The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-05
rBR ExfERrNKNr o. GO orEnl rror
re Ne Trtss ~ Rresklyr - etsres-Ce-
operative Csionies FroRasea.

operative Csio-tes Proposes.
One result Of the hard times has been the
increased interest taken in cooperative stores
and similar enterprises. Quite number have
been started in the past three months in Mas
sachusstts. Connecticut. Illinois. and Mich
iRan. All Of these have been created and are
conducted more or less after the lines Of the
hochdale system.
The latest experiment in this direction Is now
being tried in Brooklyn. The organizers are
well-to-d do people, who have made cooperative
enterprises a special study for many years.
Among them are Mrs DIR. Lyons. Mr.. Thsodors
Atworth. Mrs. Imogene C. Fales. Prof Bisrrs-
gard, Mr.. Joseph La Fumee. Mira A. Sabine.
Mr. Scrimshaw, and Mr. Salmond. They have
raised q fund and are now looking for site.
One OF the officers said Yesterday:
While we propose trying this experlmen emit
az a m after OF principle, we look forward to its
superior economy to make 1t popular with the
general public. We find that by combining
the custom Of q number OF families. say not
less than fifty. we can save from six to thirty
per cent. upon the amount OF our purchases.
The largest saving is upon perishable goods.
such ms fruits. fish. and meats. The smallest
is upon articles like sugar. -four. and coffee.
whore competition has kent the marginal
profit down to the nnrrowest limits At the
beginning We exneet the saving Of about six
per cent; This s vii be credited to me pnr,
would produce sill at the end OF q halt year.
purchase OF shares OF stock in the enterprise.
or would be paid over to. the buyer. In the
stockholder In the corporation without paying
single penny Tor It's shares. In the lat.
ter s II would saving St at
trouble. We propose starting the fret store In
the Eastern District Of Brooslyn. and are now
rra L. NNar ant NAN hA
site and tho selection Of employees. We have
a general charter for the Soclologio society.
Incorporates the enterprise 80 as to preventany
the parent society. whose object 10 the ditIu-
sion ofthe knowledge OF coo perative princi ples.
In the western district Of Brooklyn aud in
New York we will adopt somewhat different
from twenty-five to nifty families. who will
elect their own committee. and either appoint
one one Of the number their pn[enssidng agent or
antesd by the society. Tho purchasing agent
Will call and receive the orders every day. and
other stores as will give the largest discount
for obtaining the custom OF this cooperative
seen already. and all have expressed a
Willingness 10 aid US in our endea..
View % the say % Soeet
ing tradssmen's bills several large dealers
have been SO pleased with the idea OF being
have expressed their wish to give an extra
discount for the trade we will bring
In the beginning OF tho experlm ont the
system will inure to the advantage Of the we'll
to do rather than the poor. IL is only by the
establishment OF n cooperative store similar
to those that flourish in England and Germs any
that the system can he utilized by mechanics.
G erks. and people whose incomes are less
than "A thousand dollars a year"
In addition to this work. the Sociologlc So
ciety is endeavoring to start cooperative
colony in some community where land Ia
cheap. but where coloniZati ion will meet with
no serious obstacles. Tho Hon. /achariah
Ferris OF Arkansas Pass. Tex. who Is the state
OF tho society. has Just sub
mitted report upon the subject. lie has OK
aminod various sites in Missouri, Tennessee,
Arkansas Indian Territory. and TeXas but
favors Vancouver Island or that neirhbor-
hood. He SAYS that he finds that there
would be opposition aroused in thiny
settled district where competition was
universal by the introduction OF col
Ony based solely upon cooperative action.
and Tor that reason somo settlement in which
the population Is practically nothing Is the
Dnly place In which to lay a foundation. In
Island and British Columbia land Is
extremely cheap and fertile. The population
Is very sparse. and what there Is OF 1t contains
a large number of people from England Scoi-
and. and Wales. who understand cooperative
action and have been members OF cooperative |
societies In their native land. In such COM
nunlty cooperative colony would encounter
friends and gain largely In numbers.