Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-08-13

wagon shops, blacksmith shops, bakeries,
&c. The products OF their fields and facto-
ries found a ready market in Buffalo, and
such was the reputation Of the members of
the community, that no other recomenda-
tion for commodity was needed by city
purchasers than the assurance that "it came
from the Ebenezers." Their religion was
similar TO that Of the Quakers.
For reasons which were satisfactory 10
themselves, but never fully understood by
those outside, the community resolved 10
dispose of their possessions in this vicinity
aud go West and having sold out to diff
ferent parties, they lel in 1856 and 1857
going at different times, in detachments-
and went to Iowa. At this time the num-
ber of the community had increased to
about 800. They now own 10000 acres of
beautiful land, consisting Of woodland and
prairie mixed, situated on the banks ofthe
Iowa River, about seventy miles from the
Mississippi. They are known as "Aman-
es," and the colony has increased TO about
1900. Everything in the way of property
is held in common, but each family has its
own separate habitatlon.
Those who join the community contrib
ute their property to the common stock,
and II they become dissatisfied they re-
ceive baak just what they put in, without
interest or wages, and leave. SO property
cannot become bone of contention, and
no one can regard himself prisoner when
he is free to go where he pleases. The
members dress plainly, build plainly, but
substantially, and are in no way ornamen-
tai. They have extensive vineyards, and
make and drink wine and lager beer, but
drunkenness is unknown among them.
They appear 10 have no vices whatever,
commit no crimes, and have no use for
courts. There is, however, q Committee
of Arbitration TO settle minor disputes
when they arise, as they sometimes do.
The government is administered and the
whole business of the community is super
vised by board OF thirteen Trustees, who
are elected by the votes of all the adult
population, and hold the common proper
ty. Each department OF industry has its
manager, who is responsible TO the Board
of Trustees, by whom he is appointed.
| The property they purchased was, OF
course, wild land, and they were obliged
to commence where nature left off, but
they have done wonders. They have bridg-
ed the river, made good roads, planted
hedges Of white willow, built a canal near.
ly nine miles in length, nearly parallel
with the river, TO supply their needed wa
ter power; several Touring mills, wooden
factories, machine shops, starch, sugar,
and vinegar manufactures, all fitted out
with fine machinery, made by their own
machinists. They have built five villages
on .he tract, and two of them are stations
for the Rock Island and Pacific Railroads
which come 10 their doors. They have
god school houses and plain churches
and two grain elevators at the railroad sta.
tioDs, each of capacity for storing $4,000
bushels of grain. The children are kept al
school until they are fourteen, and then
they are taught a trade or agriculture, and
their education is continued in night
schools. English is taught, but German i.
the medium of communication in busines.
and social life.