The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-11-30
\ worklnEmon'. Cooperative society.

Ihe concentration OF population IN the
manufacturing districts of Eugland is past
belief till one has seen some such a center
Us Leeds. Here the British workman NAV
be seen at his best and at his worst. His
liberal patronage of the gin-shop, and his
love for the gentle hull-pup, have been a
fertile theme fo: official pens. II is more
agreeable TO report what he has done to
help hiuself, to organize his idle shillings
into federal union of dividends, ana to
teach himself and children sobriery and
thrift.
Here is tangible expression of Yorkshire
common sense,-a handsome four-story
block of stores, splendid in plste-glass,
carved stone-work, and architectural dis
plsy,-the stores of the Leeds Industrial
Cooperative Society, Limited" Albion
street, Leeds. 1t may be Saturday after
noon,-e half-hohday in the mills,-and
the streets swarm with workpeople Of every
age and condition. Albion street Is none
too wide for the traffic that pours along its
sidewalks and road way, and gathers about
the open doors of the Leeds Industrial"
actually struggling in and out, and press
ing thickly up to the counters. One door
leads to grocery store, the next to drap-
cry store, another door leads upstairs to the
house-furnishing warerooma, the Quitting
department, and the boot and shoe store.
There is no display in the windows latter
the cooperative manner), and we may fol-
low the multitude inside to watch the ac-
tive trade. Plain, hard-working people,
perhaps grimy from their toll, they press up
to the counters, cash in hand, ready TO buy.
This statesmen have evidently prepared for
a good demand, and the staple goods, al
ready put up in convenient packages, are
piled in enormous heaps on tho counters.
4 49, ..Al. ~
speed, take the money make q note in a
sales-book, tear off the voucher (or half
Lead, and give it with the change 20 the
customer. Each one takes his or her goods,
and moves away as quickly as possible to
make room for the Others. Near the door,
in tiny office, such as is sometimes used
for the cashier in American stores, sits q
young girl. Each one presents the fiyleaf
to her, and receives a tin or brass token
representing the amount of the purchase.
This is the evidence of trade at the society's
stores, and will be guide IN estimating
the ALLEGATION of profits next dividend day.
For every bag of -four the member May buy
he will receive back bonus or dividend OF
two shillings and siXpencc. On all other
goods, the bonus will be two shillings and
twopence in every pound these tokens rep
resent, This ls the key to this active
\
this is the "excuse for being" that the so.
ciety can show.
The shops seem to bo equal to the best o.
their class in London or New York. The
sssock 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 a wicker baby-carriage under one arm
and q mop broom under the other. There
is plenty of roughness, broad Yorkshire dia-
lect, toil-stained clothing, and good En-
glish push and scramble; every man for
himself; but, with all, there is feeling
for order and honest goodnature. Above
stairs, there are halls and corridors packed
from floor to ceiling with boots and shoes,
brushes, kitcben-ware, household goods,
and ready-made clothing. The people
swarm into every nook and corner, besiege
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 thirty
branch stores, the shoe mandatory, 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 good shiliings
to let them earn the shares. Each one Of
these people participated in that handsome
dividend Of SIG, SOC, lis. Sd. that was paid
last quarter day. That is more than two
pounds year apiece, or two shillings and
trifie 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 capital OF el22, 332 It's. II 2d.