The Cape Girardeau Democrat., 1894-05-26
a COOPERATIVE VILLAGE.
4 Little Municipality That Il Conducted
ON the Mutnal PLAN

= municipality Ahot SouupOboo
on the Mutual Plan.
A few miles from Dnnlsirk, In France,
there exists a village inhabited by fish
ermen and seafaring men where, since
The year 1910. a syndicate has been in
existence, says Edward Bellaiuy. and
where as birthright an equal share Of
land is conferred on each member Of
the community.
When Dunkirk was sold to the French
BY Charles II. Louis XIV. resolved on
forming in the neighborhood of Dun
tirk community of French-spenkirs
sailors, with a view Of imp,anting the
language, as also of reserving for state
service a nucleus of trustworthy
seamen. He accordingly appealed
10 his subjects, and in 1879
four families-namely, the Benards
Everats, Zoonekent and Goden,
natives of Cueq in Picardy-
offered their services to the king, who
granted them for their own use and
tho. CT their descendants some three
hundred acres of land situated at For4
Mardyck. These men entered into pos
session of the land on the understand
ing that they were bound to submit to
maritime conscription and to exercise
the profession of sailor.
The land is divided into two lots. one
of which is let TO agriculturiSts. the
rent being appropriated to fund for
the payment of the state taxes and for
the distribution of relief to meIT:hers Of
the community standing in need of as
sistance The remaining p nrtioa of the
land is allotted to the inhabitants ct
Fort Mardycls, each one receiving at
the time Of his or her marriage aboat
half an acre. Under no circumstances
may the Fort Mardyck native resign
his ownership. lie may secure II ten
ant for his share of the land, hut no
further transfer is permitted.
This rule, which, unlike others. is
marked by no exceptions. has proved
instrumental IN inducing the villagers
! to marry early in life. Their field in
variably produces moro vegetables than
they require for their own maintenance,
and they are, therefore, enabled to de-
rive fair profit from the sale of the
extra supply. Moreover. while her hrs
band is away at sea, the Fort Mardyck
woman does not depend for her sup
port on his wages She is able TO sub
sist on the produce of the land, and
when the man returns his pay is intact
The Fort MaSdyck sailor very soon
manages to build his cottage, and whe n
this is accomplished he ia practically
secure from want for life. Should he
have been unable to save enough money
for his old age he is maintained by the
commo fund. On visiting the village
I called on the mayor of the little re-
public, where political squabbles are
unknown, and was supplied by his
magistrate with tho following inforina.
tion:
"Our village num5ers eevertecn HUN
affairs and defray our own expenses
| We bullt orr public schools hy sub
scriptions and am sure we Lave never
/ cost the state Z sou. We are very
! healthy people here. We marry cary
and lead regular lives Families of ten
or twelve children are by no means
rare. At This rate onr population
doubles in thirty years. | suppose that
eventually we shall be competed to di-
mirish our allctmeEts, as we aTe
hrmmed in on all sides by the neigh
boring villages. Besides, | am sure the
state will not give US any more land.
I'VE have no paupers. of course
there are few Old people who are
needy. But as they have their cot
.agcs and fields small subsidy from
the common fund keeps them very COM
fortably. Tou see, oar people can not
sell their land, ard 50. even if they are
lmprovIdent, our rules prevent them
from rushing - ruin. ."-Chicago Times