When a man wishes to go and live in Ruskin, he has first to ask for
permission to settle there. The Ruskinites own their town, and are
careful not to allow any people to settle in it who are not likely to be
agreeable to them.

To every person who wishes to join them they send a list of questions,
asking the would-be settler what his ideas are on certain points.

If the answers are unsatisfactory, the applicant is told that there is
no room for him in Ruskin.

If, however, his ideas agree with those of the rest of the community,
his name is put up for membership, and he is elected by ballot, as he
would be to a club.

When elected, the new member is obliged to pay an initiation fee of $500
toward the general funds of the town, and he and his family are then
welcome to join the settlement as soon as they see fit.

When they arrive they are given a house and lot rent free. There are no
taxes to pay in Ruskin; everything is free but furniture and food.
Schools and school-books, doctors, medicines, all are free; the family
washing is even undertaken by the community free of charge.

In return for these advantages the family is required to work.

The father must be willing to do any task that is assigned to him,
without complaint. It does not matter if he has never handled a spade in
his life, he must dig if required to, and dig to the best of his
ability.