The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-15
AMONG THE SOCIALISTS AT EDISON.
Seattle, May II, 1893.

Seattle, May IL. 1SsS
To the Editor: Having recently
visited Equality colony OF the
brotherhood OF the Cooperative Com
monwealth, located on Puget sound. near
Edison. Skagit county. am able 10 state
some OF the interesting features oe that
new socialist!c colony and what has been
accomplished so far by this brotherhood TO
better the condition OF its members. econ
omically and socially.
This movement was begun by y. ".
Lermond, a farmer, residing at Warren.
Me, who, in the autumn of 1855. organized
the first local union OF the brotherhood
at his home. During 1896 two more locals
were added, and the columns OF the Conn
ing Nation. q socialist paper published at
Ruskin. Tenn. secured TO further the
plan. With rapid strides the movement
progressed. locals being established In
nearly every state and a paying member
ship OF over 400 secured by September.
1897, when a national organization was es-
fected and a colony site secured near
Edison by the purchase OF 2sa acres OF
rich, fertile land. An option was taken on
leo acres more adjoining.
To this has since been added Ave acres in
the village OF Edison, making As acres In
all. Most OF this land has got TO bs
cleared. but enough improved property has
been leased IN the neighborhood TO grow
large crops this year The site selected
for the city Is upon high land lying about
two miles from thu Edison wharf, and
commands q fine view of Puget sound.
Adjoining this ara tho present buildings
at Equality, consisting OF two large three
story frame buildings and five smaller log
houses All Of these hava been erected
since last November and are designed only
for temporary use. or until permanent
houses are built upon the city site proper.
These are now crowded and more will be
built as rapidly a. possible.
The largest Jog house is used for din
ing room. 20 which all come for their
meals The laundry. stables, blacksmith
shop, saw mill. planer and single mill are
not far away. Tweuty-one horses. twenty
cows and six hogs comprise the live stock.
A nursery n which. are planted 1000 one
year-oid fruit trees, IA9I9 berry bushes and
a large assortment % rose bushes. etc. IS
I'm charge % trained horileuiurist. who
has had ten years experience At that bus
inesS in this state.
This year the socialists will plant eighty
acres in oats, fifteen acres IN potatoes.
ten acres in garden vegetables. five acres
IN root crops for stock and raise about 3d.
Co heads Of cabbage. Sixty acres OF
meadow viii be cut for hay.
AT present there are aboEt 80 persons
!n thu colony or this number 10 are re-
siding az Equality and the remainder in
tented houses IN tire village Of Edison, az
which point ;he Office Of the national
board OF trustees Is located with y. w.
Larmoni as secretary. Miss Helen N.
MaSon as treasurer. c. II. Swigart as
master workman. aad +. III. Nolan as pur-
chasing agent and distributor, al basiiy
employed In ,heir respective duties.
Here also Is located the printing estab-
lsaEnent OK the Brotherhood, consisting q.
2 -arge Hoe double cylinder press. capable
OF printing 3.o seven-co.urnn quario pa
pevs per hour smaller press. cutter and
a fun supply Of type The organ Of the
brotherhood. Industrial Freedom. VIII soon
be issued weekly. AZ this pcsns also ,fe
uanus2osurs Of furniture 1cs sas cossc,ssa