The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-09
THIS Al TRUR|A
HAS NOT FAILED
Winters Island Folks Send
Out a Glowing
Report.
Directors to Visit the Settlement
and Lay Plans for the Com.
ing Year.
Only Thirteen Vacancies Out of a
Brotherhood Limited to One
Hundred.
OAKL AND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CAL L.
908 Broadway, Dec. s.

OAKL AND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CAL L.
90S Broadway, Dec. s.
Although the Altruria which was
originated by Rev. E. B. Payne of
Berkeley proved failure the co-opera-
tive brotherhood of Winters Island is de-
veloping into a marked success. The
principles on which both were run are
practically the same.
Reports have just been received from
the island by f. d. Hopkins. the cashier
of Wells, Fargo & Co., who is also secre-
tary of the brotherhood, giving very en-
couraging details of the progress of the
venture. Although the brotherhood is
limited to 100 members there are at the
present time only thirteen shares that
have not been taken up.
During the past year much has been
learned and some failures have been
made with certain crops, but the ex-
perience gained, it is stated, will tend
toward making the coming year far more
successful.
In short time the directors will visit
and inspect the island in body and will
consult with the mem bers who are there
and who know ell about the land and its
capability. At present the difficulty is
that the families located there are not
sufficiently familiar with the cultivation
of their soil and the raising of the product
which it is best fitted to produce. TIE
work for the year 1897 will be mapped out
at the next meeting of the board, which
has its headquarters in this City.
E. Kelsey, the treasurer, reports the fol-
lowing suggestions, which Will be neces-
sary to insure success:
As large an acl cage as possible of berries
will be planted, as they are permanent
and profitable. On account of the expense
of transportation between the island and
San Francisco it is not profitable to raise
hay, so only enough oat hay IS grown to
satisfy the demands OF the island resi-
dents.
One of the most profitable products of
the island is buck wheat, and large acre
age will be soWn during the coming year.
1t has been found that all kinds of vege-
tables and alfalfa can flourish on the re-
claimed land, and on these products the
brotherhood bases its hope for the coming
year.
A. G. Gregg, editor of the island paper
who has just paid a visit to the island, re-
ports in glowing terms the cond ton of
every branch of work that has been un-
dertaken. A large portion of the work
consists in digging bitches and building
dams, and experiment has proved that
the peat taken out of the bitches makes
excellent fuel, and all that is taken fro
the interior bitches is used for that pur-
pose. The orchard trees are growing well
and another summer will make a very
noticeable change in the general appear
ance of the island. The residents have
already undertaken the business of can
ming goods, and so lar as they have gone,
it has been successful.
Everything is done on the cooperative
principle, and no man is better than his
brother. although the necessary officials
to preserve discipline and prevent fac
tional STRIFE are maintained.
Since its organization, the brotherhood
has been in existence three years and a
half, and this, it is claimed, is a longer
period of success than has been enjoyed
by any similar fraternity.