Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-09-24

Cooperation in Germany is reaching de-
velopment which startles the students of pollti-
teal economy. Its success is absolutely marvel
Gus, snd It's growth extraordinarily rapid Could
Adam Smith visit the earth today he would
have to rewrite half of the - Wealth OF Ma
TONS Indeed the swift spread Of co-opera-
tion viii require that all the chapters on
IS wages =" be ezpunged from cur " Political
Economics Horace Greeley thinks that CO
operation is 70 be the future system Of industry
roucbout the world. The Tribune philosopher
mi gbt possibly employ his time more probably
in expounding the principles and different
phases Of the cooperative movement, in the
old world and the new, than BY writing tedious
essays upon protection.
Cooperation IN Germany is more extensive
and more perfect than in either France or Eng
land. In the latter country it is confined prin-
cipally to manufacturing enterprises, while in
France IT has more Of an agricultural character.
But ia Germany IT takes hold Of all branches Of
industry The associations are not all mere
stock aonp4u.cs whose stockholders meet only
in their business relations. They are social As
well a- d-,a. 90 -4uizltions. The members Of a
cooperative association frequently settle and
maintain whole Villages for their oar exclusive
use. Tie clmptiy regulates not only il, reclui-
ary mltter-, ugt the internal police Of ihe
settlement and the -o.ial relations of the men
bars. This !. au important feature Of these co..
operative schemes
The plan Of these operatiye settlements is
admirably simple Like other villages, these
associations support every profession ard all
branches Of industry They contain merchants
Of every kind, tlacksmiths, carpenters, AMI
cotblers, doctors and preachers, and the farmers
whose lands surround the little hamle's The
central feature is the bank This Is a, once
bank for savings, aud bank for loans. All the
members Of the little society must be stock
holders in ,he bank The possession Of a definite
number Of share. is IL condition Of membership.
The members are also expected 70 purchase other
share. O.. inst as their acs-mulatious w-ll enable
them TO 30 So. on al money expended for
shares. % liberal interest rs paid. The
bank also loans money. TO members Of the
association who may require it for their
bu-iues- Borrowers pay the bank the same
rate which the institution itself pays TO deposit
5rs The officers and managers Of the bank art
chosen ly the association This Is bu; oue.,housh
one Of the most successful forms which co-opcra-
ton assumes in Germany. There are other rs
s5ei.tious which do NOT Sc colouize, '' but simply
a-; as stock companies for special purpose
The statistics Of coo ers'ioa in Germany give
40 i.,a Of its extent and Of the amount Of capital
j. represents. Therears fully fifteen hundred sue
cess.a. cooperative societies il operation, ia
Guiding two hundred and fifty stores ami manu-
factories. and over eleven hundred banks
Ihs-, have q total membership Of over 100000
persons. WHO represent shout 100000 souls
T. carry on all these social establishments there
isa capita. of s-1.U9a.ooi ia constant, active
circulation. and further sum Of S5-,701.1l1
IN deposits and loans. The banks Of credit have .
advanced Turing the last three year, au average .
Of $4,000. O.U per a1uuu. ibis statement il- .
e.al.. only Il.-e societies registered .l tle -'a- .
rs.ica report. published annually az LEIPZIG.
According g. tAe .f.1-a.-s 2. dissertation
pal -isaei ut PARIS. the ;ota. number et CONT .
uer-.. Cooperative wurkiurmen's societies Is +
10000. tle number Il members 100000, and .
The tai annual business -501o}1,l9j francs .
yearly. This computation iuc.uies oil societies .
t-..r -..---.7 oil f.r. .r-.-..-. and r.truill- .