The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-01-22
PRACTICAL SOCIALISM.
LIFE IN THE AmAYA COLONY.
Seven Cooperative vinsees-AN the People
8ermsns-A Community. Not . j clint stock
Enterprise- Eighteen Hundred Menbers
and About Two Hundred Hired Hands.


and About Two Hundred Hired Hsnds.
Prom tie Cndutauquan
Ihe Amana community occupies an irreg-
ularly bounded tract OF land ten or welv miles
long and five or six miles wide. containing
about $4,000 acres, and lying on the limo OF the
Chicago. Rock Island, and Pacific Railway.
principally In Iowa county, Iowa. at . point
about midway between Davenport and Des
Moines. The people are Germans. They same
to America In 1S42 and acquired a tract OF land
near Buffalo, N. Y, which they called Eben-
Ezer. They are known as Inspirationists, hav-
Ing come from a peculiar sect which originated
in Germany early in the last century and which
has much in common with the Quakers. They
believe in the continuance OF direct inspiration.
and have generally possessed q religious head
whose utterances were believed to be those Of
an inspired instrument.
In Germany they did not attempt communal
life, but after coming to this country they were
directed by inspiration to have all things in
common. Their land at Eben- Ezer was a track
t Il ftSu n siGSs a sinss ., Tdh s4m came s,c from a the
brought with them much skill in certain kinds
of manufacture. In order that the immigrants
toned to do and still remain ttoogether. . CO.
operative organization became a practical. ne
was wash he boz BOND is that fe hsid tbe S1n tosetser wa as q
tGbs s eomm reo |s,1c made made i, ea : to s;npe 5I1I tSs
cooperative organization Of production. Every
stceE.. IN sums ranging rom from $4,000 to sso.ooo.
allowed to work in Tie wooiien factory and the
various shops. The society prospered steadily.
and that It would Giif be sI proftable 't to sell Fl the uss vaiu.
nnlS tract Tract near Buffalo z and ACQUIRE, d9SeEn,
gradual migration. TO Iowa began. an excel
lent location on tho Iowa River having been
COLONY has been aytpp1a1 nv purChQS e until IL
nov includes rs 900 acres.
. The present popplatlon Of ,Amena is about
their families, while more than 1900 are mem
bers OF the society. For the sake Of convenient
seven villages. For Convenience ii admins
t%ration all Of the villages. and nearly ali OF the
in one civil toSwnshi Ie''s Tie villa Villages Ussn ri fdI' their
a msm as foIInRRsp: opHn mana h Siyeph s apparo man. Tx:
Amana, go, South Amana. 200; and Home
stead, $50. From the east to the west village
q station on the Rock Island road. -Amana Iyll-
lage| is on q new division Of the Chicaco, Mil
two village centres a mile apart, one being on
the Rock Island md the other on the MiIyau-
good wagon roads and BY telephone lines.
tinberiand. Each village has ASSIGNED to It a
The village is a social and Industrial unit. for
al ordinary pu ! The ! colony as 2 whole
whom Amana. as the largest village and head
quarters Of the colony, chooses three. while two
Villages sleef two each a"f = This Board manaees
all the general affairs Of The colony, Each sep
the number varying from seven in the smallest
elders have spiritual as well as temporal fpnc-
the inspired spiritual head Of the colony. Va.
cancies are now filed by the Central Board Of
The elders order the industry of the village,
anpointing the loremen and designating the
preferences so far as possible. The Village
work seems to proceed smoothly and harponi-
store. the small farming village Of East Amans
general retail establishment, with q stock Of
groceries. dry goods. clothing. hats and caps.
ciaborate. Except in dealings With o1atsiderss.
the colonists do not ordinarily use money.
wSfoS hre lt is d st The e' story c systff% Ro q bls sisSnnts
shop and, the carpenter shop have accounts
4 pssj"ss, The sn farm ar y aifpsstp ps5t;s, Which EH.r r. 3. AMI
store. At the beginning Of, each year certain
village elders. and purchases against those
credits are made at the store. -
All members take meals ut village boarding
These boarding houses maintain each their
the s tM'e'; WIFI ftS d S%ne'tfs from VIII the e eolony!s m liH%
and with meat from the village butcher shop.
The villages are rather compactly built, with
large. plain houses OF wood. stone, or brick, the
family is assigned its house room BY, the village
s fhan one H family s0us fsss are are 9e Slthsat ey mems I
and dining rooms; a boarding house being at
The stores are Vol stocked and ad mlrably
managed. They have a very large outside
n miies to ST.. fnrm thsfs p pItsn fsn 10 atb for c tT]sn,yS
and to buy their supplies from their fair deal
iHG store kee rha s at Am a, lnn South b Amana. or
a stock OF goods worth not less than $4,000.
and its annual trade is very large,
is as perfect as that Of tho best-manaeed
banks; 1t shows precisely what, in all direc-
exactly what amount Of its own productions L
has consumed. lust what has been sold to the
other villages Or marketed outside, the colony.
loss has been. At Amsna The central books Of
different villages are periodically cleared. Tho
trustees are enabled thus to consider every
balances betTeen the villages are not. 81
e So sns 3, actually ast ayd RWs as; m The m far, ling IL : s vi
tered from . bad crop season orfrom cattle dis
s s%S's, ' Ei;Iss sxe g; A%%ss vi S5'} S, E$s m $%a e:
with two great woollen mills and the cotton
print factory, may have made money hand;
fortho w;hoie colony. The System Of village in
dustry only exists for convenience In organiza-
tion; and no village suffers detriment or disad-
vantage from the, fact that its resources may
not be so productive as those of other villages.
Perhaps a further word should be said as to
tbs, method Of distribution among families and
individuals. First, the village elders provide
shelter for all. taking account Of the size and
condition Of families, and showing the utmost
regard for tho home sentiment and for reason
stir on moyins day. The simple furniture and
erty OF The families. The fruit Of the numerous
EraIeyines in the narrow dooryards and trel;
by the occupants and is not accounted for.
Besides furnishing shelter, the village pro-
yidcs excellent and abundant food for an in
the numerous boarding houses to which lam
lilies are assigned, In lieu Of clothing and sun.
dries, credits for fixed sums are allowed. and
each person, or family Is provided with a pass
book and allowed &c, purchase what he pleases
toms and religious principles OF. the village
prescribe q very simple and sombre garb. so
They vary In am2unt according to circqm-
" destrmctiNe Of clothing. and due racognitinn