Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-11-24

They Have an Option on 5000 Acres
In Northern Arkansas-PrCject Was
started In TOpeka-COGl Mines to
BE Opened - Members TO share
Equally.
A new sOcialistic colony, that will
maze its principal industry mining, has
been organized in Topeka, Kan, with
H. WhitIlesay Johnson, y. \. Avery
and d. +. Ziegler as founders and pro-
moters. An option on 1900 acres OF
land las been secured in northern
Arkansas from the Missouri. Kansas
aud Texas Railway company, situated
iu the zinc and lead mineral belt Of the
0Zarks.
This colony has, In a large measure,
been patterned after the Ruskin col
Ony which was organized in Tennessee
and which has been reOrgan!Zed and
removed TO Georgia There will be
community ownership IN all landed
and mining property, but personal own
ership of personal property. 1t has
been made possible for any working
man to become member, for while a
membership fee OF 5000 has been fixed
those who are otherwise acceptable
may work out this fee In the mines and
at building, says the New York Jour
nal. The only property In sight at the
present time Is a complete printing
outfit, the purpose being to begin with
a colony paper.
ton, ,p
feCted and plan of work outlined,
the constitution and bylaws are held
in allegiance until the members are on
the ground, so that each man and
woman may have voice in the making
Of the laws. The government Will be
purely communiStic. the aim being to
avoid the errors that have led to the
dissolution Of so many other like enter
prises
On the land are found deposits of
semianthraCite coal, and tie opening
Of one or more coal mines is in contcm
plation as soon as railroad facilities
are afforded. for up to the present time
there is not railroad within 30 miles
Of the land. While the Adventist, or
Seventh Day Baptist church, has not
rs an organization had anything to do
with this organization, all the project
ors are active members Of that church
, and are now working for church recog-
milton. The headquarters are in Tope-
ka, but will soon be removed to Fort
Smith. Ark, whore the deal for the
land will be closed and possession TAX
en-. Membership has not been solicited,
but all applications-and there have
been mapy-are thoroughly Siftcd and
investigated, so that those accepted
will be proved worthy.
We matured our plans only after
we had secured an option on the land
wc desired" said II, Whittlesay Johr-
son, for we wanted something tangi-
lie 10 offer to those whom we desired
! to join. While we who have already
! subscribed 10 the plan have our own
| religious belief, we do not intend that
any restrictions shall be placed upon
the beliefs Of any. All we require Is
/ that every man and woman joining
shall be Of good character and indus.
| triouS. tOr all will have to work.
1T is our purpose not only to make
/ home. hut to receive the financial bCne-
| fits of our united labor In the urvel-
| opmcnt Of the mines all Will have an
equal interest. although probably the
majority will labor in other lives We
| purpose TO make working days Of the
shortest hours consistent with Il state
| Of prosperity, IN order that all will
| have time for recreation and intel
| lectual advancement.
while all property will belong to
the community collectively, our aim Is
to make individual homes for the sev-
eral families. The only restriction will
be that should family decide to sever
| relations with us the home will not I've
transferable except to the community.
In case any decide to leave us, they
will receive back the money invested
and such share of the profits as may
have been credited to them while mem
bers.
I'm case they paid their admission
fee by work. they will be paid in mon
ey for the work done for the communi-
ty as well as themselves. Our schools
VIII be under community direction
and education made mandatory, but
! parents will have full control Of their
own children. The only community
feature In this respect will be the sup
plying of books, as we'll as teachers
and building by the community.
"The inclinat!ons or previous cXpc-
rience Of each person will be consider
ed In assigning the labor to be perform
ed, but at the same time it must be
understood that laZiness will not be
tolerated, especially that kind that en-
ahlcs one to live through the labor OF
others. While we do not interfere with
the religious faith of any, this is in no
sense a free thought community, for
every member must have decided con.
victions of right"