The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-03-29
A BANKRUPT COLONY.
An Iowa Colony That Has Boon
Dissolved.
Established by French Socialists N Cen
fury AEo-Tbe Property to 80 Divided
Among tho EIcmbers-Modo
OF Living.

The members of the Icarian commun-
ity, three miles east of Corning, H.,
have mutually agreed that division
OF their property and n dissolution Of
their society is to tho best interests Of
all concerned, ind steps are now being
taken to that end. The interests of
heirs of deceased members aud other
legal intricacies have rendered it advis-
able to appoint receiver and put the
matter into the hands of the court,
though no animosities whatever exist
among tho members of the community.
This community, says n recent dis
patch, is socialistic in the extreme. It's
founder was L. CADET, and it's inception
dates back to period just previous to
the French revolution when about six
ty-nine socialists embarked from Uavre,
France, for Texas and located near the
Red river in Fanin county. Internal
discussions and outward privations dis
couraged tho band and they removed
to New Orleans AS soon us CADET, who
was still in France, learned of this
change of base ho sailed for New Or
Jeans and Immediately assumed person
nj supervision of the colony. Under his
leadership they migrated to Nauvoo,
ILL.,, which place had just been deserted
by the Mormons, after the killing of
Joseph Smith. Here the Icarians en-
gagged in various pursuits and were
successful in their enterprises for u
time. Additions to the society mado
the total membership about two hun
drcd and eighty persons. However, in
ternal disscnsions created division and
i'll 1876 CADET and about one hundred
and seventy of his adhcrents left the
5 remainder and went to st. Louis,
where the founder of Icaria died of
apopleXy in the same year. Meantime,
the other faction had settled in Adams
county, Ia, and were Incorporated I'M
der the laws of the state as "Icarin."
They have resided there ever since.
In 1876 the liabilities of the commu-
nifty were about four thousand dollars
while the assets were computed at
about sixty thousand dollars. How
ever, another rupture between con-
tending factions occurred in 1870, when
the property was equally divided and
n considerable portion of one faction
departed for California. The remain
ing members continued in the original
communistic manner of living. During
most of the time from 1879 until the
present date Jean Bcttainicr has served
as president of the community, and the
duties OF his Office have been very cfli-
GENTLY conducted.
This community is perhaps the only
one i'll tho United States, if not in the
world, which is conducted upon such
+ ultrasocialistic principles. A German
community at Amana, Ia, is similar to
Icaria in some respects, but its citizens
arc far more conservative in many re-
spccts. In Icaria departmental heads
have always been chosen, and the en-
tire business of the community con-
Quoted as though it were one vast fam
lily. a common table furnished food
for all, one person purchased all sup
plies for wearing apparel, another per-
formed like Office in experimenting
agricultural operations, and SO on. At
one time the settlement published an
official organ called La Revue Icaricn,
and numerous other industries were
engaged in besides farming.
The objects and tencts of the com
munity are well set forth III few para
graphs from the constitution, as wit
ness the following: at is established in
the interest of entire humanity, in de-
votion to its well being, in order to
present to it system of society capa-
BILE of rendering it happy, and to prove
by experience that communism based
upon complete solidarity is realizable
and possible"
common fund supplied the wants
of all and common treasury received
the earnings and savings of all. A gen
eral assembly of all Icarians over
t1venty-one years of age, irrespective of
sex, constituted the legislative author
ity, while executive power was vested
in three trustees. Withdrawals were
permitted by the person desiring to
sever his connection with the society
giving one months notice of same,
whcreupon the general assembly took
into consideration his circumstances
and the value of his services to the COM
munity while member, and paid him
/ reasonable compensation for same in
addition to two-thirds of the amount of
his original investment. Members were
free to follow their inclinations in re-
gard to religious dogmas and exercised
the greatest liberties in all matters
Z which did not interfere with any of the
Y socialistic tencts.
III About ten thousand dollars in realty
and one thousand acres of land will be
divided among thc members.