The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-28
4 CO-OPERATTHE CO1IMUNITT.
1Rrom tas Missouri Republican !

From the Missouri Republican,
This is an Iowa colony that seems to coz Q
nearer the realization OF mans long dream OF
peace and bliss on earth, than any other SINH
lar community that ever existed. They actual.
ly believe they have solved the problem OF
combination and cooperation. They call
themselves "Amanes," and are Germans,
dating back their organization 200 years or
more. A colony Of them came TO this country
about 40 years ago and settled upon an old In
dian reservation Of 5000 acres near Bufalo.
New York. They found it too small for their
numbers and purposes and moved west. Ihey
have now SO, 600 beautiful acres on the banks OF
the Iowa river. about seventy miles from the
iBsissippt-woodlanda and prairie. pleasantly
diversified. They went to this place sixteen
wears ago, and have made wonderful progress
In agriculture and various other Industries.
The colony now numbers about l3oO. Iney
have everything in the way OF property IN com.
family life, and each family has separate
house or apartment. Those who jsin the COM
munity contribute all their property to the
common stock; and il they bec me dissatisfied
they receive back just what they put IN without
interest or wages and leave.-So property can
not wellbecome bone OF contention, and no
one can regard himself prisoner when he ls
Tree to 70 where be pleases. The objects OF
the Amane society are religious association,
iuG astral and domestic cooperation, and the
special advancement Of the useful arts. The
members dress plainly, live plainly, build
plainly but substantially, and are in no .spect
ornamental They have extensive vineyards,
mako and drink VINE and lager beer, and
drunkenness is uoknown among them. They
appear to have no wees 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. Pbegovefnment is ADMINISTERED and
the whole business oil the community is super
q 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 re-
sponsible to the board Of trustees by whom ne
is appointed. This ls what they have done IN
. sixteen years: They found Wild lands, and be-
gan their workjust where Nature left of hers.
They have br1dged the river, made good roads,
planted hedges OF white willow, built canal
nine miles m length, nearly parallel with the
river, to supply their needed water power;
several Touring mills, woollen factories, ma
chine shops. starch, sugar and vinegar manu-
factories, all fitted out with fine machinery
made by their own machinists. They have
built five villages on the tract, and two Of them
are slations for the Rock Island and Pa,tfc
railroad, which come 10 their doors. They
have good school houses, and plain churches,
and two grain elevators at the railroad sta
tions, each ofs capacity for storing about 80 900
school until hey are fourteen; then they are
taught trade or agriculture, aud their educa.
ton IS continued in night schools. English is
tau ht, but German ls the medium Of commu-
n!catioo In business aud social lite. Their re-
hgious services are very SIMPLE, consisting
principally of reading the Scriptures, prayer
q and singing. and they hsve some good voices
for the latter. The women assist IN light out
door work, especially in the vineyards. Early
marriages are discouraged and men are not
considered Of suitable age for wedlock until
they attain the maturity of IS years. There
is great deal Of ofintelligence in this comnauni-
tytbut no brllianoy OF any kind.