The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-12
Members Attend Divine Ser
vices Held Midst Sylvan
Scenes.
PLANS OF THE ASSOCIATION.
Its Efforts Directed Toward Solving
the Problem of Practical So
CialISm.

whereon to spend ones days. 1t may have
been the inimitable beauty Of these So
mona hills, with their soft summer
briIliance at this season, or the delicious
quality of the air, that made Us feel that
here was an ideal spot for existence-that
upon all this swinging old globe there was
not to be found elsewhere such unbroken
harmony in nature and man.
The cottages and unfinished hotel be-
longing to the colony are scattered here
and there in cuplike glen, whose girdling
submits are well nigh too rugged to be
called hills. Through this fertile vale
Mark West Creek makes a crooked descent
to the Santa Rosa plains, its banks wild
erness of trees and vines. The first object
to attract attention is an old gristmill
leaning crafty against the wall of the
creek its roof and timbers SCARED by half
century's use, and its great water-wheel
wrapped in moss and ichens. A man
with half the soul of an artist would tramp
a hundred miles to come upon such pic
ture. Some splendid laurels overarch this
romantic ruin and a Sabbath stiffness per-
vades their shade even at midday.
We are told that last winter the old mill
once more served a use to man-not to
grind him his wheat and corn, as in old
DAYS, but to stand to him as shelter-a
convenient makeshift until more habitable
quarters could be built for the Altrurian
pioneers. These enthusiastic co-opera-
tionists-some twenty at the time
camped in its eobwebby chambers, their
household stuffs crowding the room so
long the undisputed possession of rusty
aeI-a Il -
find this sort of living rather trying in the
rainy season, the answer was character
istic of the spirit among them:
"It's place you wouldn't care to stay
in unless you had great cause tor doing
So"
In January the rain came in tor
rents and Mark West plunged thunder
ing food down through the streaming
hills of the canyon. The old mill, nearly
surrounded by the boiling water, was
shaken to its foundations, but proved so
stanch an ark of refuge that its preserva-
ton was then assured by the grateful oc-
cupants. AS soon as the storm cleared
they went to work with will to strengthen
its rotten underpinnings, and afterward
with one accord dedicated the venerable
building to the anniversary gatherings Of
the colony.
We INDUCED in mornings saunter
through the grounds, while the majority of
the colonists busted themselves with the
homely duties necessitated by so large a
family and so thrifty garden. One pretty
Altrurian in graceful outdoor costume
was deity covering with squares of paper
some young cabbage plants set out the
day previous. There was graceful apology
for this Sunday dereliction in her answer
to our greeting!
''You see the sun shines Just the same as
upon week days. and they will die if ex-
posed"
The tract owned by the association en-
braces 1000 acres, mostly picturesque hill
lands which are tillable or good for pas
ture. Ten acres along the creek is a mar
ket garden in high state of cultivation.
The city of Santa Rosa being but five miles
away, and the depot of the San Francisco
and North Pacific Railroad but two miles,
the supplies of berries and vegetables can
be shipped fresh daily. Vineyards and
orchards are to be set out in the near
future, and the hotel completed to accom-
modate members who prefer to board and
curious and sympathetic on the subject of
q cooperative community.
As the prospects of the colony brighten
other improvements will be made. The
site for more commodious hotel than the
one now building was pointed out on the
crest of a mound overlooking a basin
wherein a coil of the stream drops SO
loosely that it is almost lake, and will be
one in fact If Altrurian Drawn and brain
fail not OF purpose.
The present members of the colony COM
prise fourteen adults and four children.
Within the past months the financial
straits of the association were such that it
was thought advisable to form branch
colonies. The mother hive, in fact
swarmed, and as the result nineteen mem
bers removed to farming tract in subur-
ban Cloverdale, and the others who went
out undertook cooperative living in Santa
Rosa. Those who remained on the grounds
have assumed the debts of the colony. and
have made important notifications in the
original plan of organization. Members
are now expected to turn over to the asso-
citation all the property belonging to them.
The greatest caution will be practiced in
taking in new members, as perfect con-
geniality is regarded the essential feature
of admission. A new applicant must sub
NIT to be taken on trial for six or more
months to determine his fitness to live up
to the fraternal obligations of the com.
munity.
When certain properties which are
owned by the present memb are turned
over to the general fund, the association
will be practically out of debt, and a ready
living will be assured them from the profits
OF the garden, hotel and their printing
plant.
The Altrurian is published on the
grounds and promises to be vastly i'm
proved under Its new management. Mr.
John Marble, leading contributor to the
Star, has taken the paper in hand, and if
Charlotte Perkins Stetson is right-she
openly declares Mr.. Marble to be the
strongest thinker on social problems on the
coastNthe scope of the A1trurian will be
markedly broadened. The Rev. Edward
B. Payne will continue his able editorials
on the paper, labor which will in no wise
conflict with his larger duties as pastor of
the Unitarian Society of Berkeley. Poet,
writer and divine of more than twenty
years experience, Mr.. Payne is yet prac-
ficaI worker in socialistic fields. Indeed !