Sunday morning globe., 1901-11-17
GORDON elliott
Writes Interestingly Of a Com
muniStic Community
WHICH RECENTLY BUSTED.
Its Members Cannot Make Individual LVngs
and Want 10 Re-OrganIle Their Former
Society and Live a Communal Existence
Peculiar Customs Of the oarIan Colony
How They Live and Worked.

Members OF the Icaria colony Iowa.
cummunisuc settlement which dis.
banded some three years ago, are wish
ing they were again bound hand and
root in the association scheme. and
are alredy planning for the re-organi-
cation Of the colony
h. F. Bettanier Ine former head of
the society, declares that the mem
Oers have found that they are unfit
FOR individual work and that many Of
them have ben unable to earn a liy-
ing since the society dissolved. At
one time the Iowa Icarian settlement.
which is situated a short distance
south Of Corning in Adams county,
had membership of over 500. At
the time Of its dissolution the ranks
had been reduced to thirty distinguish
ed people. Mr.. Bettanier was appoint
ed by Judge TOwner receiver for the
organization and the affairs were
closed up the same as those Of any
olLer corporation or partnership.
One Of the reasons for dissolution
was that the people that surrounded
the settlement looked with i'll favor
upon the members, until at last the
latter were converted to the belief that
a life Of liberty which included the
right to own and keep all one earned
was far preferable to the sociaHstic
school in which they had taught.
Three years of experience alone has
convinced many of the Icarians that
it would have been better for them
had they preserved their society in
tact.
The Icarians are French. Across
the writer Etienne CADET fifty years
ago stirred France with his socialistic
ideas. The government was unfriend.
ly to his scheme and he came to
America where he proceeded to carry
out in practice what he had conducted
in theory in France. He came to
New Orleans, but yellow fever deci-
mated his followers and the scattered
band fed northward up the river. At
ST. Louis he learned that the Mormons
had been driven from their strong
hold in Nauvoo, H., and forced west.
ward across the plains, He determin.
eL to occupy the deserted village, and,
in May, 1850. established what he was
pleased to term "Icaria," probably
founded upon More's Utopia" pub
lished something over three centuries
before
After the first dream Of success had
worn off CADET began to plan to lead
has followers over into Iowa, for he
feared an uprising like that which
had banished Mormon faith west of
the Mississippi forever. Before his
cherished hope had come true he died.
Previous to his last illness he had
assumed such arrogance in the govern
ment of the city that he clashed
openly with the non-Icarian residents
and the exodus soon became a neces
sity CADET himself died i'm St.
Louis, where he went in search of
safety Upon his death those who
were still strong in the faith moved
westward across Iowa until they came
to Corning Fewer than sixty persons
made up this new colony. AT the time
Of the dissolution the company had
nearly 1000 acres in its own right. A
saw mill a grist mill, a school and
several small stores and shops were
! owned by the colony.
Iowa. however, boasts of one real
communistic settlement which is in a
hourishing condition. 1t is Amana 80
ciety, located on the Rock Island rail
road. half way between Des Moines
and Davenport The people are Ger
man. The colony is thrifty and we'll
| to.do and the members are apparently
satisfied.
The name "Amana' means remain
true" There are seven villages in
| the colony. There are more than a
| thousand members and the society
owns nearly 25,000 acres Of good, till
able land. Unlike the Icarians, the
| Amanites have no time for dreams
| They have no drones and the place
presents the appearance Of a hive
of busy bees. The management con
sists Of Thirteen trustees who are elect
ed each year The president, vice
president, secrtary and treasurer are
elected annually from the trustees Out
of their own number.
Each village has a store, a saw mill
flour mill, print mill, wooeln mill
stores. shops etc The products Of
| the Amana looms are well known In
| Iowa and the goods always command
a good figure wherever placed on the
market. A canal had ben dug from
the Iowa river and artificial lake con
structed in the streets Of Amana. Tn,
lakes and the mill race are kept clear
by the use Of dredging machines TIT
town has every appearance of beinl
a small sized Venice.
The Amanites left Germany in 1914
coming from Hassen. They are a re
Hgious sect and sought freedom, a
did many Of the other settlers o
America. The first located near But
falo. NJ Y, but eleven years later, a
almost the same time the lcarian
enterd the state, they came to Iowa,
D The society is governed by religion
rules. In order to join the commun
ity, no matter in what industry em
ployed, get SIS per month for thei
hire together with board at the com
munity table. This salary is pai'
summer and winter.
There is no levity at the table NJ
laughter at the time of eating. Their
Is no handshaking before or afte
I church. The colOnists walk In solemn