The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-04-22

or general policy are always settled
among the leaders, the other mem
bers being consulted only at the OPP
ton of the leaders. It seems very
strange in this democratic age to
see people sacrifice their opportun-
ity or personal success, for the sake
of their neighbors. 1t seems impos-
sible that men live in the state of
Iowa who labor long and hard each
day and are content with their
board and lodging only, turning the
results of their efforts into COM
mon fund to be used fer the welfare
of the community. Yet in the face
of this there is probably no place in
the United States, where work is
more thoroughly done than in
Amana colony, and while money
making is as pleasant an occupation
for the colony as it is for individuals
it is not the end and purpose of liv-
ing at Amana.
One of the many interesting fea-
lures of Amana is the manufactur-
ing industry. The colony buys moth
ing it can make itself, hence it
several flourishing plants,
the most important of which are the
two Touring and grist mills and the
famous wooden mills. 1t is through
the latter that the colony is best
known in the business world In
them over half million pounds of
raw wool are used annually. The
wool mill workers as well as those
in all their industries are carefully
selected for their places, and are
Ill
slider with the same skill and effici-
ency demands and gets in the world
a very high wage, so it is deemed
best by the board of trustees not to
disturb the peace of mind OF the
members of the colony by a too
familiar knowledge of the value of
skilled labor.
One half million yards of flannel
and cloth are manufactured in the
mills annually, ranging in price from
to ninety-five cents per
yard Certain times of the year are
devoted to the weaving of blankets,
of which 10000 pairs are made an
nually. The capacity of the mills is
at present taxed to the utmost and
the demand for their product far ex-
ceeds the supply, but the colony has
not members enough, only 1890, to
immediate extension.
While steam has gradually sup
planted water as motive power
nevertheless during seasons of album
dant rainfall, water power, furnish
ed by an old mill race several miles
long, is used. 1t is worth journey
of many miles to see this beautiful
little sheet of water, during the
spring months, propelling the old
fashioned water wheels of the odd
looking factories.
A few of the many other INDUS
tries carried on in the colony are: A
calico printing establishment where
$4,000 pards of calico are dyed and
printed every day: there is print
ing Office and book bindery where
the school books, hymn books and
all other religious books are printed.
The colony publishes no newspaper
Or magazine because the board of
trustees are afraid it would lead the
people to worldly" things, and then
all necessary information can be
transmitted daily through. the elders
TO the people at the evening prayer
meetings. The colony raises it's own
tobacco and makes it's own cigars,
which are readily consumed. Each
village has slaughter house, bak-
ery, tailor, saw mill for cutting fire
wood and a wine cellar, in which the
village supply of wine, of which they
Are very fond, is stored
In this connection it must be re-
that the colony is pre-
agricultural, the manu-
featuring Industries have a second
ary position of Importance. The
products of agriculture are for the
most part rye, barley, oats, corn, po-
tatoes and onions. The average an
nual yield as taken from the records
If the secretary of the colony is
1859 bushels of rye, 1894 bushels
If barley, 42,464 bushels of oats,
5,20S bushels of corn, 1852 bush
els of potatoes and 9,779 bushels of
onions. 1t is their aim to raise only
enough agricultural and dairy pro-
ducts for home consumption.
In keeping with the peculiar at
of the villages and its peo-
pie are the OK teams which occas-
meander down the long
street.. mere are several OK LeduS
used in the colony, it being their ex-
perience that oxen are more profit
ably used than horses for work
which requires heavy and steady
pulling. When one first sights an
ox team in it's picturesque setting it
seems that he has suddenly come
INTO strange land.
In every department of service in
which women participate the work is
appOrtioned to their
strength. Every woman makes her
own clothes and for her children. All
the women dress alike, in black or
gray calico that ia made by the So
,iety, with the inevitable apron,
'shoulder-shawl," and small black
cap. In spite of the plain, simple
lress there is q serenity in the man
ner of the women that is seldom
found elsewhere. Besides their work
IN the kitchens and gardens the
women perform simple handwork in
the wooden mills, such as tying
threads as they are wound on the