The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1876-12-01
A workingmen's Cooperative Society.

The concentration of population in the
manufacturing districts of Engl'nd is
past belief till one has seen some such q
center as Leeds. Here the British work
man may be seen at his best and at his
worst. His liberal patronage of the gin
shop, and his love for the gentle bull
| pup, have been a fertile theme for ofIi-
cial pens. 1t is more agreeable to report
what he has done to help himself, to or
! ganize his idle shilllngs into a federal
union of dividends, and to teach him
self and children sobriety and thrift
Here is a tangible expression of York.
| shire common sense,-a handsome four
| story block of stores, splendid in plate.
glass, carved stOnework, and architectural
| disPlay,-the stores of the Leeds In
| dustria Cooperative Society, Limited" :"
Albion street, Leeds. 1t may be Satui-
| day afternoon,-a halEholiday in the
streets swarm with work people of every
age and condition. Albion street is
none too wide for the traffic that pours
along its sidewalks and roadway. and
gathers about the open doors of the
Leeds Industrial" actually struggling
in and out, and pressing thickly up TO
the counters. One door leads to gro
cery store, the next TO n drapery store,
another door leads upstairs to the house
furnishing warerooms, the outfitting de-
partment, and the boot and shoe store.
There is no display in the windows
(atter the cooperative manner), and we
may follow the multitude inside to watch
the active trade. Plain, Woodworking
people. perhaps grimy from their toll,
they press up to the counters, cash in
hand, ready 10 buy. The statesmen have
evidently prepared for a good demand,
and the staple goods, already put up in
convenient packages, are piled in enor-
nous heaps on the counters. They deal
out the bundles with wonderful speed,
take the money, make a note in a sales
book, tear off the voucher Cor half-leaf),
and give it with the change to the Gus
toner. Each one takes his or her goods,
and moves away as quickly as possible to
make room for others. Near the door, in
a tiny office, such as is sometimes used for
the cashier in American stores, sits a young
girl. Each one presents the fy-leat to
her, and receives a tin or brass token
representing the amount of the purchase.
This is the evidence of trade at the sOci-
ety's store, and will be a guide in esti-
mating the aliocation of profits next divi-
dend day. For every bag of flour the
hiCLADGlS may buy ilC Will ItCtlNG DICK
a bonus or dividend of two shillings
and sixpence. On all other goods, the
bonus Will be two shillings and sixpence
in every pound these tokens represent.
This is the key to this 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, apparently the
best quality, and is admirably put up,
ready for Immediate sale. Going up
stairs, we find the building blocked with
people intent on trade. 4 woman com
ing down stairs, her three boys making
much clatter with their new wooden shoes,
brushes past a man with a wicker baby
carriage under one arm and mop broom
under the other THERE'S plentyo OF rough
ness, broad Yorkshire dialect, toil-stained
clothing, good and English push and
scramble; every man for himself; but
with all, there is a 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
ready made clothing. The people swarm
into every nook and corner, besicge the
salesmen, and drive a lively trade. These
busy shoppers and anxious buyers are
the members of the Leeds Industrial
fewol the sixteen thousand shareholders,
the legal owners of this building, the
thirty branch stores, the shoe manufac-
tory, and the great four-mill at Marshall
street in the HOlbeck district. Every
man and woman of this company has
five or more shares in the society, or has
paid down the good shillings to let them
earn the shares. Each one Of these peO-
pie participated in that handsome divi-
dend of ei6, SOC lis. Sd. that was paid
last quarter day. That is more than two
pounds year apiece, or two shillings
and trihe over in every two hundred
and forty pennies they spent at the
stores, besides the interest at five per
cent a year on their united share cIpi-
tai of f122, 332 lis. 11@d.-CharJes Bar
nGrd IN ScJitneT.