New-York tribune., 1867-05-30
COOPERATIVE LABOR.
now THE SYSTEM WORKS IN TROY.

"a elsewhere, nave been In chronic staJc OF QlScOn-
tent owing the the various growing out of
our labor system. The Trades Unions furnished no
remedy though they did help to elevate the labOrcr
Last year, July l6, society was formed under
the name Of THE Cooperative Iron Founders of
Troy" with As members. They had a capital of
s95 OOO the result of their own earnings The shares
are 500 each. The rule is that every stOckholder
shall be a labOrer; that no one shall labor VINO Is
not stOckhOlder, and to have stockholders whom
they cannot employ. OF course there are Uneo
when they hire some kinds of mechanics, nut gen
orally they do all their work. After IIial 'ii
der the general law of stock companies Ihey peu
toned last Winter for special legislation lof ther
government and with some difficulty secured IT, L
would especially call the attention OF tnose inter
ested to the provisions. No st0ckhoiueI Van own
more than 50 shares nor can he have more bdn ono
soe Dividends to stockholders are 10 oe limited 10
10 per cent. If there Is surpiuS % e ~ Rol
created the surplus Stock cannon DE uVlsIeEred.
except at the viii of the trustees Hence " cannot
be- thrown upon the market to destroy or to govern
fhe Cooperation, They are at liberty TO nix the
amount of their capital to any sum under $2O0GO0
First they bought about four acres of land In the
per part of the city, and at proceeded to erect
tIs necessary buildings. Capital was offered by out
side parties but they wOuld not accept IT for they
had enough. In common establishments the amount
of capital required for labOrer is about S2OO In
the cooperative system it is only $1,000 because they
secure economies and they look closer to the business
They paid S. 800 for the land, and by Of the
improvements now can sell 1t for $4,000. The So
oiety IL select. 1t was gathered from 200 iron
workers. Being practical men, their establishment
was completed as they wished 1t. The engine and
oil other parts went together right. From the time
they started to the present they have not lost day
from the breaking down of machinery. Now. their
capital has increased to $4,000. Recently one of
their number got drunk, and being long a spree.
they discharged HIM. He sold his stock for SlS.
Wages paid Just the same as in any other shop.
The money is ready Saturday night, and they
have good credit because they do not want to Dor
row. For the most part they making stoves,
though they do other jobs. In the stove business
there many parts OF these parts tOundeTieS
carry, as a stock. 800 tuns Sometimes they may
have several hundred tuns, and yet not be able to
put up 20 stoves owing to a want of management in
having equal supplies of all the parts The coOpe-
Tatives carry only about 30 tuns. The number of
members now is 81 They say that with 80 moulders
they do more work than others do with IS. Their
men work steader and do not get as tired. None of
little; most OF them own the houses they
live in some have houses which they rent
Last Winter, while other toundres were idle, they
earned in wages $1,000 Wages are from $50 TO SO
week. They propose to work if they get less than
others-tO keep working if they get only potatoes
and salt. Ii they were obliged TO sell their pr0duc
tions for bare cost, they would do well enough. If
anybody can run they can, and they can run when
others cannot. This is because they do not need as
large supplies and because every one Is interested III
keeping up the odds and ends. When prOprletors go
through their mills and shops they do not see the
waste. The men do. but they do not care-it Is
nothing to them.
In other respects their families get along as others
do. There is no change Some of their boys are ap-
pTentlces One OF their number came 10 tins country
from England he learned his trade here; has raised
family of ten children; has three houses and several
lots All this he earned with his own hands. The
men find no difficulty in selling their wares In some
places they have the preference by reason of their
communication with the different Trades Unions.
Prom state OF dependence, subject to fiuctuatlOn,
strikes, and periods of duness they have risen to
one of dignity and Independence. The laborer and
the capitalist one. There Is Board of Directors
of -, elected biennially; their bookkeeper is a
member. and he understands his business. They
have q financial and business agent. His name is 5.
The surplus wealth of the country does not belong
30 capital part belongs TO the power not only
which created but which creates H. Interest is too
high Seven per cent not be paid long unless by
those who rapidly and luckily are making money. |
OF seven per cent 81 per cent should be paid To labor
IL the State of Illinois had been bOught two years ago
at 81 acre, there is not wealth enough III that
State to pay the interest. These are their views
In startinga Cooperative Society much canton and
are required. The members must be picked |
Only the Industrious peaceable, and most intelligent
are iit. A few disorganizers could destroy every,
thing Let it be clearly understood that Ongwlnded
takers. men who like tO hang around saloons who
must have dram III the morning and who spend
their spare change at theaters and balls are utterly
untitled for the cooperation movement Earnest
loving. warm-hearted, and strOng-amed mechanics,
of whom there are thousands in hand, seriously
should consider the condition in which they are
placed. 1t seems TO me that if they will, they can
sxtrcate themselves from the mire. and take new,
proud position on free American soil. NC.M
THE NORTHWESTERN Co OPERATIVE MANUFACTURING
COMPANY OF CHICAGO.
Previous to; the late formidable Eight Hour strike
IN the West r. T. Crane senior partner in the North
Western Manufacturing Company Of Chicago, conceived
plan whereby the l;O men who were employed by the
prosperity Of the Company works and Whereby Ike Ike
se they might be dlssuaded irSn snea ne as rSe m Vail B
the eyont strike, and then tender 10 those work
men that might stay in the COmpany's workshops cOOpe
raton as a compromise. His plan submitted
on Saturday last and 50 out OF Journeymen VINO s
sned to the proposals embraced the opportu-
OitV TO become thelf ONu cmpIogVlr.
The company and committee of the several fersmen OF
the shops have agreed upon valuation OF the budlns
maOhinery, goodwill, and other properly representing
tho capital invested in the 5nsnes Ihe wages red ana
according the scale OF average prices ald ia Cheago
be fixed by his foreman according TO merit Win the
light Of appeal TO the officers OF the company whos
tha are to be From the net receipts the
stocKnodors TO receive 10 per cent inierest @
unon the capital The profits then 70 be divided INTO
two equal parts. ODe-ha going 10 the stockholders anu
the other half TO the worRmen The share Iabg 10 lhe
earnings as represented by ter wages Any olcer OF
s%ROS Of aS sSs us cSaRaS Be Ps for
@e use :%s az PORTION 20 ne Of the Of
nsees ths COMPANY the cempsnys business should
at any tiIss saeSen, then the hours %I @ 'aScr avcr
tmeon secuar days the employees are to beao%ed time
anu =. T. not 10 be reason for dismissal OF any
Amploye but discharge may De decfeea Io O.leI
a ss % us est 15 per centum his proportion
Of tho profits; but he has purchased stock tnc
legged 10 elect committee Of two &c represent them ID
the management of financial and other atteIs , IN @ sS
employees pledge themselves hOhesuy, uiIsv,ii,Si s.iSi
AND % m faithfully e to eSeerny Exert themselves
best Of the Company TO be AT an es III , s
trade societies At close Of the rst year the work
to have the privilege Of investing tie ~
becoming proprietors At the end Of the second year.
supposing the business TO have yielded ogn Progs, pr &
lnieres ON the profit Of the previous year. ana proDap