Connecticut western news., 1878-08-01
ZOAR AND ITS PEOPLE IN 1878.
Notes of q Recent Visit to the Queer Little
 City Hidden i'm an Apple Orchard.

Notes of a Recent Visit to the Queer Little City Hidden in an Apple Orchard. drove distance of seven miles over and among the handsome, foliaged- adorned hills, and near dusk completed the trip between the Tuscarawas Ra1l- road depots at Canal Dover and Zoar. AS the last hill was overcome and l crossed the Tuscarawas river, I found my carriage in the midst of large herd of COWS which were being driven by herdsmen. along the flats to a commo- dious stable, fit from it's size and cleanly appearance to be termed 8 m1lker's palace. This cattle barn was built in 1876, at cost of $7,000. It measures 60 by 21O feet, and contains 10S stalls. An asphaltum walk, seven feet in width, extends the entire length of the stables, and the fifteen feet separating the two rows of managers is also covered with asphaltum. The milking was entirely performed by. women on the first even- ing of my visit. From the barn drove on for few rods, past a number of fruit trees, secluding buildings, which re- vealed the reason of Zoar being called a little city hidden in an apple orchard, , and turning to the left I discovered the main thoroughfare and the hotel. There was Zoar store" opposite the last named building, and other structures further on, but both horse and driver were hungry, and the caravansary was the most interesting spot in all of Zoar at that time. Alighting and entering the office I was struck with the old-fash- toned bar on one side, and the rather rough looking harvest hands engaged in pouring into their throats, as fast as the keeper could draw the liquids, mugs of beer, older and wine. Several boys also partook of the different beverages. I inquired if these men were members of the Zoarite community, and met with the response:
 "No, sir; they are part of our hired help, and have been at work in the wheat field all day. We cannot fully control their language, much as we would like to do so." The meal that was placed before your correspondent on that evening was sub- stantial and satisfactory. On the bill of fare--not printed one-were beefsteak, ham, new potatoes, fried eggs, biscuit, white bread, pretzels, honey, cherries, pear sauce, gingerbread, cake, cookies, tea, coffee, milk, and ice water. The meal was served by German girl, and the cost was but forty cents. The profits of the hotel, which is carried on by a member of the community, are pad into the common fund. The store is con- ducted on the same plan, and four men belonging to the community are gen. orally found there. Goods of all de- scriptions are kept on hand and sold to people living in the surrounding coun- try, many of whom prefer trading there to going anywhere else. The true Zoar- ite never cheats, and the profits that are realized from merchandising are hon. estly gained. Louis Held, one of the younger among the active workers, oc- cupies the position of postmaster, and attends largely to the management of the regular store duties. The hotel and store begin to look very dilapidated and dingy. The Zoarites own 7,200 acres of rich farm land. the hotel, store, saw mill two large Touring mills, machine shops, foundry, woolen factory, supply build ing, church, school house, and nu- merous minor buildings. They esti- mate their property as worth about $735. .0OO.
 All are hard workers, and the women toll in the fields when necessary, just the same as the men. There is scarcely any thing to distinguish MT. Alderman from the other elder members. He is now seventy-four years old, hale and hearty, and seemingly likely to see the nineties. He serves as cashier to the community in addition to his trusteeship. His asso- ciates as trustees are John G. Ruof, aged seventy, and Samuel Harr, aged seventy-six. I asked prominent in- habitant of Zoar what he thought of the prospects in the outside world from the city d1safected communistic stand point.
 CT know of no such communism, '' said he "our's is not like that"
 The man was accustomed to reading a l daily paper, and seemed we'll informed on current topics. Tramps who perambul.tte through the Tuscarawas Valley admire Zoar, how ever, to such an extent that they are proving genuine nuisance to the worthy Germans. The reason of this liking is that they are well treated, and are per mitted to occupy good-sized building set apart for doubtful strangers.