The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1920-08-20

building materials. all bur SIX became
discouraged and dropped out.
Six families, however, refused to re-
linquish the project, and saw 1t
through to the bitter end. They pro-
posed to build a 16-family apartment
house, and found themselves facing the
problem of raising $4,000. A treas
urer was appointed, and each family
paid weekly installments to the COM
munal treasury until they had $1,000
in a box. With this they bought a
building plot. The rest of the money
they obtained from a 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 frantically 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 it might seem to the
unco-operative. Actually, however,
they were 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
/ er expenses, amounted to considerably
less than they would have paid In
rent for apartments Of the same size.
Each family had light. fve-room
apartment, with all modern improve
ments including telephone, hot and
cold water, a bath room and kitchen
(not a kitchenette) and for these &C.
commodations they paid into the com
mon building fund $26.35 month.
Then Came the Rush!
As 1t became known that such homes
could be obtained at such a remarka
blv low price, the first six co-operators
were overwhelmed with applications
from other families, who wished tf
ioin the movement. The house wal
soon full of tenants. but so great wal
tho demand for similar accommoda
tions that another cooperative groul
was organized 10 build a second apar.
mont house. This time the co-opera
tors were not so timid in risking thei'
money. and decided that their hous'
should be even bigger with even great
err eonveniences. oo,
Incidentally, 1t was to cost s,o'Vs
more. due not 10 the added iinpio'e
ments but TO the increased cost y
building materials. The cost OF th'
1o,,er rose so rapidly that thir'
cronn which was on the point OF or
eantzotion decided to defer building
until conditions became trihe res
chaotic and the cost OF bricks wen
down.
Envy Of Less Enterprisin9-
rh,s ,ras two years ago. Today
those progressive, cooperative finu
ore the envy of all their less ehterpris
,,o neirhbors. They are enjoying
,arm comfortable and conVenieh
.a,,,os az small cost at time Whei
many individuals are reduced 10 u'i
ao,ofortable makeshifts and all are oe
-sa,+ on the none too tender mer
clos of their landlords.
zach family Is permitted TO pay q
,,s share Of the principal as rapid,y u
rossihle. aud several OF theI va :
rearlv achieved complete ownership :
-, anartments. Others, moving =
-, cities. have been cofareiiea I,
~ ,,,1,srtlv te part win theirs "iA.
u :, striction Is place Oh the SAFE o
~ apartment, and that IS the pro,
SOW that only one Apartment nay = !.
s, ,,nea nv each family-in order !
o@ a,ntain the true cooperative na'ur
Tins the Films have shown US 10Y
.ake the most Of Il e motto on gu
- s,fonaI currency, IN union mere
I.,ength. Frederic J. Haskin IN 80
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