Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-12-12

Started in Topeka-COaI Mines to
Be Opened - Members TO Share
Equally.
A new socialistic colony, that will
make its principal industry mining. has
been organized in Topeka, Kan, with
II. Whittlesay Johnson, a A. Avery
and ID. L. Ziegler as founders and pro-
moters. An option on 5000 acres of
land has been secured in northern
Arkansas from the Missouri, Kansas
and Texas Railway company, situated
in the zinc and lead mineral belt of the
OZarks.
This colony has. in n large measure,
been patterned after the Ruskin col
Ony which was organized in TeDnessee
and which has been reorganiZed and
removed to Georgia. There viii 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 Il member. for while
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 ut the
present time is 4 complete printing
outfit. the purpose being to begin with
colony paper
While an organization has been eff
fected and Il plan Of work outlined.
the constitution and bylaws are held
in allegiance until the members are on
the ground, that each man and
woman may have voice i'll the making
of the laws. The government VIII 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 the opening
of one or more coal mines is in contem-
plation as soon as railroad facilities
are afforded. for up to the present time
there is not Il railroad within 30 miles
of the land. While the Adventist, or
Seventh Day BAPTIST church. has not
as 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 he removed to Fort
Smith, Ark, where the deal for the
land will be closed and possession TAX
en-. Membership has not been solicited,
but all applicatiOns-and there have
been many-are thoroughly sifted and
investigated, so that those accepted
will he proved worthy.
I'VE matured our plans only after
we had secured an option on the land
we desired" said II. Whittlesay John
son, for we wanted something tangi-
ble to offer to those whom we desired
to join. While we who have already
subscribed to 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. for all will have to work.
1T is our purpose not only TO make a
home, but TO receive the financial bene-
fits of our united labor. In the devel-
opmcnt of the mines all will have an
equal interest, although probably the
ma jOrity will labor in other lines. We
purpose to make working days of the
shortest hours consistent with n 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 sew
eral families. The only restriction will
be that should Il family decide to sever
relations with us the home will not be
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 10y work. they Will be paid in mon
ey for the work done for the communi-
~ as we'll as themselves. Our schools
Will 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 inclinations or previous expe-
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 viii not be
especially that kind that en-
ables one to live through the labor of
others. While we do not interfere with
the religious faith of any. this is in no
sense n free thought community. for
every member must have decided con-
yicti0nS of right"