New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-03-13
\ CO-Operativc Community.

From the Missouri RepaJitcaa we take tha
/ following This Is an iowlcolony that seems
| to come nearer the realization O. mans lone
cream oil peace and bliss on earth, than any
other similar community that ever existed
| They actually believe they hsyo solved thu
problem OF combination aud co-ogcratloa,
| lhey call themselves "Amancs." aud ara
Germans, dating back THEN organisation 200
years or more. \ colony Of then, cunIe IN
this country about forty yoars ago and settled
upon an old Indian reservation Of 9 600 acres.
near Buiiiuo, New York. They found it too
small tor Their numbers and purposes, ani
moved west. They have now 80 900 boouti-
lul acres Gu the banks Of the Iowa river,
| about seventy miles from tie NjssIssIppy-
Woodland and prairie pleasantly d!yersi.lsd,
lhey went to the place sixteen years ago,
ana have made wonderful progress in mari.
culture aud various other indust,Ics. Tho
colony now numbers about 300 TGoy hayo
everything L. the way CT property IN common.
out recognize the accepted tor!us of Clmly
lie, aud each family has a separate house Oh,
apartment. Those who Join the community
contribute their property To the common
stock, and II they become dissatisfied they
receive back just what they put in w!ihou.
interest or wages, and leave. So trUpcrey
cannot well become bono Of contention, and
no oIe can regard himself prisoner when ha
Is free to go where he pleases Tho object.
OF the Amanes Society are religious ass0cia-
ton, Industrial and domestic cO.Ope.atiou,
ana the special advancement Of the useful
arts. The members dress plainly, live ulaln-
~, build plainly but substantially, and are ia
no way ornamental. They havo extensive
vineyards, make aud drink WHO aud laIar
beer, and drunkenness /, unknown among
them.
They appear to have 10 vlcei gha.oycr.
commit no crimes, aud have no use for courts.
There Is, however, q committee OF arbitration
To settle minor disputes when thcy arise, NJ
they sometimes do. Tho government is ad-
m,nlstered and the whole busincs, of tho
community Is supervised by Il board OF thIr-
| teen trustees, who arc elected by tho vOtss
Of all the adult population, and hold the com.
mon property. Each department OF Industry
has Its manager, who Is Responsible 70 tina
board OF trustees by whom ho Is appointed.
lhis Is what they have done in sixteen years:
lhey found wild lands, and began their w0Ft.
just where Nature left OIL hers. Ihcy have
bridgod the river, made good roads, planted
hedges Of white willow, built n canal nearly
nine miles In length, nearly parallel witt! tha
river, to supply their needed water power,
| several Touring mills, wooden factories, ma.
chine shops, starch, sugar and vinegar man
| uiactories, ali aitcd OUT with GEe r.aCh.ucry
made by their Own machulsts. Itcy have
| built live villages GA the tract, and two Of
! them arc stations, .or tho Rock Island aud
Pacific railroad, which como - th-.r dO1rs.
They have good school-house. Gul plain
churches, and two grain elevators q the rail-
road stations, each OF capacity Cox storing
$4,000 bushels Of grain. rho children axe
kept at school until thoy Arc fourteen; ucd
then they arc taught Il trade or agriculture,
and their education Is continued ia night
schools. English 10 taught, bu. German il
| the medium Of communication ia business
aud social life. Their religious @..yIcc5 ars
very simple, consisting principally Of reading
the Scriptures, prayer and singing, aud they
have some good voices for the latter. Tho
women assist IN Oit-dOOr work, caCeCial!y ia
vineyards. Early marriage, E:o G.g1urayed,
aud men are not considered Of au.LAbls ago
for wcdlock until they attain tho maturity Of
thirty-lve years. There {, great deal Of
intelligence Ia thI. community, Lui 40 bill
liancy OF any kind.