The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-03-07
THE ALTRURIAN COLONY.
End of the Experiment in Sonoma County
Cal, After Two Years.

Santa Rosa, CAL, Feb. 19.-The AL
trurians, who located at Mark West, a
few miles from here, few months ago,
have decided to abandon their colony.
Vhe struggle to maintain the colony on
the land selected proved too much for
them, and they have oapitulated to that
fate which sooner Or later seems to tri-
umph over suoh9 Social1stio movements.
At a recent meeting resolutions were
adopted stating that, owing to the lack
OF resources and disappointment in their
expectations, the associations would dis
band as o colony. The association, how
ever. will be maintained for such other
work as it finds feasible under Its articles
Of incorporation.
Many Improvements have been made
on their Mark West place since they took
possession. A big hotel has been put
up, a number Of small cottages have
been built, and good deal of money and
hard labor have been expended by the
colonists
Many of the Altrurians left the place
some time ago. Some of them went to
Cioverdale last summer. There were
discussions, and things did not run as
smoothly as was desired. But the char
acter Of the soil and the inexperience of
the members in farming were the chief
causes In the abandonment of the colo
ny. The members OF the association
have made many friends since they came
here. They have shown themselves to be
good citizens, and that their Bellamy
principles could not be successfully oar
ried out Is regretted by everybody inter-
ested in the movement.
The Altrurian movement was begun
in berkeley in 1884, The projectors of
the scheme were Allen V. Morse, the
Rev. Edward 3. Payne, j. G. Aiken, G.
8, Preble and VI. r. Batten. An or
gaDization was formed for the purpose of
carrying into effect the principles of CO.
operation as set forth by Edward Bel
lamy in Looking Backward. -
W. X. BatteD, one Of the promoters of
the com immunity, described th- scheme as
follows:
''The plan is to form what is known
as subordinate councils, and when three
of these councils have been formed III
State, grand council is to be organized.
The grand council will manage the COM
munity. in which there will he no phi
vate ownership of land. The government
will Do literally Of the people, by the
people, and for the people. There will
be an equal right Of suffrage, and no one
will work more than ton hours a DAY.
The grand council will grade the work
as it may think best.
For instance, two hours Of hard work
may be rated to be equal to ten hours of
light work. II member does not obey
the rules he will be regularly charged
and tried, and, if lie is convicted, be
will be dismissed from tho community.
No one will be allowed to hire labor, aud
money will not be used. Certificates will
be given in exchange for work, and these
Will be exohaDgeab!e at the community
storo for what the individual needs If
the store has not what he wants, gold
will be given for the certificates, and he
may purchase it outside. All other out
SIDE business will be transacted by the
community itself. Money received from
the outside fer goods sold will be used to
purchase machinery for manufacturing