The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1873-03-21
Ulle Marietta goarnal.
Marietta, Georgia, March 81, 1879.
A COOPERATIVE COMMUNITY.

| A COOPERATIVE COMMUN1TY.
This is an Iowa colony that seems
to ceme nearer the realization OF
mans long dream Of peace and bliss
on earth than any other similar
community that ever existed. They
actually believe they have solved
the problem of combination and CO.
operation. They call themselves
"Amanes," and are Germans, dat
ing back their organization $50 years
or more. A colony of them came to
this country about 40 years ago and
settled upon an old Indian reserva-
ton of 5000 acres near Buffalo, New
York. They have now $4,000 beau
tiful acres on the banks of the Iowa
river, about seventy miles from the
Mississippi-woodland and prairei;
pleasan thy diversified. They went
to this place sixteen years ago, and
have made wonderful progress in
agriculture and various other indus
tries. The colony now numbers
about 1900. They have every :
thing in the way Of property in COM
mon, but recognize the accepted
forms of family life, and each family
has a separate house or apartment.
Those who join the community con-
tribute all their property to the com
mon stock, and if they become dis
satisfied they receive back just what
they put in, without interest or wa
ges, and leave. So property cannot
we'll become a bone Of contention,
and no one can regard himself q
prisoner when he is free to 60 where
he pleases. The objects Of the
Amane society are religious associa-
ton, industrial and domestic cooper
alton, and the special advancement
of the useful arts. The members dress
plainly, live plainly, build plainly
but substantially, and are in no res
pect ornamental. They have ex-
tensive vineyards, make and drink
wine and lager beer, and drunken
ness is unknown among them. They
appear to have no vices whatever,
commit no crimes, and have no use
for courts. There 10, however, q
committee of arbitration to settle
minor disputes when they arise, as
they sometimes do. The govern
ment is administered aud the whole
business of the community is super
vised by board Of thirteen trustees,
who are elected by the votes of all
the adult population, and hold the
common property. Each depart>
ment Of industry has its manager,
who is responsible to the board of
trustees by whom he is appointed.
This is what they have done in six
teen years. They found wild lands,
and began their work just where
Nature left off hers. They have
bridged the river, made good roads,
planted hedges of white willow,
built canal nine miles in length,
nearly parallel with the river, to
supply their needed water power;
several Touring mills, WOODEN facto-
ries, machine shops, starch, sugar
and vinegar manufactures, all fitted
out with fine machinery made by
their own machinists. They have
built FIVE villages on the tract, and
two Of them are stations for the Rock
Island and Pacific Railroad, which
come to their doors. They have good
school houses, and plain churches,
and two grain elevators at the rail-
road stations, each OF capacity for
storing about $4,000 bushels Of
grain. The children are kept at
school until they are fourteen then
they are taught trade or agricul-
ture and their education is continued
in night schools. English is taught
but German 10 the medium Of COM
munication in business and social
life. Their religious services are
very simple, consisting principally
Of reading the Scriptures, prayer and
singing, and they have some good
voices for the latter. The women
assist in light outdoor work, espe-
cially in the vineyards. Early mar
riages are discouraged and men are
not considered of suitable age for
wedlock until they attain the ma
turity of 80 years. There is a
great deal Of intelligence in this
community, but no brilliancy Of any