Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-09-24
Benefits of Cooperation.


a The Springfield Republican gives the fol.
lowing account of tho SOvereigns' store at
that place and the progress of the. order in
general:
The near completion of the block on
Bridge street for the use Of the Sovereigns Of |
Industry suggests review of the work Of
this cooperative order, which had its origin 10
this city in January, 1874, aud has already
extended over about twenty five states, being
most successful, of course, IN the manufactu.
ring communities. In Massachusetts, there
are 100 councils, with about 10000 mem.
bers, and the other New England states con.
tain as many more, while the Order is -four.
ishing IN the Middle states, has numerous
councils in the interior, and has recently
obtained footing on the Pacific coast. The
object Of the organization, as is known, is to
secure the benefits ofco0peration 10 the work.
ing classes, and the original plan was for
councils to buy large quantities of staple goods
at wholesale prices, to be distributed at act.
ual cost among the members. In lines OF
goods where this was not practicable, arrange
ments were made with dealers to supply
members of the order at q discount, 10 con.
sideration of the large amount Of trade that
they would thus secure. This plan is still
kept up to some extent, but is partially and
will at last be entirely superseded by the
establishment ofstores belonging to the Order,
at which goods are sold rs near the cost of
production as possible. These stores have nat
urally been opposed by merchants whose bust.
ness they have impaired and they at first
Influenced the wholesale merchants to refuse
all dealings with these concerns /; but, as
cash dealing is principle of the Order, and
ready money does not long go begging, in
these days, the wholesalers and manufacture
ers have concluded that 0hoy want the Sov-
ereigns trade. There are now forty of these
stores in Massachusetts, and $50 in New
! England, and there is a movement on foot
to establish central bureau Of supplies at
Boston, cooperative wholesale store, which
shall supply only these stores and them at
actual cost. There is also larger move.
ment, not yet fully developed, for buying
grain from the western grangers aud vari-
Gus imported aaticles from European COPPER
alive societies. These last societies aud
the grangers are maturing scheme for the
exchange on a large scale Of manufactured
products and grain, committee of English
men, representing capital Of $4,000, 900,
it is said, being now in this country, and it
is possible that the Sovereigns will manage
to he benefited by it. The value of the
Order has been abundantly proved in this
vicinity during the months OF financial depres-
sion since its formation, particularly in the
! ,,c, ~, h. g
the state With their reduced pay many
of the operatives would have been unable
to support themselves and families but for
the advantages enjoyed through this order,
and some of the corporations have actively
favored the organization.
In this city of its birth, the order has
Aourished remarkably, aud now has about
1880 members in four councils, besides q
new council at Indian Orchard, aud a small
French council. Their store began very
humbly, almost accidentally, in July of last
year, when carload of -four was bought,
and it was found necessary to have a store
room for it, and so man stayed there evenings
to dispense it. Other lines of goods were
slowly added, and the business grew con
stantly until this spring, when stock com
pany was formed OF members of the order
having a capital of $4,000. 1t is the prin
cipe of the store to sell goods at just enough
above cost to pay the expense Of the store,
aud the business has grown so that it was
found absolutely necessary to secure better
quarters, and hence the erection of the new
; block. Since March 10, when the new mau,
agement took possession, the total business o.
the store has amounted to about S35 900
steadily increasing from month to month, 81
that the daily trade now averages abou
$500. The goods are sold in general from
fifteen to twenty per cent cheaper than at othe
, groceries. The new block is built by b.
Farar aud rented by the Sovereigns 70
five years at $4,000 year. The grocer,
branch will here occupy larger store, with
= convenient store room, and there will ais.
be another store in the front which will b.
occupied by stock Of boots aud shoes
: clothing aud furnishing goods, to provide fol
! which the capital stock Of the corporation
is now TO be increased to $4,000. On tn
side of the building there will be a mea
! market, with possibly fish market beneath
The second story contains room for tn,
. council, with kitchen and dining room al
, tached, and other rooms suitable for a mer
: chant tailor shop or millinery or dress-mak
: ing rooms, which the managers may decid
. to establish. The upper story contains
. well lighted hall, 50xS7 feet and capable o
u seating seven hundred people. The grocer
store will be occupied early neKt week, tn
= clothing store probably within month, an
. the whole building will be ready for dedica
!. ton by October %, when the state council
: meets here. This is the first building in tn
= country erected for the use Of the Order an
= our local Sovereigns feel justly proud Of il