Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-12-06
COOPERATION In ENGLAND.
The Leeds Industrial Society md It's
Shops.
From Scribner's Magazine.

The Leeds Industrial Society md Its
Shops
From Scribner's Magazine.
The concentration or population in
manufacturing districts of England is
past belief till one has seen some such
q centre as Leeds. Here the British
workman may be seen at his best and
at his worst. His liberal patronage Of
the glnshop and his love for the gentle
bull-pup, have been fertile theme for
official pens. 1t is more agreeable to
report what he has done to help HIM
self, to organize his idle shillings into a
federal union of dividends, and to
teach him self and children sobriety and
thrift.
Here is a tangible EXPIRE ssion Of
Yorkshire common sense,--a han dsOme
four-story block of stores, splen did
in plate-glass, carved stone-work, and
architectural display,-the stores of the
"Leeds Cooperative Society, Limited, !"
Albion street, Leeds. 1t may be Satur-
day afternoon, half-holiday in tn e
mills,-and the streets swarm with
work-people of every age and condi-
ton. Albion street is none too wide
fer the traffic that pours along its side
walks and roadway, and gathers about
the open doors Of the Leeds Industri-
AL" actually struggling in and out, and
pressing thickly up to the counters.
One door leads to q grocery store, the
next to drapery store, another door
eads upstairs to the the house-furn ish-
ing warerooms, the Quitting depart
ment, and the boot and shoe store.
There is no display in the windows
after the cooperative manner), and
we may follow the multitude inside to
watch the active trade. Plain, hard
working people, perhaps grimy from
their toll, they press up to the counters,
cash in hand, ready to buy. The
statesmen have evidently pre-
pared for a good demand, and
the staple goods, already put up in
convenient packages, are piled in
enormou heaps on the counters. They
deal out the bundles with wonderful
speed, take the money, make note in
a sales-book, tear off the voucher Tor
half-leaf), and give it with the change
tozthe customer. Each one takes his or
her goods, and moves away as quickly
as possible to make room for others.
Near the door, in tiny office, such as
Is sometimes used for. the cashier in
American stores, sits a young girl
Each one presents the fy-leaf to her,
and receives q tin Or brass token repre-
sentlng the amount of the purchase,
This is the evidence of trade at the So
cietv's stores, and will be q guide in es-
tilnating the. ALLEGATION Of profits next
Dividend day. For every bag of flour
the member may buy he will.receive
back a bonus or dividend of two shil-
lings and sixpence. On all other goods
the bonus will be two shillings and TWO
pence in every>pound these tokens re-
present. This is the key to the active
trade; this explains this eagerness to
buy; this Is the" excuse for being" that
the society can show. -
The. shops seem to be equal to the
best of their class in London Or New
York The stock is very large, of APP
parently. the best quality, and is admir-
ably put Au}s, ready for immediate sale.
Going up stairs, we find the building
blockaded with people intent on trade.
A woman coming down stairs, her
three boys making much CHATTER with
their new wooden shoes, brushes past a |
man with a wicker baby carriage under
one arm and q mop broom under the
other. There Is plenty of roughness,
broad Yorkshire dialect, toll-stained |
clothing, and good English push and |
scramble; every man for himself; but.
with all, there is feeling for order and |
honest good-nature. Above stairs there
are halls and corridors packed from
floor to ceiling with boots and shoes,
brushes, kitchen-ware, household goods,
and lready-made clothing. The peo-
pie swarm into every nook and cor
ner, besiege the salesman, and drive |
lively trade These busy shoppers and
Leeds industrial-a few of the lie, 900 |
shareholders, the legal owners of this
building, the 80 branch stores, the shoe |
nc anufactory, and the great hour-mill
at Marshall street in the Holbeck dis
trict. Every man and woman of this /
has five or more shares in the |
society,", Or has paid down good shil-
lings to let them earn the shares. Each
one of these people participated in that
handsome dividend of 16,5p17s. Sd. |
that was paid last Guarter day. That is
more than two pounds a year apiece,
Or two shi1lings and a triae over. in
every $40, pennies they spent at the
stores, besides the interest at 5 per cent.
a yea1 on their united share capital of |
e122, S32 It's. HID. 'e-'-. ...,s . r.
WHAT SMELL you nave in your nose;
it is all stopped up; get some of DR.. J. III.
Catarrh Sauf. 1t soothss, heals
and will cure any disease in your nose or
throat Trial boxes 50 cts, by mail. Dr.. J.
e.. Mclean, 314 Chestnut, st. Louis.
n.
a Poverty Stricken King.
There is living now in Milan man