Lincoln County advocate. (Canton, Dakota Territory, [S.D.]) 1876-1877, 1876-12-20
COOPERATION IN ENGLAND.
The Leeds Industrial Society and 1t
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From scribner's Magazine

official pens. 1t IS more agreeap!e W
report what he has done to help him
self, to organize his idle shillings into a
federal union of dividends, and to
teach himself and children sobriety and
thrift.
Here is tangible expression OF
Yorkshire common sense,--a handsome
four-story block of stores, splendid
in plate glass, carved stone-work, and
architectural isplay,-the stores OF the
"Leeds Cooperative Society, Limited"
Albion street, Leeds. It may be Satur.
day afternoon, half-holiday in the
mills,-and the :eets swarm with
work.people Of every age and condl-
ton. Albion street is none too woe
for the traffic that pours along its side
walks and roadway, and gathers about
the open doors of the " Leeds 1ndustr'
all" actually struggling in and out, ana
pressing thickly up to the counters.
One door leads to a grocery store, the
next to drapery store, another door
eads upstairs to the the house.furnlsh-
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 good demand, and
the staple goods, already put up in
convenient packages, are plled, IN
enormous 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 Tor
half-leaf), and give it with the change
to the customer. 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
ia sometimes used for the cashier in
American stores, sits a young girl.
Each one presents the fy-leaf to her,
and receives a tin or brass token repre-
senting the amount of the purchase,
This is the evidence of trade at the so
ciety's stores, and will be q guide in es.
timating the ALLEGATION of profits next
dividend day. For every bag of fl our
the member may buy he will receive
back 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 ap'
parently the best quality, and is admir-
ably put up, 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 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 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 ready-made clothing. The peo'
pie swarm into every nook and cor
ner, besiege the salesman, and drive a
lively trade. These busy shoppers and
anxious buyers are the members Of the
Leeds industrial-a few Of the 5000
shareholders, the legal owners of this
building, the 80 branch stores, the shoe
mandatory, and the great four-mil]
at Marshall street in the Holbeck dis.
trict. Every man and woman of this
company 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 thai
handsome dividend of 9l6,5O0 IFS. Sd
that was paid last quarter day. That is
more than two pounds year apiece
or two shillings and a trihe over il
every 24O pennies they spent at the
stores, besides the il crest at 5 per cent
d yeal OH their united share capital Of
9122, 33217s. lid.