The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-12-12

cradle, and the fai! we're releSdteo W
the junk heap. Today the farmer with
gasoline or electric power to drive
his machinery and perform the heav-
Ter tasks, with patent mixers riding
plows, etc, has eliminated much o.
the back breaking work on the farm.
For the farmers wife invention mas
done but little. Her chief abomination
is wash day, and the task OF keeping
the family clothes clean undoubtedly
has been the rock upon which more
than one household has split. Sum-
mer and winter the Monday session
at the wash tub and Tuesday at the
ironing table have taken their toll OF
her strength and health. The mon
otonv 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.
It is believed that the conservation
of the strength and health OF the
farm woman will do much toward
checking the undesirable efflux OF
population from the country to the
CITY which is now generally recog-
nized by farm economists as largely
due to the conditions which obtain
IN the farm home.
The cooperative laundry will go a
long way toward solving the problem
by relieving the 1arm home of its
heaviest burden. The practically Of
the idea has been demonstrated be-
yond doubt in, the little town OF
Chat6eld in Minnesota where the nlan
originated. A cooperative creamery
on much the same lines as the cream
cries on number 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, OPP
Grated 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 machinery was
installed at a cost of about $500.
The gross receipts for the first 10
month were $500. 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 washing.
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 pond is charged for
washing. All fat work is ironed by
hand and is charged according to the
time it takes girl to iron il, at 6f-
teen cents per hour. The Minnesota
plant at the end of the year, with
100 patrons, was able to pay back to
each ten per cent of their wash bill
for the year, and the average cost
per family was $4.6l per month, wEnich
included laundering and ironing OF
their shirts and collars.
While this laundry does not add
to the farmers income as the cream
erv does, it is indirectly a productive
enterprise, lifting the heavy burden
from the farmers wives, saving them
strength for their other duties, and
increasing the efficiency and comfort
of the farm home many times more
than enough to reoompense for the
outlay of $4.6l for eight days back
breaking work.
Cooperative creameries have al.
ready been established on several o.
the Government irrigation project.
and it is hoped that the time is no,
far distant when laundries will be rur
in connection with each of these
plants. The same power which actu.
ates the machinery for the creamer,
can be utilized for the laundry work
and there is always an abundance O
hot water and steam. In many sec
tons cheap electric power from tn,