Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-09-05
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
HON. Ii WORKS.
Cooperation and Single Tax In "a Michigaa


Town.
Several years ago in Copperdale, Mich,
a prospector found paying lead of ore.
He was an intelligent, honest man, who
rather disliked the idea Of selling out
his claim to u company Of capitalists
who would thenceforth monopolize the
whole locality and rule labor through
its power as lord of all the land ad ia-
cent to the place Of work.
He was familiar with the single tax.
and also had just learned OF the peoples
cooperative banks. Therefore, instead
of going in search Of capitalists to buy
out his claim, he began correspond
ence with all the honest, sturdy work.
ingmen, like himself, that he knew. 1t
was not long till several hundred men
we're on the spot Each had brought q
little money-the savings Of several
years Together they had capital Of
about SO, 900. They formed themselves
into a cooperative company with cap
ital stock of 800 shares OF 500 each, or
$50, 900. Two hundred shares were is
sued, one each to the men on the spot,
to be paid for by instalments. The 9TH
er one hundred shares were held in the
treasury Of the company, to be issued
one each to any newcoming worker
whose help they might require. They
nearly all opposed the idea of iva
tering' the stock, as few proposed
to do.
Mining operations now began. With
but crude methods they were able to Sc
cure ore near the surface, which was
70 irh i,h 10
at the average rate of SO per day. As
soon as the work was inaugurated
the company selected one Of their num-
Der to go to the city to find market for
their product. simultaneously teams
were secured and the ore hauled to the
nearest railway station. Not having to
divide their wages (the equivalent Of
the product Of their labor with employ
ers or capitalists, they could afford to
sell their ore at a little less than the
market price, and found an immediate
market for all they could ship.
The company established reserve
fund, paying out in wages only So. so per
day. BY mutual consent the balance of
their earnings was reserved to establish
fund to purchase all the necessary
plant of machinery to operate mines.
Not many months past until the outside,
world had heard of this find" of copper
and population began to pour in. All
the land adjacent to that claimed by
members of the cooperative company
was readily taken up, and the town Of
Copperdale was founded with popula-
ton of 5000 adults. Several hundred of
these were allowed to take shares in the
company and assisted in the mining
operations. The rest Of the population
divided itself into the various channels
usually found in such a town, and
among them were not few buns and
spectators, who had come in hopes oil
being able to capture some opportunity
which others would pay them we'll to
relinquish. A social order society dis
posed Of the former as quickly as could
be humanely done; they were told to
either show evidence of self-support or
depart. The spectators had soon
staked out city, and wild
game of speculation in parcels of
land was in progress within three
months. The town had meantime
been incorporated according to the prev
alent ideas of social economy. All i'm
proved lands and lots were to be taxed
about five times as high as lots held on
speculation which were equally valu-
able. The discoverer of the mine who,
beside being the hero because of his
discovery, had won the hearts of the
people by his brotherly dealing in form
ing the cooperative company,
was single tax man, and SO were quite
number of his associates. He was
chosen mayor OF the town, and his sim
gle tax friends formed majority of the
board of aldermen. The result was that
lands of equal value were appraised and
assessed alike, and had to pay the same
tax. At first the land spectators were
dismayed. Then they considered the
matter, and finding population which
was in need of all kinds of good build
ings they concluded forthwith to improve
build upon) their lands. Thus capital
was forced to cooperate on an equality
with labor IN building the town, and
the result was that five houses were
built where otherwise only one would
have been erected. Consequently every
one who wanted work found all he could
busy, and instead of man paying 5000
year rent for lot with a shanty
thrown in" he got a neat comfortab BILE
cottage with garden patch and lawn
thrown in for the same money; for no
one was anxious to hold land at too
high value, but each sought to make
money by furnishing desirable homes.
A national bank was little later es-
tablished, but abandoned for lack Of
depositors.
The people had established a co-opera-
tive bank, which, though still refused
the function of issuing currency, was al
lowed to receive deposits and loan mon
ely. Its officers consisted of the fore
most men of the town, so that the peo-
pie had every confidence in it and pa
tronized it as depositors and borrowers.
Whenever any one desired loan he
would write the president Of the bank,
making an offer. If this was not ac-
cepted he was invited to come to the
bank on the following Wednesday and
there openly bid for the desired loan
against others who wanted loans. In
consequence OF this equal access to mon
ey every workingman in TIE place (they
were now all workers in one way or an
other-even the spectators were work
ing) either bought his home or started
business or trade OF his own. But a
few months later, after the first great
wave of excitement had subsidized, the
people began to think of their spiritual
welfare. A meeting was held at which
1t was decided to build a church co-ope-