Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-06-19
YOUNG MEN REDUCE
HIGH COST OF LIVING
Round Dozen Of Them Run
Their Own Boarding House
al $2.O9 a Week

Does your table board cost you
more than 5000 weekl If it does,
you are living too high, for the Com
mons Cooperative club of willamette
University has shown by three
month s trial that $2.O9 is enough for
any one to pay for three square meals
every day in the week. In fact, the
club now has plans under way by
which it viii be able to reduce this
| cost to 50 a week
The Commons Cooperative club was
organized last January by 10 young
men attending the university for the
one purpose of reducing the board bill
each week. They secured rooms in the
basement of Waller hall, which was
| fitted up as a kitchen and dining
room. For $25 a month and board, "A
woman was engaged to do their cook
| ing and to wash the dishes for two
meals each day. The young men did
the household work themselves such as
cutting wood, making fires and sweep
| ing the rooms AS twelve sat down to
the table at each meal, they agreed to
take turns in serving, thus saving the
expense of a waiter.
The expenses of the kitchen includ-
ling the cook and laundry, light, fuel
and incideGuals was kept by one of
the young men and at the end of the
month, each was called on to pay his
share. Although organized the first of
the year, the actual test of reducing
the cost of board was made during the
last twelve weeks of the term.
The daily menu was not very far
from what the average person finds
healtnful and of course did not in
clude much of the fancy stock from
the grocery. 1t was the plain food
that doctors say everybody should eat,
including for breakfast, ham and eggs,
hot cakes and coffee. At noon, lunch
was served with vegetables and always
plenty oil bread and butter. The big
meal of the day was in the evening
when there was always meats, fruits,
vegetables, hot buns or biscuits and
generally cocoa. The dinner was all
that healthy young man could ask
| for
Having been so successful in their
first attempt, the young students de-
cided to continue their efforts in
fighting the high cost of eating. Their
plan now is to increase the member
ship of the club, thereby enabling them
to buy flour, sugar and meats in whole
sale lots. Their first experiment was
made in paying retail for everything.
Next fall, with double the membership
those who Lave managed the club be-
leve that the cost may be reduced to
So a week and the menu greatly i'm
proved. They expect to be able to
save at least % per cent in the cost
of half Of their purchases.
Already the cook that gave them
such satisfactory service last semester
has been engaged and arrangements
made whereby she puts in part of her
time this summer canning fruit and
berries for the coming winter. The
boys are even thinking of buying a
couple of hogs and feeding them from
the kitchen remnants, thereby not on
| ly again putting a crimp in the high
cost of pork, but in enabling them to
invite their university farmer friends
in to assist at regular hog killing
about Christmas time
With the cost of board reduced to 50
week, or say SO a month, tne expense
of attending the university may be fig
ured, as dormitory rooms at $4 month
may be occupied by two young men.
These dormitory rooms are partly fur
nished.
The officers of the club who feel
they are doing much in reducing the
Iexpenses of a college course are Fos-
ter Priddy of Salem, president; Ches-
ter F. Womer of Estacada, vice pres.
ident; Mr.. Sandifer of Hood River,
secretary; Derel Rexford of Albany,
treasurer.