Helena weekly herald., 1882-09-28
BUILDING ASSOCIATIONS.
The Advantage of Cooperative Enterprise
and Effort.
Pertinent Suggestions with Respect to
this Important Subject.

this Important Subject.
We desire to present to the consideration
of our property owners and laboriDg men
plan OF cooperation that we think will work
to their mutual interest and prove no less a
public benefit. 1t is this: To organize into
a building association one or more owners of
building lots who, for the purpose of having
improvements made for the benefit of ada
cent property, is willing to put in certain
other lots at a reduced price, and willing to
take the price of lots in the stock of
should then be made up of material men
and mechanics, who are willing to take the
whole or the larger part of their pay in stock
of the company. In the case of laboring
men dependent upon their daily earnings
for their own and famiy's support, it could
not be expected that any could afford to
make an investment of all their earnings,
and there would have to be some cash sub
scriptions which it would not be difficult to
obtain provided managers were secured who
could inspire confidence and there could be
assurance that nothing would be received in
the nature of lots material or labor at any
thing above the lowest market cash rates
1t would require an incorporation, board OF
trustees and an executive committee, pOssl-
bly, manager and a bookkeeper; but at first
these latter positions could be filled at small
cost by some one with other employment for
most of his time.
AS soon as single dwelling house was
completed a selling and renting price should
be fixed such as would cover cost interest
and insurance, taxes and always a little
margin over We would not advise that in
terests invested in stock should be reckOned
at higher rate than 10 per cent. per annum.
If there were profits made beyond by en-
hancement in the value of lots, the benefit
would all 60 to the stockholders in advanced
values of their shares. AS soon as the con-
tributions of any one, whether in lots ma
terials, labor or cash, accepted by the execu-
tive board, amounted to 500, or perhaps as
low as $50, whatever should be agreed upon
as the stock unit the agreed rate OF stock
interest should begin to be computed. 1t
would be no great difficulty to work out the
details of a scheme of this kind when once
undertaken in earnest The inquiry may
arise what can be the inducements to enter
such an undertaking if only 10 per cent. in
terest can be realized on investments.
While we do not in any sense urge this as
a chance for a great speculation, there are
many indirect benefits that are worthy Of at
tention. Many shrewd operators would be
willing to sell some lots at less than their real
worth in order to have other property i'm
proved, and most every one would expect to
see handsome advancement ON any i'm
proved property well located and economi-
ployment to very many, increase
business of all kinds, and develope a
good deal of wealth that otherwise
would never exist. To the laboring
men, and indeed to all others, it would
supply the place of savings bank, and
every one who took stock would soon be in
easy, comfortable circumstances from what
could thus be laid aside and its legitimate
increase. All that seems to be needed to
start this scheme into life is an organizer
and it will repay some one or more of our
good men, with surperfuous time and public
spirit, to make the attempt.