St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-19
COOPERATIVE LABOR.
How the COopers' Association
Started and Struggled on
TO Success.

To success.
The most striking illustrations of co-ope-
rative labor in Minnesota are found in the
Coopers' Cooperative associations of Min
neapOlis. These companies are, in fact, the
pioneer cooperative institutions of the
state, and the manner of conducting their
business and the efficiency they have at
tanned entitle them to the position of first
in the column of successful labor enterprises
in the Northwest.
The first effort made in cooperative
coopering was in the fall of 1868, when four
jOumeymen cOOpers, consisting of c. w.
Curtis, Joseph Combs, William Reeves and
G.. w. Sargent, rented a shop and started
the experiment. Being without capital and
owing TO the dull times and strong cOmpe-
titiOn Of boss cOoperS, who thought they
saw in this infantile institution an intru-
sion upon the prerogative of capital, this
organization only existed about three
months when it was sold out and the men
! went back to Jour work. again; but it had
been in operation long enough to convince
at least one mind in the quartet that it was,
if organized and placed upon an extensive
scale, the best and only way for labor to
compel capital to give them their just de-
serts.
The next effort was made in the spring of
1870 and was also started by quartet of
four consisting Of c. w. Curtis, F. L.
Batcheder. l.. StOker and Frank Stoser,
and was also without organization by law,
but was conducted successfully for the
period of nine months when a difficulty
arising from the aspiring ambition of one
of the party. it was disbanded as coop
erative concern and became private enter
prise.
In the fall Of 1874 the corner stone of the
present cooperative structure was laid
Past experience had shown that in order to
give stability and permanency to an inSti-
tuition of this nature it was necessary TO or
ganiZe under the laws of the state. c. w
Curtis. F. L. Batchelder, 2. j. Kenney.
Hall Roberts and j. W. Overacker became
the incorporators and company of sixteen
was formed. under the name of the Mime
| apolis Cooperative Barrel company, and
commenced business in the old Mayo shops,
corner of Ninth avenue south and Third
street.
Charles 4. PillSbury Il Co. were the first
millerS I o patronize and give encourage
ment TO the enterprise, and the result must
be a matter of pride to them. In the spring
! of 1915 the company was enlarged to twenty
3
them, at the corner of Sixth street and
eleventh avenue south. was bought. and
the enterprise was placed upon a good finan-
cial and commercial foundation. This
| company has continually increased until to-
| day it has 123 members and paid up CAPT
! tai of about $50. 000
/ The next shop was started about two
! years later, principally by members of the
/ old shop. who had withdrawn for that pur-
/ pose and was named the The North Star
/ Barrel company" This company had a
/ series of miSfortunes that would have dis
I couraged the most persistent capitalist
I caused principally by the destruction by
/ fire of mills they were furnishing; and
( showed COncluSively that the material these
| companies were composed of was OF the
/ STAYING kind" But it soon outgrew
/ these miSfortuneS and now numbers seventy
/ five members with a capital Of $40. COO
! and is now engaged in putting in machinery
which will double its capacity. The Hen
nepin County Barrel company. the North
western Barrel company and the Phoenix
Barrel company soon after were organized
and these I'VE companies now WELD a pow
erful influence upon the cOOper2ge business
of the city. They pay dividends Semi-an-
pually upon the amount Of labor performed
b. each member, and not upon tine capital
! invested: each member SubScribeS equally
for stock. which IS pSid for by weekly as
! SeSSmentS of from 81 to -. when hav-
ing full work. and by these small savings
has grown 4 capital sufficient 10 conduct.
upon a cash basis. one OF the leading man
| ufScturing businesses of the Flour city.
| They avoid strikes. which in the older
! time were the rule instead of. as now. the
=
! barrels during 4 slack time save To the Ia
| bOreT many hours of what would otherwise
| be lost time. They teach thrift. economy
and business knowledge, and many q cooper
/ whom the writer believeS would still be Iiy-
4 ing from hand TO MOUTH has. through
| cooperation. become possessed of home
and enough wealth TO tide himself and fam
! ily over many wet dSy. And above all Il
/ has taught the world that in the laboring
7 classes Is found large percentage OF that
I indomitable pluck that eonqueTS all obsta-
( Giles and elevateS from the wase-wOrker 10
Z business circles q trueT, better and more