, 1874-04-12


The largest cooperative enterprise in England
has been managed by members OF the British
Civil Service. This may have suggested the plan
now mooted among the Government clerks at
Washington. Our knowledge OF it IL derived
from its advertisement. We must not be under-
stood as indorsing this particular scheme 1o1
there may bo fraud in it. a similar scheme,
however, If honestly managed, would be OF great
benefit anywhere. We sketch this as it repre-
scnts itself, in tho hope that persons LIVING on
small salaries. in this and other cities, may test
the practicability of the plan.
4 Cooperative Homestead Association has
been formed, which proposes to build houses and
sell them, in the order Of completion, to tho
highest bidders among itB members. Ihls is' OF
course, perfectly practicable way OF getting
house at nearly cost-price. 4 scandinavian So
ciety in this city has thoroughly tested similar
plan during the last few years. This Washing
ton Association will build up an entirely ne"
suburb, whero land is cheap. The ground Sc
1ected has been laid out by it's owners in prepara-
lion for q speedy commencement OF Wofk BY
the Association. The latter Will build not only
houses, but also cooperative laundry, pake1y,
dairy, woodward, store, eto. These will Tighten
the burdens Of housekeeping to tho WHO anu
will cheapen them to the husband
This may, OF cou1se, be simply private speou-
lation. which dubs itself cooperative" IN order
to deceive. The Company's promises may never
be fulfilled, and its members may be its Victims
or this we know nothing. We do know that the
employees in one or in several Of our large busl-
ness houses could easily combine, and build up
little settlement Of their own at come pleasant
point On one OF our many railways. II they pre-
ferred to go to come locality already sottled:-
and there arc several reasons for dong 3d.
they could by combining, buy the necessary
land at much lower rate, and could then help
each other to build homes at cost not exceed
ing two or three times the rent they pay now.
Emigrating as community, and build
ing q number Of houses near together,
they could easily sayo the expense
OF furnishing each house with costly
laundry apparatus By putting up joint-stock
laundry in tho rear Of the common Lot. 1t would
pay for itself eeveral times over within two
years. "A cooperative Kitchen would be more
difficult to manage, but is nevertheless possl~
bility The saving in the cost OF kitchen-furnl-
tu1o would be from one to two hundred dollars
in each house. The saving in servants wages
would amount to good deal. Even il q kitchen
had to be provided for every two houses, there
would still bo great economy. Tho two could be
built side by sido, with common kitchen
in the rear, in which single girl could readily
cook for both families. These reforms seem
impracticab1e in the city. because no arrange
ments hare been made for them in building In
properly constructed houses, they would be easy.
II the community we're large enough, common
1eadine-room could be maintained So could 3
cooperative store. Even if the company consist
ed Of only haH-a-dozen families, almost every
thing could be bought at wholesale rates and at
forwards divided Mon living On 1alarien noed
to carefully consider any plan like this They
will be especial sufferers If the currency is In
dated. While thcir nominal income will be the
eamo. their real income will sink, day by day, as
fresh shinplasters are struck of. They will need
to study economy then even moro thnn they do
now,