The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-23
AN AMERICAN COMMUNE.
History and Habits Of tho Amana
Soctofy-A Peculiar Sect I'm Iowa.

as he announces " Homestead" Stopping,
and taking n lumber-wagon with spring
seats, In charge OF pleasant-faced man OF
evident Teutonic extraction, ride OF a
mile, across Iowa river, will land him In
the midst OF n curious people, with quaint
and strange surroundings. The Amana
Society Is the outgrowtb OF small band
OF people who came TO this country from
the north OF Germany in 1876. Their re-
ligion was one Of peace. Their govern
ment demanded OF every male person mill
tary service. This they refused to give.
They were then imprisoned and their pro-
perty sequestrated. About forty OF them
came to this country and settled near Bur
falo. n. ", but soon afterward removed
TO this spot and named It Amana, which
signifies "here we will resi-"
They purchased from the Government
whole township, six miles square,
through which runs Iowa river. one OF the
largest streams in the State. They per-
fectcd an organization OF the community
and gave il the name OF Amana Society,
which j. now incorporated under the laws
OF the State. All that each individual pos
sessed was consolidated into common pro-
perty. BY the terms OF the compact there
is no individual ownership OF anything,
The community is governed by president
and executive committee, elected by vote
Of the community. This committee has
general supervision OF all business OF the
Society: elects the superintendent OF the
various departments Of labor, and direc
all its affairs. The president is simply m
advisory officer and is selected for his age
and mature judgment. He presides at
meetings OF the executive committee.
Iowa river makes a large bend near the
eastern boundary Of the township. From
the eastern detection a canal about ten feet
wide was cut, five miles in length, through
the village 10 the western point OF dcfec-
ton. Along this canal are located the resi-
dence lots, each lot abutting on the canal.
The canal furnishes water for domestic use
and watering the gardens. Each family
has house for its own use, surrounded
with yards and a garden. The highest
cultivation is there attained OF vegetables
and fruit Of all kinds. Grapes are extern
sively grown. and palatable wine made from
them, each family making its own supply.
Large boarding-houses are provided in
each village (for there are now six
villages for the accommodation OF the I'M
married people. At these boarding. houses
also the entire people take their meals. No
cooking or general housekeeping is done at
the residences. There are appointed at
regular intervals persons TO perform the
various duties OF the Society: To oversee
the bOarding-hOuSes; TO do the work there
in, cooking, baking, laundry work, scrub
bling, carrying water, ETC.; some feed and
care for the poultry. swine, sheep, horse,
cattle. All the various kinds Of teamwork
are set of 10 different persons. so i'll the
mills, factories, and shops.
Just before meal hours man will come
to a clearinghouse with live poultry,
which is ut once taken and dressed; an
other will bring vegetables. another meat.
After each meal the garbage-man comes
around, and all refuse is carried away, fed
10 swine or put in the compost heap. Each
and every person has his or her allotted
work, and all move on in perfect system.
There are no dr0nes. There are large cot
ton and woollen-mills, q starch-factory,
and fruit-canning shops. The cotton goods
made are the best and most durable
10 be found i'm the United States,
and they get higher prices than
eastern manufacturers. They sell all they
can make TO retail dealers in this and adj
joining States, who have regular customers
for them. So OF their woollen goods, the
stamp OF the. Amana Society establishes
their quality. They are a thoroughly hon
est people. Whatever they do il well done.
They are slow and Flooding. They never
get in hurry. They retain many OF the
habits and customs Of Fatherland. The
older people still retain the quaint dress OF
theirancestOrs. The younger portion have
Americanized themselves.
They have good schools. and are thor
oughly educated. They print their own
books, and do the printing OF labels, cards.
and work necessary for their manufactured
articles. They make nearly everything
used by the Society, except farm imple-
ments.
They are very devout people. Their re-
ligion is similar to that OF the Quakers.
They do not accept the New Testament.
Marriage is divine institution with them.
In each village is a Westinghouse, where
religious service is held every day. About
IL O'Clock, when the church-bel rings, all
work stops, and the people go to church,
the men and women sitting apart. Service
is conducted by leader, but the speaking
Is done by different individuals, as the
spirit moves them. The marriage cere-
mony is conducted always at the church,
and is precisely like that OF the Quakers.
In politics their affiliations are with the
Republicans, though they seldom vote.
For national officers they vote with the
Republicans. For local county officers
they vote according to their views as TO
their best interests financially, and a. they
vote so goes the county. But no party or
clique can influence or control them.
As has been stated, they began few in
number and poor. Additions were made by
accretion, Whenever person desired to-
ioin the Society he had TO make formal APP
plication. 4 thorough investigation fol-
lowed OF the antecedents and character OF
the applicant. II accepted, he surrender
ed all he possessed by legal conveyance to
the Society. Should he become dissatisfied
and desire to leave he could 20, but take
nothing with him. Numerous applications
are made to unite with them every year,
but for several years all have been rejected,
as they have as large membership as they
desire. the population being about 1000.
The Society is immensely wealthy, and has
no need OF money.
At the beginning of each year a general
account of business is taken and a balance
sheet struck. To every person OF the So
ciety is set off a certain sum, such rs will
be necessary for his Use during the year.
In each village is general store where
supplies are kept. At these stores this
portion is credited to the families and in
dividuals, and whatever they get at the
store is charged at exact cost. Outsiders
have to pay good profit. When a man
dies who is the head OF family his affairs
are Immediately settled, and a new appor-
tIonment is made to the widow and placed
to her credit. ii orphan children are left
guardian is appointed, and he represents
the parents. The remainder of the profits
OF the years business after this apportion-
ment il made is invested in improvements.
At each village are immense barns and
sheds. where all hay and grain are stored,