The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-12-18
Cooperative Farm-Its vicissitudes
and SuccesA

Cooperative Farm-Its vicissitude,
and Success
i have seen the famed cooperative
farm ut Vienne. in France, and spent
nm exceedingly pleasant week in study
ing It's origin and progress. A glance
at this curious old city would hardly
reveal the fact that, woven among its
ancient ruins of causeways and cathe.
drals, there blossoms at this moment
the most complete specimen of CO.
operative enterprise in the. world.
l have carefully observed new work
ing mems system in all parts of Europe,
and am convinced that for topograL hi
cal selection, management and econo-
mical results, none can compare with
this. 1t was formed in 1854 under the
name Of 81 La Societe Agricole Indus
trielle de Beauregard." As its name
indicates, itpays considerable attention
to agriculture, and is known to the
world AZ the cooperative farm. /"
I Previously to the above date il existed
for some time, under the prosecutions
OF the government officials, as one Of
the more radical societies 0limsntGirss.
but was finally suppressed. Il was re-
vlved afterward under the able dictator.
ship Of DIR. Henri. If our cooperating
friends In the United States would or
ganize q similar farm and manufactur-
ing society in one Of those well watered
valleys of Virginia, where farm lands
are cheap, water-power plentiful, and
schools, labor saving machines, rail-
roads, etc., are common, it must, ifcor-
rectly managed, yield all the elements
OF wealth and happiness 50 abundant in
The Societe de Beauregard, here in
Vienne.
The object of the association is to
furnish contentment and happiness to
its members by the several expedients
OF agriculture, manufacture, economic
interchange as q means of revenue, and
every variety of chaste and healthful
pleasure. 1t does not bartake of The
socialistic doctrines Of the Familistere
de Guise or the Cite de MuIhouse. but
allows every member perfect indepen-
dence while he enjoys its bounties.
The main portion of the members.
consisting OF mechasics, clerks, ETC..
reside in the city, and the farm ONLY
lends romance and agricultural aid to |
the whole. The city Of Vienne il
situated af the confluence of a minor
river with the RhOne, eighteen miles
below Lyons, in the department oil
lsere. 1t IS surrounded by a great
variety of scenery and objects Of inter
est, and in the midst OF a magnificent
FARMING region. 1t is one of the most
beau, Il landscapes in the world, and.
when .akrn. in view with its tradition
ary legends and suggestive ruins, in
spires The traveller with its classic sub
Unity. On the confuent stream. a
tumbling chain of cascades, which fur
nish power for many other miles. the
Societe de Beaurrgard have a fine
f"uring mill, WOODEN cloth factory, and
fnlling mills. These not only furnish
-four and broadclOth for the members
of the society, but con tribute enough
TO the outside market to be well known
throughout France for their superior
quality. Beauregard has become
prOverbial term to designate genuine
texture. In the denser parts Of the
city is the restaurants which resembles
the SOciete Alimentaire of Grenoble.
and is furnished with four large eating
rooms, convenient tor male and female
members and their friends.
was taken into one OF these pIea-
SAINT apartments and treated to as aris-
tocratlc . meal, accompanied bv the
healthfnl wines Of the farm. NJ anv
mOneyed American spendthrift ever
dispensed two dollars for at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel-a meal that, for gayety,
congeniality and chespness, cOntrasted
widely with the galvanized aristocracy
of our pavonisn glitter. Economy is
30 condensed into a financial focus
that these great family tables yield
saving from 20 to IS per cent over the
ordinary Manages domestiques" ofI
this city. But the Societe Beauregard
has yet another boast in its cooperative
bank. This institution is the receptacle
of the surplus funds Of the society in
common, and loans money on credit to
young sspirants in business, like the
Caisses Syndicals" of Paris. and the
" Vorschuss Vercine" of Germany. At
this moment it has l,2l7 400 francs on
deposit. As over 1000, 900 francs an
nual income pour into this bank to re.
main or be Withdrawn by the members
at option, large sums are left by them
to capitalize here, since the bank has
means of producing better returns than
members Individually, and it is thus
this bank is becoming an immense in
stitution. Appertaining also to the So
ciety are large number of houses for
the accommodation Of members. am
told they already possess ten of these
some Of them as fine as the pavilions
Of the gentry. The cooperative farm
is on a high plateau, commanding a
magnificent sweep of the majestic
Rhone, which of all rivers in France, is
most lovely in its clear waters and
numerous craft that meander among
the eddies and vineyards. 1t contains
less than forty acres but then there are
only two hundred and fifty members in
the society. It has very fine though
small vineyard, and full set of houses
and outhOuseS, and q wine-press
Among others is the hospital. erected
for the children Of the members pref
tier or more intelligent children | never
saw.
They have their little intellectual and
gynnastIc exercises, and soon become
robust, gambolling in the noun ain air.
The vineyard, with its delicious clusters
Of grapes, was the principal attraction
to me, although the fine crops of gram
aud legumes, potatoes, melons, etc,
told that the s directeur de la farmt" is
~, ~ ,IIar Th;S Earv,, =. or,,Ioyad