Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-06-21
THE Z0ARlTES.
An Account of One of the Most Singh
lar Places and People in America,
Home Manufacture and No Reduction
Ofthe Revenue Is the M0tt0S0f the
ZOariteS.
zoar CoJ Correspondents worchester Spy.

Zoar (O) Correspondence Worcester Spy.
This settlement of German mystics
and communists, holding all property
absolutely In common, is a complete lit
tie kingdom in itself. The Zoarites OWE
1000 acres of land in one tract, OF which
half Is under cultivation, while the re-
mainder is heavily timbere4 with valuable
walnut, OAK and pine trees. Their
original purchase here was 10000 acres,
but 5000 have been sold from time to
time at great advance over first cost.
Every article, implement or machine
that is used, wrought with, eaten, drunk
or worn by the Zoarites is produced in
Zoar, as are also the materials of which
If is composed. The only exceptions to
this rule are coffee, tea, sugar and spices.
The shoes the Zoarites wear are made by
their own tanners from hides taken from
their own cattle. The coal that warns
them and cooks their food is dug in their
own mines and is burned in stoves cast
in the1r own foundry, from iron snelted
in their own furnaces, from ore found in
abundance on their own lands. The
clothing that covers them is made by
their own tailors, from cloth woven in
their own sheep. The beer they drinI, is
brewed in their own brewery, from malt
made by their own MASTERS and hops
grown on their own lands.
All manufacturing in Zoar is done by
water power. Steam is scarcely used at
all. The Tuscarawas River, by means of
dams, is made to flow with sufficient
swiftness and volume to supply thirty or
forty horsepower to each of the Zoarite
manufactures. Nearly ell the machinery
used was made in Zoar by ZoarIte me-
chanics. One of their principal products
is -four, of which after supplying their
own wants, they ship large quantities to
Pittsburg, Cleveland, Washington and
Baltimore. One of the chief places of
interest in Zoar is the great collection of
barns. in which the milk cattle are kept
A considerable portion of the Zoarites
wealth is invested in live stock, and they
have devoted much attention to determ-
lining what are really the best breeds.
They have experimental largely with the
Holstein, the Jersey, the Alderney and the
Durham, and are now inclined to favor
the last named. though all four varieties
are well represented in the herds. Every
sanitary and convenient device that mod
ern ingenuity has been able to suggest is
utilized in the construction of these COW
stables. The stalls extend in long rows
on either side of broad aisle, and the
conditions for light and ventilation are
of the most favorable kind. Already the
cows are out at pasture, and it is rare
sight to see the mild-faced, patient crea
lures come filing in at eventide in
seemingly interminable procession, each
one knowing her accustomed place, and
going voluntarily to it without the slight
est disturbance or confusion.
On the morning and evening of each
day all the young women in Zoar repair,
in merry procession, to these barns and
milk the COWS. As members of Congress
sometimes are for a much less useful pur
pose, the girls are paired and to each
two are assigned to eight COWS, which they
must always milk. Fancy more than
thirty buxom young milkmaids, with the
good looks which are the offs pring of
good health, outdoor exercises and good
diet, sparkling in their eyes, lips and
checks. Each one is tastefully dressed in
we'll fitting chintz or calico, and wears a
white apron, which, like everything else
about these attractive young women, IS
scrupulously neat ana clean. The girls
have the privilege of naming the COWS
assigned to them, and the name of each
COW is painted over her stall. These
names show that there is trace OF the
romantic in the minds of the young
women of Zoar, boVines rejoioing in such
faneiful appellations as Lily, Maud,
Ethel, etc.
Another place in which to see the
Zoarites young woman TO advantage is the
bakery, where all the bread and pies for
the entire community are baked fresh
every morning. From IS TO 100 loaves
comprise the average daily consumption
of the town. The baking is done by men,
but each household sends its young wo-
men to the bakery to procure its supply
of daily bread and carry it home wrapp-
ed in q large, spOJless white cloth which
each damsel carries with her.
Besides these quaint professions of
young women TO the COW stables and the
bakery, there is another similar one to be
seen in Zoar on every pleasant day. That
is procession of girls ranging from to
13 years, drawing Ill an old fashioned
baby carriage younger brother Or sister
for an airing. AS all property in Zoar is
held il common, SO the Zoarites share
equally and participate together in all
their pleasure and duties, "aired" stimuli
taneoUsly in long drawn out procession.
For the pleasure of the members of the
society and their visitors a public gar
den and greenhouse are maintained in
Zoar. Both are of considerable extent
and would be highly creditable to any
large city. The garden is tastefuly laid
out and contains some noble trees and
elegant shrubbery. A large and delight
fully cool arbor in the center is entirely
conceded by the latter. The greenhouse
boasts a fine collection of choice plants
and flowers. There is no prohibitory
"No admittance" or Glands off, on any
thing, and every one is free to enter at
all times and roam about st will From
the garden and greenhouse it is bot few
steps to the picnic ground, grove of
grand old forest trees, IN which the Zsar-
ties have placed swings aud covered
dancing platform for the enjoyment of
their younger visitors, who, in summer
time, come in large numbers from sur
rounding cities and towns ae well az from
the adjacent country and picnic here on
two or three days OF almost every week.
THE IVDIAN DOCT0R