The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-18
Demonstration of Co. Operative Buying
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN

washington. July 1.-the POSSIBLE
ties Of cooperative buying have been
most strikingly demonstrated by a
group OF employees Of the government,
the members of which revolve about
one of its scientific bureaus which sits
on high hill in the outskirts Of Wash
lngton. This group has been saving
such quantities OF money that 1t has
decided that its accomplishments are
too good to keep from others who might
90 likewise. 1t therefore here points
the way to purchase of anything from
eggs to automobile tires at prices that
thrill the heart OF the bargain hunter.
Butter Prices.
Next winter when butter Ia again
bringing IS cents a pound in the retail
markets; employees Of the bureau of
standards here will not be paying more
than IS cents pound for theirs. This
is not a mere declaration of indepen-
dence, but an assured fact. They al
ready have 5000 pounds of the best
grade creamery butter laid away-but-
cooperative creamery in Pennsylvania
when butter had reached its lowest
price this season. II has been placed
In a large refrigerating plant In Wash
ington. where 1t will be kept in excel
lent condition until removed, a few
pounds at a time, during the fall and
winter. The cost of storage amounts
to only one or two cents a pound
This Is only one Of many co-opera-
tive enterprises organized and financed
by bureau of standards employees, with
view to cutting down expenses. The
bureau of standards, Uncle Sans pre-
mier scientific agency, is now one of
the most highly cooperative institu-
alive lunch club, which serves its
members lunches at the rate of 20
cents per person per day; a corpora
tive store, organized after the Roche
dale plan. and in connection with this
an automobile accessories station, SELL
ing tires and tools, as well as gasoline
and oil at reduced prices. Occasion
ally. also, haberdashery and hardware
are pought on the cooperative basis.
Spirit Of Cooperation.
The spirit of cooperation was first
born In the bureau Of standards when
1t was moved out to lonely hill on
the outskirts Of Washington, where
there were no lunchrooms, drug stores
of the lunch period. Luncheon in the
various laboratories was forbidden by
government regulation, so the employees
were compelled 10 plan their own eating
arrangements. They obtained permits
sion from the government to turn two
large rooms into a restaurant, and then
they formed a luncheon club. One OF
the rooms was equipped with a gas
stove and kitchen utensils. the other
with the necessary tables and chairs,
silverware and dishes. once on its
feet. the club found that for the price
OF 81 month it could serve to each ,
OF its members n hot lunch. consisting
OF such nutritious combinations as
roast beef, mashed potatoes. peas and
cake.
With the war, however, the price had
to be raised to IS a month, or 20 cents |
day. This is paid in advance to the |
treasurer of the club on the fifteenth |
of every month. II member expects |
m hx oh ffNx- ltt,,a IA.r
he tells the superintendent of the !
lunchroom the night before and the |
price of the two days lunches Is de-
Quoted from his bill. The superintend-
ent of the lunchroom is a domestic
science graduate. young woman. en-
ployed to plan the menus@and manage
the business. She is assisted by an ex-
perienced cook. The food is placed
upon tables in large vegetable dishes
or on platters, from which each person
serves himself. thus eliminating the ex-
pense of table service. Two lunches
are served every day, $50 persons be-
ing seated each time.
In addition to lunches. breakfasts and
dinners are also now, being served as
a convenience to members who are un-
able to secure satisfactory board in
an overcrowded Washington. Last
indeed. conditions became so
acute that the bureau of standards
s agatn in, exercised its cooperative genius
"
formed which rented a large prepara-
tory school across the street and
turned it into a boarding house for its
members. With the return of the
schools pupils in the fall. this plan
had to be abandoned. but the serving
Of breakfasts and dinners was trans
ferred to the bureaus lunchroom. Here
a very good breakfast is served for
35 cents. and dinner for IS cents. In
the low prices at which
hn M a & 81 ha hNr !
In mind that the club pays nothing for
rent or heat or light or cooking fuel
All these things are donated by the
government
Stress Social Features.
According to DR.. Whitmer. in the
chemical division of the bureau of
and chairman of the exec
tive committee In charge Of the oner- ]