The morning call., 1894-12-31
The New Settlement Near
Santa Rosa.
GIVES PROMISE OF SUCCESS.
Intentions and Beliefs of the
Colonists.
STRIVING TO REALIZE IDEALS.
Possibilities of the Place-A Hotel
TO Be Built and Industries
Started.
TO REALIZE IDEALS.

Up near Santa Rosa is the very interest
ing colony of Altruria, settlement OF peo-
pie who, while they have not entirely re-
nounced the world, have collected in
pretty place of their own. where, Cnmo-
lesled by the cares. ambitions and accom-
panying ills Of everyday life. they can
labor together toward attaining their
ideals.
They all belieVe in the same thing and
have taken the same method of getting
other people 70 agree with them. That
plan is the present experiment Of the Cali
fornia Altruria, which has been in exist
ence for several months past
While it is an ideal settlement founded
on the hope of attaining an ideal and
conducted according 10 this idea. the cold.
bloodless world on the outside must not
for an Instant think that all practical
matters are renowned by the members of
Altruria. These reformers are going to
use exactly the same methods toward OBJ
tanning the material for carrying their
experiment to a successful issue that they
discourage in the outside world. This Is
competition.
II Is the intention of these Altrurians to
build I'D as many industries IN their SET
Element as will pay, and the products of
these Industries are TO be solo In any mar
ket where the best price can be obtained.
The reason they are not content to raise
Just enough for their own existence is that
they desire to get the means which will
enable them 10 disseminate the ideas of
this Altruria, and so gain strength for L..
At present the society owns 200 acres
about five miles from Santa Rosa. Some
of this land is leased, and the control of
the property will not pass entirely into the
Of he for q
yet. There are already over thirty people
10 the settlement.
Edward B. Payne, the president of the
organ cation. stated yesterday that new
possibilities are presenting themselves
constantly, and it is difficult al present to
start in with their development. The
colony now has, he said, one of the finest
truck gardens in the country, capable of
supplying several thousand persons. 1t is
fully two weeks ahead of all The other
gardens in that section. About half of
the land can be cultivated, while the bal
anee, which is bill country, will be utilized
for graz ng purposes. Ow 1g TO the rather
small number on the grounds the work of
cultivation is progressing rather tardily.
For the past two or three weeks the men
have been busy shifting the channel of the
Mark West Creek, that runs through the
calony's lands. Their purpose is to pro-
coed with the developing of level vein of
value. Already some of the residents OF
the colony burn the Outcroppings of the
vein for fuel, and If the deposit is worth
anything the success of the settlement
seems assured.
From the creek. 1t has been estimated,
over I00-horse power can be obtained at
any time during the year, and by storing
the water this can be increased TO between
200 and 800 horse power.
A printing plant has been sent to Al
truria within The past week, and as a prac-
teal printer is among the number of set
Ilers, he can get Out the weekly journal in
the place. AT present little paper is is
sued by the members of the colony and
their sympatniZers, and they are greatly
pleased with the progress it has been
making. All the contributions are v0lun-
tarv, and there has not, thus far, been any
scarcity of matter Of course, the editors
are troubled with the irrepressible poet
(Shere never was one who WASN'T, and
many are the illusions that are put to
sleep in the waste-basket. All of these
contributors give the necessary fraternal
cooperative cOlOring to their flights, and
for once in history the license OF the poet
is prescribed. AMI ''gentle spring" takes a
back seat.
1t is desired by those in charge of
the paper to have the profits divided
among the contributors, whether or not
they are members OF the colony. Mean
while many excellent articles are being re-
ceived and printed in the Altrurian.
Naturally the extent of the industries
is limited by the number of trades repre-
sentsd in the colony. At present black
smith and storekeeper are necessary, and
with the increase of the colony there will
be other occupations represented.
When the officers secure sufficient money
they propose erecting hotel. which will
be open the year round. Many of the
members of the various lodges have ex-
pressed a desire to go and observe the
workings of the colony, and IL this build
ing can be put up rush from The outside
world will be the probable result.
Mr.. Payne said that be did not know
whether this pilgrimage would result
similarly to the Chautauqua meetings OIL
not. There was probability, he thought
of this means being taken of dissemina tins
the ideas of altruism.
He stated further that this is a secre,
organization, the oath being taken to bind
the members more closely.
His attention was called TO the recent
encyclicaI issued by the Pope against GER
tain fraterDal and secret organizations
and he was asked if similar action nigh
not also be taken against altIusm. He
replied IN the negative, saying there was
nothing in the society that could arouse
the dispieasure of the church.
The members of the colony observed
Christmas very much as the rest of the
world does, with the tree and the distribu.
ton of presents. The new year will also
probably be heralded to Altrulsts Just a:
IL is with their less humane brothers, with
renewed promises 10 act hunOrably toward
all mankind and swearing off" on gen.
eral principles.