Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1916-04-19
A UNIQUE COMMUN-
ITY In THE WEST
The Cooperative Idea in Ac-
ton (.

THE Craftsman" magazine for
April gives the story of COM
munity in Southern California,
where handsome Community
center" has been built during the
last year from the stones removed
in clearing adjoining farmland.
The new building is the place
where the people of the commun-
ity gather after the work of the
day is over, to discuss The bust
ness of the neighborhood, or to
spend an hour or so in spinning
yarns, playing games, or some
thing of the sort. For this town
the hall is the church, the social
center, and the business office.
The story surrounding the
building is unusual, and runs as
follows:
Several years ago, a number
of families living in a large city,
banded together and undertook,
under the direction of capable
manager, to start a farming COM
munity of their own. They had
formerly been farmers in the east,
and the call of the farm, had
finally secured upper hand. After
looking extensively for site for
their town they decided upon a
section in a beautiful, almost un-
inhabited valley, twenty miles
from the nearest large city and
and five miles from a railroad.
This ground was literally COW
cred with stones, and for this rea-
son the owner wanted to sell
cheap, so, with an idea up their
sleeves, these town-builders
bought the ground. The land was
cut into from one-half to three
acre pieces, and taken by the pro-
motors, each of whom proceeded
at once to collect the stones from
his land and pile them on the
front end of the piece. Just at
this point the idea presented it.
self. These piles of stones were
converted in a very short time
into so many pretty little cobble-
stone houses, the entire cost OH
which to the owner was for the
concrete which held them togeth-
er, the framework absolutely nee
essary and the labor, practically
all of which he contributed him
self. With the homes finished the
gardens were planted, the town
hall constructed, all hands taking
part, the community store ard
post Office built, and other bust
ness attended to.
"The plan of operating this
community is interesting, also.
The community store is in reality
a stock company. Stock at 500
per share was sold, the cash de-
rived from which sale was used
to stock the store. The goods arc
sold at fair price, and at the
close Of the year the profit made
by the store is divided up among
the stockholders. The residents,
however, who own no stock do
not have any returns at the close
of the year and therefore pay the
straight regular price for their
fuod. The disposing of the pro.
duct of this town is also "com-
munity affair The community
wagons and autos call at the va,
rious ranches once or twice a
day, as the season demands, and
take up the produce that is ready
in return for which the rancher
receives tickets bearing the re,
quired number of points. At the
close of the week the farmers
meet and each receives in cash g
return equivalnt to the numbe,
of points he has in his possession
This method permits the farmer
to put all of his time on his
farm, instead of spending hours
each day in going to market
''ln this com munit y every
rancher knows his neighbor anC
and every other fellows neigh
Dor. These community business
methods naturally have the eff
feet of bringing the people closer
together, thereby increasing thu
community spirit. Booze of al
kinds has been barred from thi:
town forever, and the 'booz,
fighter is warned to stay away