Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-05-19

COOPERATION IN VERNoST.-The expert
ment in Industrial cooperation now IN pro-
gress at Springfield, though often mentioned
IN these columns. is OF so mucn interest IA
many respects that our readers may wish
to hear more of it. A correspondent who
has recently visited the place says; Inc as
ISOLATION commenced work IN August, 1874,
with five members who wanted TO test what
had hitherto beel q mere theory IN TINS
country-co-operation. This Is genuine
cooperation society, each member being
equal to every other member. and eacn
member having a share in the proflts IN
In proportion to bis Investment Inc
capital required is $500 from each man.
500 from each boy, and from each wo-
man the first sos earned over expenses.
After becoming q member. each person must
pay in twenty-five per cent, OF MS or her
earnings lover expenses, for which shares
are given. on which Is guaranteed diVi-
dend of eight per cent. annuallY-as mneh
more as the profits will warrant. But TINS
Is not the only, nor even the main capital
Habits of industry. morality and-nO pct
ter name presenting electromagnetic OF tne
Golden Rule. furnish the main capital. No
person otherwise equipFt- VIII be admitted
as a member A three months trial, dur
ing which the money paid in Is merely Dor
rowed (security given), is given each sp-
pIeant. At the end of that time maJori-
" may prevent the applicants becoming
member. Each member IS paid according
To the work done and ability in doing II.
The wages range for men and boys from
seven to fifteen dollars, and Tor girls and
women from SIX to seven and a hail dollars
a week. Board, including room and wash
ing i furnished the members atiOur dollars
for males and three dollars Tor females a
week. Two large, pleasant and eomiorta-
bic buildings, known a. the % Industrial
Home, are rented by the association. and
have been run al 4 paying profit OF twenty
five per cent, SO that board comes remark
ably cheap. To give any adequate idea OF
the advantages and pleasantness OF tins
Home would require more space than
you could spare. Suffice It 10 say that those
who live there enjoy themselye heartily. y
regular course OF exercises for the week i
made up and committees appointed 10 de-
wise means. One evening l. devoted -
games, one to music, another to intellectual
improvements, and 50 on.
Muslin flag, table mats. wood hoops,
knife boxes. fancy baskets. children s chairs.
and other articles, are being manufactured
extensively. When the reader j. tod that
this concern has made since last December
about three-fOurths Of million Of hags,
and that nearly a thousand dollars worth o.
printers ink Is used monthly o. print them.
he Will have some idea OF what business
this association Is doing The shops are
run night and day The association num-
bers now about hliv-hve members. about
half Of whom are Young ladies. who can
earn more and live better here than II most
any other calling IN the state. Inc pr0mls-
ing increase Of business Will probably re
suit in enlargement Of the buildings this
Summer, as the buildings as tncg now are
are about full
Springfield is q very pic.uTe-qu and
pleasant town. ami boasts of having neve
gin-mill or loater. Il is quite manulae
turing place. there being here. besides ia
works, "a cotton and w00llea mil, clothes
pin factory. scythe-Suath factory. two ma
chine shops, q tlv factory and several other
factories