The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-02
A FAILURE IN SOCIALISM.
End of n Christian Commonwealth
COLONY In GeOrRla.

l
End of n Christian Commonwealth
Colony In Georgia.
ATLANTA, Ga, Dec. 1.-At the Sherif
sale in Muscogee County, Georgia. o
Tuesday next the Christian Common
wealth Colony will pass out of existence
and its one thousand acres OF land an
the improvements thereon will pass int
the hands of the highest bidder.
The colony has been a socialist expert
ment which seemed likely to succeed a
one time. but which finally failed com
pletely. 1t was founded in February. 1895
by about forty men and women who cam
from Ohio. Indiana, and Illinois. an,
bought a tract of land nine miles from
Columbus, Ca, in one of the best farming
| sections of the State. About one-half tn,
price OF the land was paid in cash. ant
| notes were given Tor the rest OF the pur
| chase money. which was to be paid in one
and two years time. The settlement was
incorporated under the laws of Georgia
under the name of the Christian Common
wealth Colony of Socialists.
1t was composed of men. women, and
| children of more than average intel.i-
gence, and they seemed to have great
| faith in the success of their enterprise.
They brought with them a consider aole
amount of money, enough to pay 1890
toward the purchase OF the land which
they settled, and to invest about the same
amount in buildings. machinery, impie-
| ments. and stock. The houses were b lit
in the plainest style. The most eXpen-
sive structure was the common mess nail,
where all the colonists took their meals
and where their religious services were
hi Al d wa
surrounded by the cottages. OF cabins,
in which the colonists lived. On a stream
of considerable power near by they 10
Gated combined saw mill and grist mil.
and they established also a broom fac
tory. The settlement was in the centre
OF the plantation, which Is fine body OF
land and very productive under good cul-
tivation. While agriculture was to be
the main dependence Of the colony, the
saw mill turned out a large quantity of
lumber, the grist mill made famously
good cornmeal, the broom factory's pro-
duct found ready market, and the dairy
had surplus Of both milk and butter,
which brought good prices.
The first years experience of the colony
was very encouraging. The chief crops
were cotton, hay, corn oats, and potatoes.
The seasons were excellent and there was
profitable yield OF every crop. At the
5
had snug balance to its credit in the
Columbus banks. and had lived well on the
fruits of Its labor. knitting mill was es-
tablshed with the profits Of the years
work, the dairy was enlarged, and hog
raising was undertaken on large scale
for Georgia. The colony had met all of its
obligations promptly, and its credit in Co.
lumbus was good. The news OF its pros
perity brought about forty more members
from the Northwest. and induced twenty
five or thirty parsons from the surround
ing country to Join it.
But with Its growth in numbers the
troubles of the Commonwealth began.
Early in the second year of it's existence
1t was found that about one-fifth of the
members failed to do their proper share
OF the work. A majority Of the colonists
voted to expel them. The drones resisted
and employed counsel to plead their al
legged rights in the courts. They claimed
that under their contract they could not
be turned out of the community. and ap-
piled for an injunction against their pro-
posed expulsion. This was met by a
action against them for trespass. |
which was sustained But the chickering's
thus begun continued and there was no
more peace in the Commonwealth.
Its second years operations were con- |
Quoted at loss greater than its first |
on the property and payments for the bal |
ance of the purchase money for the land |
were not made. This year the experience |
Of the Socialists was still more disas-
trous. Current expenses were not kept !
up with and the credit of the company |
had to be strained to procure sufficient |
food and clothing for its members. Near !
ly every one of the Georgia contingent |
abandoned the Commonwealth and several !
OF the original members went back to the |
states from which they had come.
1t was then agreed that the best thing !
10 do was to make an application for |
friendly receivership. This request was |
granted. and it Is hoped that out of the |
wreck enough money will be realized to
pay all the debts Of the community and
.nable its remaining members to get back
o their former homes with little money |
m hand.
The Commonwealth was conducted on |
purely Socialistic principles. 1t had a
PRESIDENT and an executive council of five
three men and two women. The
amily life was strictly observed, and four
cen children were born in the colony. The
clcnists had little communication with
heir neighbors. except on business. but it
s agreed that they disturbed nobody. con-
Iucted themselves most peaceably, and
bowed a disposition to meet all their OBJ
igationS