Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-10-23

London correspondence OF the Philadel-
mia Press.

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This institution, little heard Of in
the United States. is one of the pecu-
liarities of the British capital. The
object is to supply families with ar
ticles for consumption and general use
at the lowest possible prices. 1t orig
mated in = combination among persons
holding subordinate positions under
the Government, municipal and na-
tional; hence the title. With their
comparatively small salaries, and their
anxiety to live respectfully. they found
1t impossible to pay the high charges
Tor the various necessaries of life. and
so they adopted cooperative system,
a little like that attempted by the
Oranges of the Patrons of Husbandry
in some parts of America, or, in other
words, something like the old-fashion.
ed plan of orders adopted In many of
the manufacturing towns in our own
country, the difference here being that
cash must be paid for everything. on
the spot The institution issues $500
shares to its members, each of whom
pays f5 or $25 per aunum, which, be-
sides securing the benefit of the socie-
ty, entities the holder to take part in
! the meetings of the association and to
have voice in the management. Tick
cts may be sold to others on the pay
ment of . half crown (621 cents),
which tickets secure the purchasing
at the stores and from the firms con-
nected with the association, but they
cannot attend the meetings or take
part in the management Tickets may
also be obtained by the widows of
civil servants upon the payment of
half a crown yearly. and by the widows
of members without payment. When
you are told that this organization
consists of hundreds of thousands of
persons, and that the supplies are fur
nished by thousands of establish
ments, and that no such thing as De-
cuniary, loss has ever happened or
anything like dishonesty in any one of
the branches, you realize how success
full it has been. And this fact is more
apparent as you examine the prices
paid by those who enjoy the benefits
of the system. In looking over the /
list of articles furnished / perceive !
that it includes literally everything
groceries, wines and spirits, provisions,
tobacco and cigars, hosiery, drapery, |
gents and ladies' clothing. fancy goods, |
drugs, plate. furs, stationery and jew
elry, books and music, household !
furniture; in fact, everything in the
way of necessaries and luxuries.
The price list for the quarter ending
the 3lst of August, 1875, shows re-
duction of from 5 to % per cent. on
the prevailing rates. When you reflect
that this organization is not patronized I
alone by the poorer classes, but is real
ly supported by persons in the very /
best circumstances, and includes, as :.
learn, very many of the nobility, you
will see at once, not only how useful it
is, but how necessary Integrity is essen
alto its management At first there
was decided protest against it among
old esta blishments, but now it has be-
come so powerful that it includes
Of cooperative stores. and,
of course, compels by the very nature
of its competition reasonable prices
among those who are not connected
with ii. During the Christmas holi-
days some Of the civil service stores
received over their counters as much
as $500, 600 in a single day, and it is
fact. as illustrated, for in
stance, by Mr. Forester, M. P, in his
late speech on the Odd Fellows, which
is in Eneland kind of mutual relief
organization, that the cooperative
system as applied to working people
has been triumphant success. /