The Springfield herald., 1912-02-02
CAN SAVE BY COOPERATION
Interesting Narrative Of Experiences
Of One Community In Washington
-Entertainmen Pay.

On July 4, 1910, the citizens OF our
community in Nellita. Washington.
met In a grove and organized the Pio-
neers' association. The membership
comprised twelve men-four bachel-
ors and eight heads of families-al-
most the entire population within .
radius of four miles, writes Joel Sho-
maker In the Country Gentleman.
miles from the place Of meeting and
the voting booths four miles. through
roadless forest. So we decided to
build hall to be used for entertain
ments, picnics. conventions and. other
community purposes.
Ten days after the organization OF
the Pioneers. we had two Of our mem
bers working on the foundation of q
building so by 80 feet They were
paid $3.50 and 80 a day. the funds be-
ing raised by an assessment of $40
on each member. the money to be con-
sidered loan without interest until
the income of the hall should return
the Investment The membership Of
the association consisted Of millown-
ers who furnished the lumber on cred
1t, one merchant who supplied doors.
windows. roofing and other material.
farmers, city payroll men and gem
eral laborers.
The new hall was completed and
dedicated September fourth, the first
entertainment producing over $3.50. or
enough to pay the workingmen and
leave a balance In the treasury. It
has a floor space of $500 square feet.
was we'll built. with piles driven on
the waterfront for foundation. and
was considered the most modern hall
Of the kind within sixty miles. 1t cost
the association about 5000. Then q
player-piano was put in at an expense
Of $500. payable in monthly INSTALL
ments of SIS. and the work of max
ing the property pay for itself was
begun.
At the end of the first year the or
iginal building bill had been reduced
to a small item. and the piano &C.
count cut in two. The committee in
charge of affairs had so managed
them that the hall receipts agregat-
ed almost 500 q month from the date
of opening. The entertainments were
patronized by people living as far as
twenty miles away. and many even
ings the crowd numbered above two
hundred. Such figures suggest the
query: How could twelve men build
hall. without cash. and make 1t pay
for itself in one Year,
The business of the association is
handled by board of three members.
known as the entertainment commit
tee. Members of that board serve
one, two and three months; the cleo
ton OF a new one Is thus necessitated
at every monthly meeting of the asso-
citation. That committee takes care
of all receipts. paying the money to
the treasurer and disposing of all
bills. It employs two musicians at
IS each an evening. supplies fuel. oil
and other necessities and settles the
accounts without the aid of the asso-
citation.
Two entertainments are given every
month and a charge of $1.25 is made
for all the men to cover the cost Of
tickets of admission and supper. All
members pay this whether they at
tend or not, thereby creating an an
nual fund of 1868. Eight women.
wives of the members, provide the
suppers. and are to do SO without COM
pensation until the original building
Indebtedness has been wiped out.
Then other arrangements for supper
serving are to be made to relieve the
wives and daughters Of members. The
association afranges for all holiday
entertainments, making no charge for
the hall, and providing for necessary
refreshments and fireworks. Funds
for such purposes are not collected
by donation. but are taken from the
treasury of the association. Thus
the celebration of Independence day
with Its fireworks at night, Christmas
with its tree. Thanksgiving with its
supper, and other eventful occasions.
are duly carried out and funds pro-
vided without any begging. soliciting
0r cohop,tpD cot rn0nav