The Raymer enterprise., 1912-02-01
CAN SAVE BY COOPERATION
Interesting Narrative Of Experiences
Of One Community In Washington
-Entertainments Pay.

-entertalnments Pay.
On July 4, 1910. the citizens OF our
community In Nellita. Washington,
met In grove and organized the Pho.
neers' association. The membership
comprised twelve men-four bachel.
ors and eight heads Of families-al.
most the entire population within a
radius OF four miles, writes Joel Sho.
maker In the Country Gentleman.
Our public schoolhouse was three
miles from the place Of meeting and
the voting booths four miles, through
a 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
building so by so feet. They were
paid $3.50 and 50 day. the funds be.
Ing raised by an assessment Of SO
on each member, the money TO be con.
sldered 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 gen.
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. II
has a floor space Of $500 square feet,
was well 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
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 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 we're
patronlzed by people living as far az
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 10
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 new one is thus necessi,ated
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. 1t employs two musicians at
50 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 charge Of SIPS Is made
Tor 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 1863 Eight women.
wives df the members. provide the
suppers, and are TO do so without com.
pensatlon until the original building
Indebtedness has been wiped out.
Then other arrangements for supper.
serving are 10 be made to relieve the
wives and daughters OF members. The
association arranges 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 It's tree. Thanksgiving with its
supper, and other eventful occasions,
are duly carried out and funds pro
yided without any begging, soliciting
or scheming to get money.