Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-12-06
1aiIp Siennebet Sontnal.
4 W0RKIyGMEN's COOPERATIVE SOClE.
TY.

Tho concentration of population in The
manufacturing districts of England is past
belief till one has seen some such CEN
ter as Leeds. Here the British workman
may be seen at his best and at his worst
His liberal patronage of the gin-shop, and
his love for the gentle bnll-pup, have been
fertile theme for official pens. 1t Is
more agreeable TO report what he has
done to help himself, to organize his idle
shiIIinos into a federal union OF dividends,
and 10 teach himself and children sobrie-
~ and Thrift.
Here is tangible expression of York
shire common sense,-a handsome four
story block of stores, splendid in plate
GLASS, carved sione-work and architectu-
raj display,-the stores of the Leeds In
dustrial Co-operative Society, Limited,
Albion street. Leeds. 1t may be Satur-
day afternoon, half-holiday In the mllls,
and ,be streets swarm with work peo-
n,e ot every age and condition. Albion
s,reet Is none too wide for the traffic that
nours alsng its sidewalks and roadway,
and gathers about the open dO,rs OF the
Leeds Industrial" actually struggling in
and out. and pressing thickly up to the
counters. One door leads to grocery
store. lQt IcAl W Il SACiN'
er door leads upstairs TO the house-iur-
nishing warerooms, the outlining depart
ment. and the boot and shoe store. There
is no display in the windows Tin the coop
erative manner), and we follow the multi
tude inside to watch the active trade. ram
Woodworking people, perhaps grImy from
their toll, they press mp to the counters
cash in hand. ready to buy. The sales
men have evidently prepared Tor good
demand, and the staple goods, already
put up in convenient packages, are piled
in enormous heaps on the counters. lhey
deal out the bundles with wonderful speed.
take the money, make note in sales
book. tear of the voucher Cor hali-leaf),
and give il with the change to the custom
err. 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 young
girl. Each one presents the fly-leai to her
and receives tin or brass token repre-
seuting the amount ofthe purchase. This
is the evidence of trade ut the soclety's
stores, and will be guide in estimating
the ALLEGATION of profits next dividend day.
For every bag of flour the member may
buy he will receive back a bonus or divi-
dend of two shillings and sixpence. On
all other goods, the bonus will be two
shillings and twopence in every pound
these tokens represent This is the key
to this active trade; this explains this ca
gerness to buy this is the "excuse for be-
ing'' that the society can show.
The shops seem to be equal to the best
oftheir class in London or New York. The
stock is very large, of apparently the best
quality, and is admirably put up, ready for
Immediate sale. Going upstairs, we find
the building blockaded with people intent
on trade. A woman coming downstairs,
her three boys making much clatter with
their new wooden shoes, brushes past
man with wicker baby carriage under
one arm and mop broom under the 9TH
err. There is plenty of roughness, broad
Yorkshire dialect, toil-stained clothing,
and good English push and scramble ev-
cry man for himself; but, with all, there
is feeling for order and honest good-na-
ture. Aboye-stairs, there are halls and
corridors packed from floor to ceiling with
boots and shoes, brushes, kiichenware,
households goods, and ready-made cloth
ing. The people swarm into every nook
and corner, beseige the statesmen, and
drive a lively trade. These busy
shoppers and anxious buyers are the
members of the Leeds INDUSTRIAL "a few
of the sixteen thousand shareholders, the
legal owners of this building, the branch
stores, the shoe mandatory, and the
great flour-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 good shill-
ings TO let them earn the shares. Each
one of these people participated in that
handsome dividend of ZIG, 500, LIS Sd. that
was paid last quarter day. That is more
than two pounds year apiece, or two
shillings and triAe over in every two
hundred and forty pennies they spent at
the stores. besides the interest at five per
cent. year on their united share capital
of f124,332 lis. IL I'D -Chas. Barnard,
Scribner for December.