The San Francisco call., 1896-04-10
COOP 0PERAT|ON IS
A BIG SUCCESS,
Result of One Years Colo
NAL Work on Winters
Island.
A PERIOD OF PROGRESS.
One of the Few Spots in California
Free From the Southern
Pacific.
NOT WITHOUT SOME TRIALS.
B fore Another Year Passes 1t Is Ex.
pocted the Colony Will Pro.
duce an Income.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL,
9OS Broadway. April 8.

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALI
sos Broadway, April 8. {
The annual meeting of the Winters
Island Cooperative Society was held at
Major Howe's office on San Pablo avenue
last night and the various reports made
show that the colony on the island is pros
pering in excess of what its promoters
anticipated.
A. ]. Gregg, president of the society,
came from Winters Island 70 attend the
annual meeting and his account of the
progress of events in the little common
wealth was very interesting and shows
what can be done when system is carried
out on well-organized principles. The
society only permits of membership of
one hundred and at the present time there
are eighty-seven stockholders. so that there
is not much opportunity for outsiders to
join.
Edwin G. Paine who, with his wife, has
only been on the island for six weeks, sent
a communication, in which he said: II
came to California to find home. Prices
are higher than / expected. I investigated
many propositions and finally took up
with Winters Island. 1 took month to
investigate, and when the January high
water occurred and I saw that the posi-
bility of danger from foods was so small l
made up my mind. With risks no greater
than in any other farming operations, and
with cooperative methods and perfect in
dependence of the Southern and Central
Pacific railroads, it seems reasonable to
expect profit. The profit cannot be imme-
date, but one accustomed to working for
future results and familiar with the profits
from good soil, even by the poor farming
methods common to all new countries, can
satisfy himself that here is an investment
that will produce a living, at least, and
will also stand comparison with life in
surance.'
The cooperative principle is rigidly ad-
hered to and building and planting are be-
ing carried on at lively rate. Mem bers
can pay the assessments on their stock
with anything that a human community
can use. Since its inception the brother
hood has accepted the personal Eotes of
members for shares, but this system has
been abandoped, and now that the colony
is on solid footing financially the terms
OF the existing agreement are being strictly
followed.
Since President Gregg went to live on the
island progress has peen very marked.
Acres of asparagus and berries are being
sown. Very little more money will have
to be put into tools. What is paid now on
assessments will be put into permanent
Improvements and crops. The permanent
improvements are buildings and the ex-
tension of the levee.
There have been many hardships en-
dured by the pioneers of Winters Island.
For over year there was not COW on the
island.
"We shall celebrate the 25th of March,"
said the president, because on that day
of the month there was landed at our dock
a small black-and-white speckled COW. 1t
is one of the most useful mem oers of the
colony. 1t is constantly urged that this
enterprise is not based on sentiment, but
on strictly business principles. Withal,
one can't avoid little sentiment. The
feeling of security and rest produced by
the thought that one can soon have
place where he can be assured of consta mt,
healthy and agreeable employment, where
he will not have to go out and beg for the
privilege of working-where he will know
that he is to get the full product of his
labor-all this may be sentimental, but it
is very satisfactory and comforting
The following officers were elected for
the ensuing year: A. J. Gregg, president;
Major W. 0. Howe, yice-president; F. D.
Hopkins, secretary; E. Kelsey, treasurer;
E. Hough, director.