Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1878-07-09
o Il

The history Of the marvellous success
OF cooperative stores in London is in
striking contrast with the many failures
Of similar schemes in this country.
These great establishments. that have
grown out Of a single Wholesale pur-
chase made by 4 few p~ostofiee clerks,
from O transaction Of twenty pounds to
nm annual total Of q million times that
sum. have not only conferred manifold
benefits upon their subscribers by put
ting in their pockets the greater part OF
the profits that usually 60 to the store
keepers. and by giving the best articles
for less than the ordinary cost Of poor.
but have sIsrted q vast influence upon
the world Of stores outside. Prices
have been kept in check. and tradesmen
have been taught greater courtesy. Tho
growth Of these cooperative stores has
been simply magical. The annual sales
Of one Of them amount TO $1,000. 900;
from C,000 to 5000 sovereigns have
been taken in In ons day. OF course
these establishments cannot Afford the
luxury OF enterprising deiaulters. but
the Subscribers are consoled for their
absence by q saving OF from 10 to ~
per cent. on the price paid for their
purchases.
The principle OF the cooperative share
is very simple. A certain number Of
shareholders join together. engage a
building. employ the necessary manager
and assistants. and the thing Is done.
Any person may become entitled to the
privileges Of the store by the payment
Of an annual fee Of five shillinss
81 25l. He receives u card, with his
name and number. and must present
this whenever he makes . purchase.
both to the person who serves him. and
the .-:h:.-. when he pays his billiard
the business in all the stores Is strictly
cash. The goods are. Of course, all
purchased at Wholesale, and furnished
to members Of the association at just
sufficient advance to pay the actual e1'
penses Of the establishment. Thus the
profits, which usually 60 to enrich
wealthy store-keepsrs. are kept in thu
pockets OF the poor. who need then
most. The goods are Of the finest quail
ity, and ne purchaser is in danger o.
bsing swindlsd at the store OF which he
isa part owner. SO great has the bust
ness grown in London. that. notwith'
standing the small profit charged for eI'
penses. many Of the associations have
found IL e1psdisnt to declare small year
IL dividends to the shareholders. thu:
returning to them a part Of the money
invested for living during the year.
In this country associations on the
cooperative system have always come
to grief. except. perhaps. in the one in
stance Of Salt Lake. and the institution
in Zion has been used as q near oil
swindling. instead Of aiding the faithful,
for the benefit OF the Church Elders,
But what can be done in England can
certainly be done here. II the right men
viii put their shoulders to the wheel.
In these hard times cooperative stores
should be instituted in every large city,
and were this done, tho burdens Of the
poor would be greatly lightened and
much Of the discomfort now 20 preva'
lent in our midst. would be hushsd. II
good, healthy food, and well made. sub
stantial clothing could be procured by
the moro poorly paid laborsrs Of New
York and San Francisco. at the irst cost
Of production. such men as Kesrney
vonld have bu. few followers among the
respectable class Of the people.