Birmingham state herald., 1895-11-17
WILL SHARE PROFITS.
American Mwrighting Company Fitting Up a Salesroom Where General Merchandise
 Will Be Sold at Cost.
 z~H-

Chicago Record.
 Chicago is to have a general co-opera-' tive store in full operation before the close of this week. It will be opened by the American Cooperative Millwrighting company, which claims to have shown during the last year or two that co-opera- ton on the proper lines can be successfully carried on and so well pleased are the members of the association that they will branch out extensively and endeavor to plant their standard in new and freshef territory.
 The offices and workshops of the com pany are at present in West Jackson street. but a short distance west of the corner of Clinton. The building is unprer tentious from the exterior, but the inte- rior when all of the men are at work presnts a scene of the greatest activity.
 The company was organized in October, 1892. Its place of bushes was then In a ramshackle building on one of the side streets, and its future was problematical There was little business to be done, an few were found who could be induced to either take stock, give up their business and go to work on the cooperative plan or surrender their patents to the com pany in order that those who did go to work might work them out and place the product on the market. l
 But all this is said to have changed, Twenty-Five valuable patents have passed into the control of the company and fifty men find employment at various times as the demand for the products or the company Is good. The workmen are all shareholders in the organization, which is at $1 par and which Is also non assessable. A man may purchase one share and he will then be entitled to a full voice in the selection or the oiIiceIs of the company or the outlining of Its future course in business. Those work ing in the shop select the foreman py election, and they have it in their power to vote him out of office at any time the majority may become disssatished With the manner in which he conducts the work Likewise the officers of the com pany may be voted out when the best interests of the company may seem 10 need change in the official stair.
 Ten per cent of the earnings Of six months are set aside a fund to be used in the purchase of stock to be used in the establishment. The company Is said to have been self-sustaining almost from the start, and its business has constantly increased and is still increasing.
 All of the machinery used by the com pany is the product of it's own workmen. For the last two years the company nas been doing almost everything that any one asked it to do-making shoes, build ing sidewalks, bicycles, machines, etc, selling coal and renting houses. Recent ly 1t secured a contract for section or the new water tunnel, which will give employment to a considerable number of men.
 In the proposed general store groceries, cigars, tobaccos and coal will be sold, and there will be general house-renting agency, no charge being made for the services of the company to those who are members The groceries will be bought in the wholesale market and will be sold to members of the organization for cost, plus a sufficient sum to pay for help. The store, 1t is expected will be opened some time this week.
 If this first store shall prove the success which the officers of the company antic- ipate others will be opened in various sec tions of the city and committee will be appointed to visit the trades unions of the city to solicit memberships.
 The present officers of the company are: President and general manager, J. A. Dinsmore; secretary, D. R. Verdick; treasurer, w. H. Brennan. The institu- tion is run on the idea that the fewer ofH- cers there are the more likely they are to get along harmoniously, and the more likely they are to look after the best in- terests of the company.