Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-08-27
COOPERATIVE COLONIES,


is the manifold forms in which it man
ifests itself.
cooperative efforts are usually
along one or the other of these lines:
|. Political, as naturalization OF
telegraphs, telephones, railroads, city
ownership of street cars-electric-
and water works, etc.
>. Voluntary cooperation without
colonization, as in creameries, eleva-
tors, evaporators, laundries, bakeries,
etc, etc.
3. Cooperation by the formation
of colonies.
Political cooperation is, of course,
the ideal way, but as it is possible
only when a majority of the state
will grant law and after this a ma
iority of the local community favor
the proposed measure, it is weari-
somely slow, but is steadily growing
the whole world over.
Cooperation without colonization
is more easily inaugurated than po--
litical. 1t seems specially successful
when the business management, or
dinarily a large item of expense, is
furnished gratis by a local board OF
director the manual labor only be-
ing a cash expense. Stores and farm
ing seem to succeed less frequently
than creameries, bakeries, elevators,
evaporators, etc.
In the matter of colonization there
are many plans. Perhaps the best
known is Ruskin, at Ruskin, Tenn, a
purely socialistic colony, with a
strong central management; power
of the colony to suspend a member
for six months or less: no opportunity
for individual business.
Another colony, organized about
the same time as Ruskin, but on en-
tirely different lines, is Fairhope, at
Fairhope, Ala. In this colony the as
ISOLATION simply owns the land, which
is assigned to those desiring it, the
only condition being that the person
who desires to monopolize portion
of the associate land, shall pay into
the association treasury fair equiv
alent, The lease is perpetual, but
the payments may vary from year to
year. No money is paid for the land,
thereby avoiding the necessity for
buying. The members pay rental to
be sure, but this rental goes into the
common treasury to be used for the
common good in public improve
ments. such as a wharf, school, hotel,
etc. At Fairhope cooperation is
wholly voluntary; those who wish to
do so may cooperate as in creame-
ry, fruit selling, steamer, etc. At
the outset the association operated a
store. This was finally wholly di-
vorced from the association, though
all the members of the association
hold stock in the store. We believe
there is a cooperative boat, coop
erative brick kiln, and cooperative
saw mill, each company being COM
posed of those interested. The main
business is fruit raising and market
gardening. Each cultivates his farm
as he pleases, all cooperation, whether
of buying, selling or working being
wholly voluntary.
The Colorado Co operative compa-
ny, at Pinon. Montrose county, Colo
RADIO, is trying to build ditch, some
fifteen miles long and large enough
to irrigate some $1,000 acres of land.
Membership fee is $50: 40 acres of
land at 1925, $50; estimated cost of
water right Ito complete ditch $50.
Thus the total cost of 40-acre home
stead with perpetual water rightly
be $3.50 In addition each member
will build his own house. furnish his
own stock and machinery and farm
his own land. a member will thus
need 81 600 to s., 600 cash or its equiv
alent. The association as Il whole
owns the ditch, operates a store, di-
ming hall, harness shop, saw mill, and
blacksmith shop, and expect to oper.
ate a hourmiH, evaporation, electric
light plant, etc. This colony is about
half way between socialistic colonies,
such as those Of the p G G and Rus.
kin on the one hand, and Fairhope on
the other.
The b c c is now ready to organize
socialistic colonies. either autouo-
NOUS as Equality: or federated, ac-
cordiug to the original intention.
Membership in either is $3.50.
Washington certainly furnishes the
best opportunities for colonization.
We hope that those who cannot see
their way clear to unite with b c c
colony, will organize to suit them
selves, locate in Washington and
help Us to carry the state for social
ism in 1900.
X \ \
A GOOD PLATFORM.