Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-12-04
KAWEAH COLONY.
Results of Three Years. work by a
Socialist Colony.

Socialist Colony.
Most residents OF this county have
known that colony of socialists have
been established in the Sierra Nevada
mountains, on the Upper Kaweah, and
had secured foothold in the Giant for
est, but the progress they have made
what they propose to do, and thelr
methods are understood by few.
The colony at present consists OF about
seventy-five persons, but is growing.
Some of them have been on the site three
years or more, all living in tents made
by stretching canvas over frames, with
double roofs and walls, which, added to
carpets, big stoves, and the usual COM
forts of more pretsntious houses, make
the cloth structures quite comfortable
even in the SHOWS of a mountain winter.
These tents are LAID of in streets, water
is piped in, and ether conveniences are
provided.
They have some flats of meadow land
on which vageta bles enough to meet the
needs of the community are raised, and
the general idea is to spread out in fruit
and other products, as well as various
lines of manufacture, until the colony
produces about all it will requir6.
Tue schems> also involves the operation
of valley farms. Thus far they have con-
fined their efforts to the building of
road, said by outsiders TO be the best
thoroughfare yet constructed into the
mountains. Difficulties have not been
evaded, but the grade has been followed
wherever it led. Blasting has been done
in places where man could not get
foothold to drill, being let down with
ropes. This will be q toll road.
The society has written bylaws for it's
government, but countenance neither
churches nor saloons. The immediate
administration of affairs is vested in
board of trustees, with superintendent
for each department of labor. Whenever
q new member is admitted he is put
ut the work he is used to, and all are
paid alike, viz, thirty cents an hour. A
days work is limited to eight hours,
although new member may work any
time less than this or none at all if he so
elect. All work is paid for in scrip issued
by the trustees, good for supplies or any
thing among members-in fact, legal
tender.
1t is thought that this scrip will be
made to circulate among outsiders in
time by placing premium on it in ex-
change for anything the colony may pro-
duce. At present it is kept at home.
These people believe in neither interest
nor profit, all articles being handled at
cost.
Now, while the colony is getting upon
it's feet, it derives support from member.
ship fees. A paid-up membership costs
$500 made up in monthly installments OF
S. each. When 500 is paid in, the |
member is entitled to move into the |
colony and 60 to work. There are many
persons in this State, and even far East, |
who are paying up memberships with |
the expectation of some day join |
ing the colony. This is true of |
professional men who are not up to |
road building, but are waiting until the |
colony grows to need their services, when
they will be ready to serve at thirty |
cents an hour. Any member may with |
draw at any time, if he becomes dissat- |
isfied, and receive his full dividend be- |
sides what he paid in. In joining one |
must be recommended by two members |
as of good repute. The colony is now
mostly American, with a scattering OF |
Germans and Swedes.
A reserve fund is maintained to pay
any who may wish to sever their con-
nection with the organization. Then,
whenever there is surplus, dividend
is declared, this being based upon the |
time checks or scrip each holds. This is |
where the joke comes in on those who !
have lolled in the shade rather than |
work.
These dividends become private prop
erty, as we understand it, and may be
80 handled or turned into any of |
the enterprises under way. The pri-
vate property in the colony, however,
must be confined to a house, lot and |
personal effects. The timber lands, If
title is secured as expected, while they |
must be taken up in severalty, will be !
turned in and owned in common. Tu- |
lare (Cal.) Register.