beefsteak or a stew, in the choice, a dish of potatoes and some bread unlimitedly.
Organized "Economic Cookers" in this way would be welcome in Paris and would return big services to the labor population. Regrettably, we are there still for the routine system of the welfare services, who has his reason for being that in the moments of famine or extreme crisis. During the investment of Paris, force was many to resort to it, and it is necessary to say that the "Economic Cookers", however defective they are, prevented then number of people from going hungry too cruelly.
The municipal committee made it open in every district, by the welfare services, at the expense of the city and in favour of the workers struck by forced unemployment. These "Economic Cookers", establish at first among 48, were successively worn in that of the 82, to which it is necessary to add 7 "Economic Cookers" of the Philanthropic Society, 13 "Economic Cookers" of Saint Vincent de Paul's Society, 84 national canteens and 4 particular canteens; on the whole, 190 institutions of this kind worked till the end of the siege. We did not consume on the spot and it was distributed neither wine nor liquors. The helpings were delivered in exchange for checks which we got ourselves in city halls."
(Grand dictionnaire universel du XIXe siècle, 1st Supplement, "Fourneau", translation).