The Louisiana populist., 1897-12-17
COMMUNITY OF ZOAR.
Did World Organization That is Flourish.
ing in Ohio.


Among the communistic societies OF
America none are more interesting
than this one of zoar, located about
fifteen miles southeast of Massillon,
Ohio. It owes its existence to a rell-
gious society not unlike that OF the
Friends, founded in Germany 100 years
ago and driYen from that land by re-
,igiQus persecution. In 1917 about 25o
Of the sect left Bavaria, Wurtemberg,
anu Baden, and after many weary days
Of travel reached one of the most beau
tiful places in Ohio, where they decid-
ed to locate.
This settlement was named Zoar,
and is still in flourishing condition,
although they have not increased IN
numbers, as many Of the younger
members, dissatisfied with this small
world, have cut loose to make name
and fortune for themselves. Those
who separated themselves from the
colony cannot lay claim to share IN
the property. The society, however,
usually makes voluntary gift, which
is sufficient to establish the deserters
in business. Until recently there were
no difficulties, but some Of the young
people urged division of the proper
ty and that each one be allowed to
mspage his own for himself. The
original charter, however, provided
thai the property could not be divided
So long as three members wished to
hold together. The place has the at
mosphere of the old country from the
garden, with its old-fashioned holly
hooks and bower covered with grape
vines, to the old Dutchman sitting at
his back door on a high, straight
backed wooden bench, smoking his
pipe. There is an air of cleanliness
and comfort about everything, for each
has the same pride in the whole as in
the spot where he abides. The society
at present owns 1000 acres OF land.
On the whole the cooperative sys-
ten has been a great financial success,
although last year the society was
somewhat in debt. The crops have
teen exceptionally good this year, and
so enough may be realized to cancel
the debt and the balance laid aside for
a rainy day. They have about 800
acres sown to wheat, 100 to rye and
200 to oats, and this year the wheat
yielded 80 bushels per acre. Toward
evening one may see about 200 fat
COWS wandering toward the stables
and filing into their stalls in the most
perfect order. Each stall has the
name of its occupant painted above it,
ant as the names become duplicated
number is added to the name, as Daisy
/ and Daisy 2. Each cow knows her
own stall, and always walks into the
right one The milking is attended to
by the women, each woman having
certain number of cows to milk. After
this task is finished the milk is car
ried to one of the cleanliest of dairies
where some is apportioned to the diff
felent families, and the remainder kept
at the dairy for butter and cheese.
Besides the farm conveniences the
people have their own flour mill, saw
mill, woolen mill, and dyehouse, tan
merry and brewery Their wooden mill
produces cloth for their clothing, blan.
kets for their beds and also for their
horses The surplus from their mills
finds ready sale through the eastern
jcbbers. The Tuscarawas River flows
TIN orgh their land, and furnishes pow.
er tc run the machinery Of the several
mills which they operate. About fifty
har DIS are hired from outside the col.
oly to help run these different mills.
Formerly these people were gov
erned by a general agent" who LIVED
In large mansion, that is still stand
ing. At present the colony is gov
erned by three trustees chosen by bal
let. The colony is divided into two
classes, one consisting of those who
aIe competent to vote because of theil
good behavior and age, and the othel
OF those who still enjoy the benefits o.
the colony but have no voice in it!
government on account of their ques
tio.lable character.
While all speak both English ant
German the foreign language is spo
ken almost entirely in the homes. IL
the village school English is taught
three days week and German two.