The new daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1872-1873, 1872-09-12

The Amanda Society is the name Of a
very flourishing community III Iowa, con-
sisting of fifteen hundred members. They
own everything in common, and present
an admirable example of the success of
the cooperative plan when intelligently
administered. These people were for
merly know as EbeneZerS, and lived near
Buffalo. n, Y. where they possessed SIX
thousand acres of land. They sold out
some fifteen years ago for the sum of five
millions of dollars, and moved to Iowa.
They are located near Homestead station,
on the Rock Island and Pacific Railroad,
where they own thirty thousand acres of
the choicest lands. They have seven dis
tinct settlements. and their affairs are
mananed by fifteen trustees or fathers.
The society is incorporated under State
laws. Announcement distances IN the set
Elements they have restaurants, to which
the various families resort for food.
The Amanians cling to their good old
German ways in dress and general habits,
and are not in bondage to the outside
world All have an equal interest IN the
property; Individuals are not allowed any
thing for their services, or furnished with
money for their private use. Each set
Element has a store, and all are allowed to
draw a certain amount yearly from 1t for
their private wants. A man with a fam
ily is allowed from $50 to so, with $40
for his wife and SO for each child. This
is expected to keep them in clothing and
household furniture, and supply all their
little personal needs. When persons find
that the amount appropriated is not sufi-
Gent for their actual expenses, the mat
ter can be laid before the Board of Trus-
tees, who will exercise their Judgment
about making an additional appropria-
ton.
They are temperate, industrious, re-
igious people, but it is difficult to define
their theological views.
A leading principle in the society is
that all will get along well together If ev-
cry one will do right; and in this spirit,
everything is managed tremendously.
There is no better theology than this, at
ter all.
1t is their custom to meet every day In
small companies, about the settlement,
and in rooms provided for the purpose,
to devote half an hour to religious exer-
cises; ON Wednesday they meet in the
middle of the day; Sundays they all come
together in their meeting house for relig-
ious services. They do not appear to
specially favor marriage, and many of
them are living single. When young peo-
pie wish to marry, they generally receive
the consent of the society if they have a
reputation for good behavior. If the par
ties have not succeeded in commencing
themselves, they are not allowed to
marry.
The society owns the whole settlement,
and carries on all the business, including
that of the lumber yard, store, hotel, etc.
They hire considerably on their farm and
in tkeir factories, and claim that even in
Iowa, with 10000 acres of choice land,
farming operations do not pay. About
three miles from Homestead, on the Des
Moines river, they have a fine water
power, Touring and wooden mills, and
manufacture an extra quality al yarns
and fine hannels in colOrs. The latter
goods stand high in market, and are
mostly bought by a few first class retail
ers in the large cities. The Amanians
have high reputation for uprightness in
all their dealings with the outside world,
and are much respected.