The sun., 1897-11-13
srtrA1rY For4oxs M rn1 nrrnr.
Rrsseat state sr ths Isushin Co-opsrat,ve COZ.
enH On Central Tonnn,.n.-


esq In Cestrai Tennessee.
ATLANTA. Nov. 1.-THE Ruskin Coaperntiye
Colony now numbers about 200 persons who
have associated themselves topctber nm the
economic basis OF life pictured in Edward Rel.
lnmys book Looking Backward" rbo,r nur.
pose is to place all mon on footing Of absolute
economic equally. making poverty and OK.
treme wealth alike impossible TO an indusirious
person, however humble or however great his
abilities may be. Tho colony has chosen for
its homo 1900 acres in fertile lit
tie valley OF central Tenno.ssoo, elk
miles from the nearest railroad. In spito
of the detection Of about one.third Of the entire
number who have at various times belonged to
1t, from q mere handful of members at the
start tho colony has in three years grown To its
present size. The people have come from, ovorv
direction, and represent several nation alit iea
and as n whole are highly intelligent, They
have started newspaper, The ConirC Nation
which is devoted to the Bcllamy thcorjcs h, a
already reached paid circulation OF 40. 900
copies, and has proved the financial mainstey
OF the colony.
The rules governing the colony leave undiz-
turbed the family relation, religious worship.
and ordinary habits Of life. and relate only to
property and labor. All real estate and nil in.
dustrial enterprises are the common propcrty of
e
ecutivo board elected yearly by the vote of all
shareholders. Every head Of q family, on ad-
mission to tho colony, contributes $500 to the
common capital, which makes him arehold er
under tho legal organization OF tho colony and
an equal owner with every other member Of all
property Of the colony. Every abc-bodicd
person, man or woman. is obliged to
work. and TO work at anything that may be
assigned by the Executive Board. Women who
have largo families are. at tho discretion of the
managers. exempt from work other than tho
caro- Of their children, and sick persons enjoy
undiminished rights during tho period of dis
ability. In the assignment Of labor the mem.
bers are put to work on the lines for which their
training and ability promise tho best results,
but no difference in the value of ono person s
time from that OF another is recognized tho
theory being the absolute equality OF value of
the labor Of all persons. For example. the editor
OF the papor. the physician. the tcamster and
the shoveller OF sawdusL in the mill all work on
equal terms.
Every family is provided at the common ex-
pense with n dwelling house, food rations, or a
maintenance fee for purchasing food, medical
attendance, medicines and fuel. Clothing and
pin money purchases arc obtainable at the
colony store by tho exchange OF n certificate OF
performed labor ian hours labor being the unit.
which is handed out every week to those who
earn it and also to those who have been too i'll
to work. This certificate is the only mo-
dium OF exchange used within the colony,
money being an unnecessary element. Tho
certificate price Of articles at tho col
ony store is SO adjusted as to deliver the goods
without profit thus effecting the remark able
situation Of checks passing at n greater pur.
chasing value than gold coin. The colony has n
successful sawmill and grlst mill. and is build
ing up profitable industry in the manufacture
of suspenders. and also of a health coffee made
of wheat. Some farming is done. and there is
an opportunity for more. but there are few
farmers among the colonists.
In its dealings with the outside world the
colory comes into contact with the competitive
system and is obliged to be close buyer and a
competing seller; but within tho colony tho
competitive system is eliminated as absolutely
as In the world pictured in Bellamy's book So
long as one performs the assigned labor there ia
no fear OF getting out of Job. and illness brings
no terrors in the way OF loss Of necessary com.
forts or supplies.
The question suggests itself, what provision is
made for the lazy man The founders of Rus
kin made the rule that when a man is able to
work and does not work. he is charged upon the
colony's books as debtor for thu number OF
hours of labor that he has refused to perform
which debt must be wiped out by tho full equiv.
alont OF work before the issuance of any certia
Gates Of labor. The deficiency is charged ur
against the $500 payment made at the time OF
admission to the colony, and IL the debt becomes
fully equivalent to tho $780, the membership
fee is forfeited and the delinquent is expelled
from the colony.
1t is community Of busy workers, encour
aged by an uLwavering belief in the prac
tical working qualities Of their system. They
have cheerful faces, and in private many
of them express their satisfaction with tho
progress Of the colony. while in several days
spent among them not one was found by the
writer who regretted his connection with the
association. They are not yet much ahead in
resources, and are obliged to live in cheap cot.
want Of necessares, and their property is ad.
vancing in value. They have good school, where
painting and music well as the necessary
branches arc taught. In the way Of amusc.
ments they have many outdoor frolics, and an
assembly room furnishes them opportunity for
frequent plays, concerts. and dancing parties
While tho purpose of tho founders of the
colony was to leave undisturbed the religious
inclinations of the people, it is a noteworthy
fact that n strong atheistic tendency has devcl.
oped and become the prevailing sentiment No
church has been established, nor Is one likely to
be. Whether this feature OF the colony is a
result Of the system may be matter of dou bit,
but the colony certainly discourages religious
worship by making no provision for the erection
OF churches and tho support Of clcrgynen, and
without the aid of the colony rs a whole no
! church could. under existing conditions, find
means within the colony on which to keep going.