The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-04-01

numbers and purposes, and moved West
They have now 10000 beautiful acres
on the banks Of the Iowa river, about
seventy miles from the Mississippi
woodland and prairie pleasantly diver
sifed. They went to this place sixteen
years ago, and have made wonderful
progress in agriculture and various 9TH
er industries.
The colony now numbers about 1900.
They have everything in the way of prop
erty in common, but recognize the ac-
cepted forms of family life, and each
family has a separate house or apart
ment. Those who join the community
contribute their property to The common
stock, and if they become dissatisfied
they receive back just what they put in
without interest or wages. and leave. So
property cannot well become a bone or
contention, and no one can regard him
self a prisoner when he is free to 70 where
he pleases. The objects OF the Amanes
Society are religious association, indus.
trial and domestic cooperation aud tho
special advancement of the useful arts.
The members dress plainly, build plainly
but substantially, aud are in no way OF.
namental. They have extensive vine
yards, make and drink wine aud lager
beer, and drunkenness is unknown among
them. They appear to nave no vices
whatever, commit no crimes, and have
no use for courts. There is, however,
committee Of arbitration to settle minor
disputes when they arise, as they some
times do.
The government is administered and
the whole business of the community is
supervised by board Of thirteen trus-
tees, who are elected by the votes Of all
the adult population, and hold the COM
mon property. Each department Of 10
dustry has its manager, who is response
bic to the board Of trustees BY whom he
is appointed. Tbs is what they have
done in sixteen years They found wild
lands, and began their work just whero
Nature left off hers. They have bridged
tho river, made good roads, planted hcdg-
es Of white willow, built canal nine
miles In length, nearly parallel with the
river, to supply their needed water power;
several Touring mills, wooden factories,
machine shops, starch, sugar and vinegar
manufactures, all fitted out with fine ma.
chinery made by their own machinists.
They have built five villages on the tract,
aud two OF them are stations for the l. *
Island and Pacific Railroads, which come
to their doors. They have good school
houses and plain churches, and two grain
elevators at the railroad stations, each Of
capacity for storing $4,000 bushels of
grain. The children are kept at school
until they are fourteen and then they
are taught a trade or agriculture, and
their education is continued in night
schools. English is taught, but German
is tie medium Of communication in bu,i-
ness AID social !iro. Their religious sef-
vices '.r, very simple, consisting pTuci-
pally oi reading the Scriptures, prayer
and singing. and they have some rood
voices for the latter. The women sss;ot
in light outdoor work, especially ia vine
yards. Early marriages are discouraged,
and men are not considered Of suitable
age for wedlock until they attain the ma
turity Of 80 years. There is great
deal Of intelligence in this community,
but no brilliancy of any kind.