Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-02-15
GAINESVILLE. FEB. Is, 1873.
COOPERATION.

the shape OF manufacturing, unless 1t
can be done on a large scale. SO far
from the large scale being the true
policy, it is the best means that can
be devised to defeat the object in
view, because in inaugurating an un-
tried system of political economy, ex-
periments should be confined within
safe limits, and not merely the mana
gers and operatives, but the surround
ing community, should be progressive
ly indoctrinated in full understand
ing, as well of the mechanical depart
ments as of the value of such enter
prises to the material wealth of the
country.
If we are correctly informed, some
of the largest and most profitable es-
adjustments in the South, sprung
from very small beginnings, and now
WELD an influence for good, scarcely
dreamed of by their founders. 1t is a
grave mistake for any community to
say-we can do nothing towards the
erection of machinery because we have
no capital. Capital can be accumula-
ted wherever there is liberal spirit
of cooperation, and the small sums
heedlessly wasted, week after week,
would, if saved, through jealous de-
sire to promote some worthy object.
soon amount, by aggregation, to total
sufficient 10 erect some sort of ma
chinery, which by its own earnings and
and a continuous contribution, may
be enlarged to meet the demands of
the neighborhoOd and furnish sur
plus for those less thrifty.
The Mechanics Building and Loan
Association, in this place, has, from a
small beginning, become a power in
our midst, and it is difficult to esti-
mate the good it may do towards pop
ulating and improving the town, by
liberal aid to mechanics in their efforts
TO procure homes of their own, and
relief from the heavy rents of the past
few years. Besides doing good by
means of its accumulated capital, it
has taught, by example, how small
weekly or monthly contributions mag
Nifty themselves into fund sufficient.
if judiciously managed, to lay the foun
dation of some enterprise that will
gather about it, skilled labor, thrifty
and intelligent population and a per-
manently progressive prosperity, and
all from a beginning so small as to ex-
cite ridicule rather than to call forth
the encouragement and admiration to
which it was entitled for the motive
that gave it birth.
As sequel to this Association there
is about to be consummated a young
mems cooperative organization which
relying upon small monthly savings,
looks hopefully forward to an accumu-
lation of capital that will in-the not
distant future develope a comforta-
bic independence for each member,
out of such small means as are now
heedlessly wasted in the pursuit of
mistaken pleasure. The town owes
much to the disinterested efforts of its
young men, and if they can be induced
TO reflect that their own, as well as
the future of the town, depends upon
their high resolves and well directed
energies; their manly adherence to
duty and steady pursuit of laudable
aims, we shall not be without hope
that GAINESVILLE will yet fill the desti-
ny for which nature fashioned it. We
see IN the movement every indication
of success and nothing to endanger it,
except the want of that liberal, coop
erative spirit without which harmo-
NOUS concert is unattainable. And
hence the failure of so many enter
priSeS conceived of the impulse of the
moment, and as evenescent as a spark
on burnt rag.
But whilst the mechanics are CO.
operating for their mutual benefit. and
the young men of the town are being
awakened to their duties, as future ru-
lers of their country, it is a great mis-
take to suppose that all is being done
that need be for the future of town,
county or country. The farmers con-
stitute the larger proportion of all the
industrial vocations of the civilized
world Can they do nothing by coop
Grafton? Can they not, by means of
concert, control State and Federal leg
islation? Can they not, by organiza-
ton aud the concentration of small
means, often worse than thrown away,
accumulate fund sufficient to erect
for neighborhood convenience, work
shops, on a small scale at first, to be
enlarged as occasion may require p
They need farming implements-can
they not by Districts, and by contribu-
tons that they would scarcely feel, in
a short time, raise a fund sufficient to
start such an establishment? And
could they not, by encouraging such
an enterprise, establish an additional
market for their products and, by
spending their money at home, keep
up the volume of circulating medium,
instead Of sending it North to enrich
people hostile to us in sentiment and
ENTHUSIASTICALLY inimical, and po-
litically oppressive? Organize a CO.
operative association in every Civil
District-pay TO its officers, weekly or
monthly, the small Sums expended in
unnecessary trips to tOwn-tOll fees,
costs of cigars and liquor, and iBsig-
nifcant as the sums may seem TO be. a
few months will disclose the fact that
they will aggregate a sum sufficient to
commence some enterprise for the gen.
erel good, and the District will become
more prosperous, its citizens more con-
tented and thriving, whilst not one
Will miss his small contribution to his
own and the general welfare. Similar
sn,au contributions IL maid IN Gamma