The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-30
[. D. NEWELL g. SON, Westminster and Eddy Sts
THE RUSKIN COLONY.


The Ruskin Cooperative colony now
numbers about ego persons who have asso-
siated themselves together on the economic
basis of life pictured in Edward Bellamy's
book, Looking Backward. - Their pur-
pose is to place all men on IA footing Of alb
solute economic equality, making poverty
and extreme wealth alike impossible to
an industrious person. however humble or
however great his abilities may be. The
colony has chosen for its home I 800 acres
In a fertile little valley of central Tcnnes-
see, six miles from the nearest railroad
In spite Of the detection OF about one third
of the entire number who have at various
times belonged TO IL. from a mere hand
full OF members at the start the colony has
in three years grown TO its present size.
The people have come from every direc-
ton, and represent several nationalities,
and as whole are highly intelligent.
They have started newspaper, The Com
ing Nation. which Is devoted TO the Bel
lamy theories, has already reached a paid
circulation Of 80, 900 copies, and has proved
the financial mainstay of the colony.
The rules governing the colony leave
undisturbed the family relation, religious
worship, and ordinary habits of life, and
relate only To property and labor. All
real estate and all industrial enterprises
are the common property Of all, subject To
the general management. of an executive
board elected yearly by the vote OF all
shareholders. Every head Of a family, on
admission To the colony, contributes 5000
TO the common capital, which makes him
shareholder under the legal organiza-
tion of the colony and an equal owner with
every other member of all property of the
colony.
Every ablebodied person, man or wom-
an, is Obliged to work, and to work at
anything that may be assigned by the ex-
ecutive board. Women who have large
families are, at the discretion of the man
ayers exempt from work other than the
care of their children, and sick persons
enjoy undimnished rights during the
period of disability. In the assignment
of labor the members are put to work on
the lines for which their training and
ability promise the best results, but no
difference in the value OF one persons
time from that of another is recognized,
the theory being the absolute equality of
value Of the labor of all persons. For ex
ample, the editor of the paper, the physi-
clan, tho teamster and the shoveler of
terms
Every family Is provided at the common
expense with n dwelling house, food ra-
tions or maintenance fec for purchasing
food, medical attendance, medicines and
fuel Clothing and pin money purchases
are obtainablo at the colony store by the
exchange Of certificate of performed la
Dor ian hours labor being the unit, which
is handed out every week to those who
earn 10 and also TO those who have been
too i'll to work This certificate is the
only medium OF exchange used within the
colony, money being an unnecessary ele-
ment. The certificate price OF articles at
the colony store is so adjusted as to deliver
the goods without profit, thus etfecting
the remarkable situation OF checks pass
ing at greater purchasing value than
gold coin. The COLONY has "A successful
sawmill and grstmlll and Is building up
a profitable industry in the manufacture
of suspenders. and also Of a health coffee
made Of wheat. Some farming is done,
and there l. an opportunity for more, but
there are few farmers among the colonists
In it, dealings with the outside world
the colony comes into contact with the
competitive system and IL Obliged to be u
close buyer and competing seller, but
within the colony the competitive system
l. eliminated as absolutely as In the world
pictured In Bollany's book. 20 long as
one performs the assigned labor there IL
no fear of getting cut Of n job. aud Illness
brings mo- tcrrors I'm the way of loss II
necessary comforts or supplies.
The question suggests itself, What pro-
vision T. made for tho lazy mani The
founders ~ Ruskin made the rule that
when man l. able 70 work ard does not
work he is charged upon the colony .