Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-10-01

building materials, all bur SIX became
discouraged and dropped out.
Six families, however, refused to re-
linquish the project, and saw II
through to the bitter end. They pro-
posed to build 16-family apartment
house. and found themselves facing the
problem of raising $4,000. A treas
paid weekly installments to the com
munal treasury until they had $4,000
in a box. With this they bought
building plot. The rest Of the money
they obtained from cooperative So
ciety's bank in the form of first and
second mortgages.
Much of the building was done by
the men of the six families, all of
whom took special pride In their
work and strove franticaliy to outri-
val one another In painting and plas-
tering various rooms. Their task COM
pleted. the co-operators moved In,
heavily In debt as 1t might seem to the
unco-operative. Actually. however,
they We're paying interest on their own
debts, and not on the debts of some
landlord. That interest, together with
substantial monthly payments on prin-
cipal, taxes. general upkeep, and 9TH
err expenses, amounted to considerably
less than they would have paid In
rent for apartments of the same size.
Each family had light, five-room
apartment, with all modern improve
ments including telephone. hot and
cold water, a bath room and kitchen
mot a kitchenette) and for these ac-
commodations they paid into the COM
mon building fund So6.35 month.
Then Came the Rush,
AS 1t became known that such homes
could be obtained at such remarka-
bly, low price, the first six co-operators
were overwhelmed with applications
from other families, who wished to.
join the movement. The house was
the demand for similar accommoda-
lions that another cooperative group
was organized to build a second apart
ment house. This time the co-opera.
tors were not so timid In risking their
money, and decided that their house
should be even bigger with even great
err conveniences.
incidentally, 1t was TO cost $4,000
more, due not to the added improve
ments but TO the increased cost of
building materials. The cost of the
hitter rose SO rapidly that third
group. which was on the point of or
ganization. decided to defer building
until conditions became trhe less
chaotic and the cost of bricks went
down.
Envy of Less Enterprising.
This was two years ago. Today,
these progressive, cooperative Films
are the envy of all their less enterpris-
ing neighbors. They are enjoying
warm, comfortable and convenient
homes at small cost ut time when
many individuals are reduced to I'm.
comfortable makeshifts and all are de-
pendent on the none too tender mer-
cies of their landlords.
Each family Is permitted to pay of
its share of the principal as rapidly as
POSSIBLE, and several OF theni have
rearly achieved complete ownership of
their apartments. Others. moving tc
other cities. have been compelled r..
lue'untly to part with theirs. only
one restriction is place Oh the sale OF
an apartment. and that Is the provi.
sior. that only one apartment may be
owned by each family-in order TO
maintain the true cooperative nature
Of the colony.
Thus. the Films have shown us nov
TO make the most of Il q motto on onr
national currency. "In union there Is
strength. Frederic J. Hoskin In Chi.
tngo News.