Evening star., 1913-12-07
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT Is DOING

but it is likely that no message more po-
tent for Joy and comfort has ever been
borne to the rural regions than the off,
cial promise of encouragement OF the CO.
operative laundry idea.
The practically of the idea has been
demonstrated beyond doubt in the lit
tie town Of Chatfield, Mimi. where the
plan originated.
same lines as the creameries on a num-
Der of the government irrigation projects
throughout the west was in successful
operation and the superintendent OWNED
the idea of utilizing the same power to
run a washing machine. An old churn.
operated by belt from the shaft which
runs the creamery machinery did the trick.
The more progressive men in the company
quickly seized upon the idea Of extending
the work to include the laundry for the
patrons Of the plant. and up-to-date ma
chinery was installed at cost Of about
81, 500. The gross receipts for the first
ten months were $4,000. The farmers bring
their laundry when they come with the
cream, and on their next trip to the
creamery they carry home, ready for use,
the weeks wash.
The laundry bill is charged to the
cream account and taken out of the
cream check at the end of the month.
Five cents per pound is charged for wash
ing. All fiat work is ironed in the mangle
and no extra charge is made. The rough
dry is ironed by hand and Is charged ac-
cording to the time it takes girl to iron
1t, at Is cents per hour. The Minnesota
plant. at the end Of the year. with leo
patrons, was able to pay back to each 1O
per cent of the wash bill for the year,
and the average cost per family was 81. 81
| per month. which included the laundering
and ironing of their shirts and collars.
| While this laundry does not add to the
farmers income as the creamery does, il
is. indirectly, productive enterprise
lifting the heavy burden from the farm
| ers wives, saving them strength for other
duties. and increasing the efficiency and
comfort of the farm home many times
| more than enough to recompense for the
! outlay of $4.61 for eight days of back
breaking work.
| Cooperative creameries have already
been established on several of the govern
| ment irrigation projects and it is hoped
that the time is not far distant when
laundries will be run in connection with
each OF these plants. The same power
which runs the machinery for the cream
cry can be utilized for the laundry work
| and there is always an abundance of hot
water and steam. In many sections cheap
electric power from the government plant
is available for such industries.
Long years ago the scythe. the cradle
and the fail were relegated to the junk
heap. Today the farmer with gasoline
or electric power to drive his machinery
and perform the heavier tasks, with
, patent mixers, riding plows and other
labor-saving devices, has eliminated much
| of the back-breaking work on the farm
For the farmers wife invention has done
| but little. So one of her chief abomina-
| tions is wash day, and the task Of keep
ing the family clothes clean undoubtedly
has been the rock upon which more than
one household has split. Summer and win
| ter the Monday session at the washtub
| and that of Tuesday at the ironing table
have taken their toll of her strength and
health. The monotony of farm life, its
| never-ending round OF household duties
and the lack of opportunity for mental or
physical relaxation have all had their
effect on the country woman, and through
her have reached down to the children
1t Is believed that the conservation of
the strength and health of the farm
woman will do much toward checking the
undesirable effiux OF population from the
| country to the city, which is now gener-
ally recognized by farm economists as
largely due to the conditions which OBJ
tain in the farm home