Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-04-26
A MODEL VILLAGE
To be Built Near Kansas City
Along Vrooman Lines.
Intent is to Do Away With Army Of
MiddIemen.
Object Is to Sell Goods From Producer
to Consumer Direct.


of the fine tracts of land in the vicinity
of Kansas City, with the immediate in
tention of laying out model village.
The unique feature of the town is to
be that it will be founded not from
commercial and industrial enterprise
merely. but will have it's chief purpose
in the promotion of the highest ad-
vantages for the development of child
life. A paradise for children" will oc-
cupy the central portion, and the Iac-
tories, stores, offices, places Of amusc-
ment, homes, churches, etc, VIII oc-
cupy the environs.
The children are TO be the end and
aim of the settlement. The best traits
in humanity will be encouraged, con-
stantly improving mental, moral and
physical conditions Will be induced;
and the Improvement of the species
begun. Children that have no place, no
part have been left without either
parent or both, children that are COM
mitted to the care of irresponsible or
uneducated persons, and children from
families that are obliged to travel, or
for any of countless reasons are un-
able TO perform their full duty toward
these little ones-Wil be made welcome
and will be provided with the most
modern and sensible influences for nor
NAL development and appreciation Of
the large meanings of life and world
progress. The object is replete with
wonderful possibilities.
1t is the Vrooman idea that babies
minds are too often fed on intellectual
rarcbit, and that childish hands are
b,,r def tasks
prison cells of commerce. The first
years of Il childs life are full of
"don'ts." The meaning of do and
"be" he learns for himself in after
wears. And then, very late, often too
late, he finds that it matters less what
one is not and does not than what one
is and does. a child in the present
conditions has less opportunity for rr-
tionaI development than a wild animal
in the forest, or a vegetable in the gar
den.
Grownup people have all the prod
uCts of human genius devoted to their
pleasure and enlightenment and rest
and freedom. Almost apoloSeticaily at
times there is a narrow-radiuS eXprcs
sion of good will and interest in the
children. The whole world seems to be
for men and women; and the only self
conscious idea in the mind of pre-
maturity is to outgrOw ito be 'old
enough for all the wonderful and de-
sirable things that are. forever
snached from the-inquiPing mind-and'i
hands Work that is joy, employment
that is Il natural and ever-varying ex-
preston of the inner energy, VIII give
the sense of expansion, content and
hope. Ambition will not have to wait
upon necC ssity, but win be the natural
outgrowth of first-hand perception.
Mechanics will be put to work on the
construction of the principal buildings
of the "Children's paradise" within two
weeks. It will be surrounded by
thirty-five acres of beautiful grounds.
The factories are already under active
considera ton A number of savings
banks are being organized in the vicin-
ity of Kansas City, in smaller towns.
Here in Kansas City about twenty-five
cooperative stores will soon be open 70
the public. all under the same manage
ment. Mr.. John Doggett and Mr.. Walter
Vrooman being the principal Instruments
of the company. Mr.. Nrooman IS an en-
thusiastic orgarizer, and is devoting his
entire time to the allied plans: The &C.
optratiVe stores arOuSinG tnc !NeneSl
interest among the merchants, ana ma
iority of them are anxious TO assist III
the movement by becoming active mem-
bers, 1t is said. The properties are ac
cented in exchange for preferred stock IN
the association, bearing 9 per cent an
nually. A large amount OF capltai-apou[
$500 600 has been offered by pubic splr
tied men, who will in no sense become
stockh olders or dill ectors of the concern,
but will merely receive bonds bearing .
per cent interest The use OF capital III Il
association will be formed and controlled
by it's great body of purchasing members.
This peoples trust will make 1t pos
sible for the consumers of supplies, etc,
to receive the profits on their own invest
ments. The Outlined plan Is that divi-
dend will be declared every six months or
year and each purchasing member Will
receive a pro- rata return from the me-
profits. a large profit Is inevitable, ii
is claimed, as goods may be bought IN
such enormous quantities for the supply
ing of the chain of cooperative stores as;
to enable the most economical system of
dealing. Mr.. Vrooman declares that n
little later. it will be unnecessary 1or the
association to buy The commodities need
ed by the members; for there VIII ne
farms, dairies, ranches,g s,gcanning, preserv-
ing and packing plants, and all sucn m
dustries as are found necessary to supple
ment the central idea.
''The intent" he says sis to do away
with the great loss incident. on the vast
army OF middlemen. Producer and con-
tions. The maximum of value will be OBJ
tanned at the minimum of cost to the con-
sumer, who will at the same time reap
all the advantages that accrue from large
and equitably managed enterprises.
mo economic movement ever started IN
the history of the world has gained such
headway in so short time. The trend of
the times is toward concentration and &C.
operation and the people in all the most
highly enlightened countries have proved
themselves prepared for the principles IN
volved. The productivity of honesty is
being established, and the equitable ad-
justment of labor to the laws OF de-
mand and supply has found practcal IL
lustration. Individual benefit is seen to
be inseparable from collective benefit anu
the dictation of selfishness will soon be
a barbarism of the past
.'The Rochdale system of cooperative
\stores In England IS controlling the lars-
est mercantile business Of any concern in
the entire world. Belgium contains more
than 1900 cooperative societies. Germany
has 1896 distributive societies. 1I20 supply
societies. 2l1l productive societies, 153 sale
depots, 10 259 bank of credit societies, be-
sides a large number of building socie-
ties, insurance societies and people s
banks. Four-fifths of these societies have
been organized within the last fifteen
years by cooperative methods. France,
Holland, Austria, Italy. Russia. Norway.
Finland, Australia, New Zealand Swe-