Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-02-16

association Is not only pract cable, but that
| it is profitable to the proprietor who knows
how 20 take the Initiative, end to Inc me
tayA who supports Il. This example,
/ ius Ii, shows that an as oeiation upon
Iais equitable basis IS dUra ale by the sole
sill Of the contracting parties, for at
/ Hhenaui'ie there are neither contracts
uos bonds nor engagement Of any sort.
4 co-oFERtuvE FARM ~ ENeLAND'-
+ In lSS0 large land proprietor, named
| GuriOu, in Assingt9n. Slfiolk County,
undertook the project offending sn as
ISOLATION for cooperative farming. ln-
yitinp few farm-laborers 10 meet him, ne
offered them Jointly, at moderate rent, =
farm of 90 acres and the use Of t4UO,
without interest, for ten years, on the
condition that each member Of the con-
templsted association, Jay into its
treasury fec Of f3,( this fee was design.
ell principally as a guarantee OF good
faith, with the proSisO that the farm
should he managed by Que oftheir number
at fixed wages; the rema ming members
were 10 be at liberty 70 continue IN the
service of their old employers. Though
this scheme involved little risk and the
advantage of capital without interest, its
author found laborers VIII, had been al
ways trained to rely exclusively upon
wages for income reluctant to enter upon
t.. But a beginning was made, and, at
the end Otter years, the association had
accumulated, beyond what was needed Tor
curreIt expenses. enough TO repay Mr..
I Gurdon the capital he had advanced.
. Fifteen years later they rented from the
same patron 10 acres more, making l35
in all, to which have sine been added.
The greater part Of the adiitiO AL outlay
this involved was met by their surplus
earnings. aud the remainder by money
borrowed at . ID per cent. With tins
enlargement of land the number Of menu
bcrs was increased from 10 to 20, aud
these limits Of land and members contln-
ne up to the present day. The largest
portion of the members continue to work
for wages in the service Of employers.
A manager. with seven or eight hired
hands. carries on the cooperative farm.
The wife Of the manager cares for the
dairy products, receiving or this service
40 annually. The present manager
has been in charge the last twenty-five
years.
\ writer in The Psll-M,ll Gazette, who
visited this co operative association the
past season, reports Il 9, 40 tue age o.
over forty years, Il is in condition Of as-
-urel and substantial prosperity He
found die f.. N stocked with horses snd
colt. Is horned cattle, "milch COWS snd
f.tJeuin. bullolks." 10 sheep, and large
rlmber Of rigs and poultry, varying
according to the seasons Al. the yarl-
eties of farm animals were Of good breeds
ana in excellent condition. Artificial
manure, are largely used, and tue fields
OF whee;, tl-njp~ aud other growing crops
afforded proof Of clean, good farming
The members and their families, by visible
evidences ~ thrift and c,ntentmeut, a.
well - by direct testimony. eyinced =
high appreciation of the advantages de-
rived from this oo.operat sc investment
II j. rare, good thing 70, Us poor folks
said one. Another said, Il wish there
we're such things in every parish, SO that
the good the rich peope do the poor
might he handed down from generation TO
generation; but poor folks must have a
start; theyhaye no money n begin with.
The writer concludes
y cooperative society tas been IN ex.
.stence Tor forty years that has never
got in debt, and has furnished satistac-
tory balauee-sheet 3; the end Of the year;
that, moreover, has developed thrift,
independence, and good fee ing TO the ex-
tent here witnessed, cannot be pronOuno-
ed failure, but il must always he
remembered that poor folks must have
start; " nothing could have been done
without eapital-in this case borrowed
capita.