The Labor enquirer., 1886-05-01

cumulate, are used in production, be-
cause the colonists using ''units of a.
counts" or credits on the books, will not
be required to draw out their finds-the
stores and farms of the colony supplying
all their wants which can be paid for by
the units of account" or by the credits
and debts On the books Of the company.
If lands could e had free, the colo
nlsts could also have their lot interests
free, but we must pay something to get
out of our present system. After the lot
interest is first paid, then pure Socialism
will be maintained in free lands. If it
is reasonable to purchase land to start
with, it is also reasonable to pay a per-
centage for the services and opportuni-
ties of getting that land or those lot in
terests cheap. Those two things being
done, the colonists cut away from the
old system, and thereafter no ownership
in lands within the colony and among
them is recognized, and no rents or other
imposts are imposed.
1t is confidently expected that upon
exports or sales outside the colony there
will be profits. These profits must be
divided between the colonists bv a fair
proportion. If they are 10, Is or 20 per
cent, it would make no difference, and if
they were called interest instead of div
idends they would be none the less
proper. Socialism does not contemplate
that every mans property shall be equal
and with present conditions something
must be allowed for capital. In our
colony we invite it to limited extent
in order to give work and wages to the
poor man, for if one man brings in $l0,-
900 his capital will supply work and
wages for nine poor men, and no man
will in these times bring in his $4,000
and allow others opportunities of max
ing good wageseut of it without his re-
ceiving something for the use of his
money. So that, to start with, colonlsts
mu pay something for money the anne
as for land. After their labor has pro-
duced their own capital 1t will not be
necessary to pay for capital. By such
methods, in every particular, we propose
to work out of the present system into
the new, but we must first pay to get
out. 1t is better to pay to get out than
to pay all to stav out or wait an in
definite period for the universal change.
'Zene" further says that the wealth
of the world does not increase 10 per
cent. That is because of the great losses
and frictlons under present systems.
The net profits of the 1850 cooperative
societies and colonies in the United
States made last year 26 per cent on the
entire capital invested, i. e. S1O,5OO,OOO,
on their aggregated capital of S3S, 100000.
We are quite certain that our colony can
make at least 10 per cent net. But our
policy will be to paw as large wages as
possible, so that the colonists will be Sc
cured, as they work, in good share of
the profits and thus allow the poorest
good chance to rise, whilst dividends on
stock will never be allowed more than
the legal rate fixed by our states, that
ueing considered maximum measure.
We expect it will not be long before that
will be reduced to per cent. But says
Zeno," "Why is interest not allowed on
lot interestsW Simply because the lot
interest paving no rent can never pro-
duce any diyiden |. The cOlonist gets
most of that back, too, after he has got
the equivalent of the money be paid, i. e.
the right to live on ii as his home, which
he could not get anywhere under pres
ent conditions without paving for, and
not without paying much larger price,
with the burdens oftaxes and other i'm
posts and with as much chance of its
faIli as rising in value.
"Zeno" further says, memember will
earn 81 900 and spend but SlOO. How
long can body of people operate upon
that basis Now where will the demand
come from if each spends but 500 for
the products of the rest. The amount
may be large and the price
small, each colonist paying only cost
price, and the colony without a doubt
will make large profits from outside
sales. The cooperative method being
more economical, they can successfully
compete with the outside and thus make
unlimited demands and our colony has
gooI markets on every hand, and near
it. Th4 wealth or increase of means
thus earned by colonists are used for
more industries and better advantages
for profits for all the colonists. 1t must
not ne forgotten that the very act of
coming together and establishing indus
tries and the like will Immediately Gre
ate large wealth, which will make
surplus not actually put in Dy colonlsts,
for the colony to commence with.
The best fnanciers have found that
1000 settlers permanently located on
1000 acres of land make that land worth
$1,OO0,OO0. Yet We may g that land
for few hundred dollars. Our theory
is, that land has no value Gin money at
least), but that being its nominal value
shows that the value has accrued some
Where-that il really exists, and 1t makes
no difference to Us where we are to look
for it, so long as it has actually accrued.
Our bylaws have not yet been
adopted. They will be, after incorpora-
ton by the coIonists, and everything
will be controlled by the bylaws and
not by the officers. This colony has not
been started by capital nor capitaliststs
nor by the owner of any land 1t will
be entirely controlled by those who will
Lool their means and industry. We
originators only desire that the princl-
ples shall be as purely Socialistic as pos