The Meeker herald., 1897-03-20
A COMMUNIsTIC COLLEGE.
An Odd Educational Enterprise in
Northor1 IuinosA
The wosksss Are BsilAing Up . snsn
City: Of fhsir OWn-LAboR . Nee.
sasAsy Part Of tie Ex-

They are making a comnunistic edu.
cational experiment near tie little town
Of St. AnEe, ILL.,, some 80 miles south of
Chicago. that has already attracted q
good deal Of attention and is sure to be
talked of the world over if anything
like success is accomplished. This ex
pertinent is known as the Peoples uni.
ycrsity. St. Anne is far removed from
the railroad in q region that is strictly
rural and the university owns an entire
section of land, GAO acres.
Upon this tract stands not only the
university buildings, but also the homes,
for the time being, Of all the students.
and teachers. The land 10 cultivated
comparatively by all. thcSprocceds. ere
sold fer the benefit Of all, the property
of the community is xeptin common
The Community started with b sSH
tai of 81 500, Invested in topls, maoh:nery
and live stock. Thu Schooi has-AHkSii
for no gifts, docs noe expect to secur,
any endowments. and will appeal
neither 10 the charity nor the beneG-
ccnce of the public in any way The
students and teachers who are on the
ground are working with their own
hands at the construction of the build
ings, and arc carrying on the agricul-
tural work of the school, all Of which
is done without compensation
Their labor Is employed directly In
producing the food, clothing, fuel and
shelter necessary for their own com
Portable existence. When this labor
has provided these necessities, the bal
ance OF their time is devoted to study.
The educational workers are build
ing up their own city, including houses,
school and farm. The dwellings, arc
cottages. l2xs feet on the ground ant! q
story and half high, with first-class
cedar roofs.
They have built five miles Of fences:
planted fruit trees and 500 grape vines;
have set out an immense garden of
about 10 acres, have fields containing
10000 sweet potato plants. 81 acres OF
Irish potatoes, 80 acres of oats, 25U
acres of com. 40 acres Of sorghum, 90
acres Of millet and 20 acres of buck
wheat, all of which are in very fine con-
dition.
- 40 tAiC NCIulCt VI lIe
large number Of visitors that no finer
crop nor better farming is to be found
anywhere than there.
The cottages are built in sort of
semi-circlc, following a slight rise OF
ground which is everywhere over
grown with bluegrass. 1t would be
difficult to find, or to produce, even
with considerable expenditure OF
money, a more beautiful location for
the home than this little grove has fur
nished, ready made.
The form in which the buildings are
constructed is that Of small village,
but there is no subdivision OF land and
no sale of lots. The school will hold, in
its own name and for its own use, oil
land. houses, shops and implements of
every kind. There is no way in which
lnny person can secure speculative or
even legitimate business interest in
any Of the work of this school. There
is no plan for admitting, for residence
in this village, anyone who does not
come solely for an educational purpos-
The school simply provides an op-
portunity for study for those who arc
fwilling, by their own toll. to take ad
vantage OF such opportunity; and the
lonly return offered for labor is mental
training. The man who does not wan,
to study has no reason for going there,
and will not be admitted, or if ADMIT
ted by mistake. will not be permitted Is.
return. All who are not willing to Ia
Dor with their own hands at tasi :
necessary to comfortable existence ar.
also excluded.
In fact, this unique community com