The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-04-05
May Relegate The
Washday on Farms
Proposed to Establish Cooperative
Laundry in Connection With
Creamery

Creamery
A Minnesota paper tells of laundry
that may be opened at Hanska, MINI.
1t would be good idea to think about
one in connection with our own crea-
merry. The article follows:
A meeting of farmers and towns
people for the purpose of discussing the
advisability and feasibility of establish
ing cooperative laundry in connection
with the creamery was held here. There
was large attendance both of men
and women interested and all seemed to
favor the project provided sufficient
number of families to make it economi
cal could be interested. The meeting
was presided over by graduate of the
Minnesota School of Agriculture, Carl
Olstad, who was in favor of such an
organization, and was addressed by
Superintendent Wilson of the extension
division of the agricultural college; Mr..
Wheaton, representating laundry
machinery company, and j.. A. Wye of
the St. Paul Dispatch.
After a thorough investigation of
laundries and laundry machinery Mr..
Wilson said he believed such laundry
perfectly feasible, and that it would
lift from the woman of the farm one of
the heavy burdens they now have to
bear. 1t was pointed out that laundry
with patronage of $50 families could
be erected and equipped with necessary
tubs, drying capacity and ironing ma
chinery to ''fat-iron" the clothing, ex-
cluding collars, cuffs and shirt waists,
which the women declared they pre-
ferred to do themselves, for SIS, 900;
provided the engine and boiler Of the
creamery could be used in connection
with it. Mr.. Wilson declared that it
was perfectly feasible to operate such
a laundry in connection with the CO.
operative creamery without in the least
impairing the efficiency of the cream
cry.
After estimating the cost of opera
tion, 10 per cent for depreciation, 6 per
cent on the Investment and an ample
amount for unforeseen contingencies, it
was stated that the laundry could do
the work for each family for so cents
week. Such a laundry would have
ample capacity to serve as high as 200
families, and if such patronage was
given it, the. cost Of service would be
correspondingly reduced. The creamery
has patronage Of nearly 200 farmers,
and it is believed that more than fifty
families from the village would join
the new organization, so that with 100
families from the rural district there
would be sufficient patronage to assure
success. A committee Of five, includ-
ing farmers and residents of the village,
was appointed to interview the families
and solicit stock subscription and to re-
port at later meeting.
While the farmers side of farm ac-
tivities always has been considered in
the purchase of the latest machinery
and the best equipment Of all kinds,
little seems to have been done to make
the farm home more efficient by pro-
viding the latest and most modern inn |
provements, SO the speakers said. A
cooperative laundry would be the be-
ginning for better things for every
farm home. One objection noted was
that the laundry work is now done at
home without any cost for extra help,
and laundry would be an additional
charge against the farm business.
This would be Offset by. the increased
ability and efficiency Of the women.
who would readily and naturally And
other things to do even more ssmunera.
tive and more productive than the homst I
laundry,
The products from cow, ten hens, a !
small garden or two pigs would be
suaicient to- eAre for this increased ex-(
pense. % NJ. Wilson said
HahskA ID almost cooperative com, !
htanity, ald while there is no record Of !,
. farmer y eoscperatiye lsandry in this
country, his beHeved that Hanska is
an ideal plaeS q nv ost the expert
ment. Although Hsnslts has less than
400 inhabitants, it, - operative cream
cry is very successful, selling its butter
~ :. 1.,s. A. Z II