The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-04-22
THE NOTED AMANA SOCIETY.
on an Equal-Fruits Of
All Labor Go to Common Fund.
No Rich and No Poor.
(By Wayne Currell)

(By Wayne Currell)
How many Of us believe that So
cialism could successfully thrive in
Iowa? A community without pri-
yatL property or personal aggran-
diZement seems impossible. Never
theless in the heart of Iowa there is
little colony thriving under the
principles of brotherly love, an excel
lent example of an idealistic social
ism.
In the western part of Iowa coun-
ty there is charming title valley
through which the historic Iowa riv-
er flows to the eastward. Seven old
fashioned villages nestle among the
'hillsides surrounded by twenty-six
thousand acres of rich Iowa soil. Be-
yond and surrounding the valley are
rich timbered hills, as if forming a
frame for the quaint colony of
Amana below. The beauty of the
spot and the quaintness of the peo-
pie and their villages attract hun
dreds of tourists annually, who
wish to take peep at a bit of an
cient Europe in America.
The Amana colony was founded
in 1855 by band OF dissenting Ger
man Lutherans who were seeking a
secluded spot to work out their own
ideals of pure religion or true in
spiration,' as they designate their
belief. This little group of wander
ers, 1900 in number, came directly
from northern Europe to New York
in 1854, where they resided until
1855 when they came west and To-
Gated in Iowa county The elders of
the little group, being men of good
sound minds, grasped the opportun-
ity and purchased the $4,000 acres
stands. The location could not have
been more carefully selected for the
working out of independent ideals
and beliefs.
In addition to the rare natural
beauties of the location the Amana
domains include some of the richest
bottom land and most fertile upland
in Iowa. Besides, there are the we'll
timbered hills which have furnished
most of the building materials and
all of the fuel for the entire colony
for over half century without any
present indication of every being
completely exhausted. The colony,
inclusive of timber and swamp land,
is divided into villages and factory
sites, vegetable gardens, timber land,
cultivated fields and pastures.
The seven villages of the colony
are Old Amana, the capital; Middle
Amana, East Amana, West Amana,
South Amana, High Amana and
Homestead Each village consists
of cluster of from forty to one
hundred houses arranged in the
manner that very much resemble the
German "Dorf' with it's one long
struggling street. At one end are the
village barns and sheds, at the 9TH
er the factories and workshops. All
the members of the Amana colony,
farmers included, live in the vii
lagos. Every village has it's own
church, school, bakery, dairy, post
office, wine cellar, (they are very
fond of wine) and general store. The
performance of weather stained
buildings (the people believe it ex-
travagant to paint gives the vii
lagos a dull and monotonous aspect
The style, of architecture or lack
of styles the same throughout the
entire colony-plain, square struc-
lures, but gabled roofs. All lumber
is obtained from their own timber
land.
lCommunistic societies are like in
dividuals. Many have been able to
stand adversely, but only the stead
lest minded are able to stand pros
perity. The Amana colony belongs
to the extreme small class of the lat
ter. The element of self interest
demanding individual gain and good
is encouraged by the spirit of broth
erly love. Everything, therefore, in
the colony is in common, everyone
strives for the interests of the col
ony with no thought of reward for
ability. The land, villages,
stores, factories, all are owned col
lectively. The profits accruing are
kept in the bank or treasury of the
colony, to be used only upon the
order of the chosen elders. Private
property is not known; everything
the members of the colony earn must
pass into the bank and be deposited
to the credit of the Amana colony.
In return for their labor every
member Of the colony receives board.
dwelling, support and care secured
to him in old age and sickness, be-
size IuTLuoT dllOWduCC OuL VI luS
common treasury for the mainte-
nance of his family. The annual
sum of maintenance varies with
Justice and equity from $25 to
$50. This allowance, made in form
Of q credit at the village store and
guarded by pass book and a day
ofrjudgment at the close of the
year, is not likely to be spent in riot
GUS living. Recently coupon books
for IS and SO have been issued and
are now used by the members, thus
the bookkeeping.
The government Of Amana is one
OF extreme concentrated power.
Supreme power is placed in the
hands of board of trustees. con-
sisting of thirteen members, who are
elected annually by popular vote.
The members )of the board of trus-
tees are the spiritual as we'll as the
temporal leaders. The board meet
ings are held alternately in different
villages, and direct not only all in
ternal affairs of the colony, but
determine as we'll, its business rela-
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