Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican, Volume 8, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1876 — A Co-Operative Experiment. [ARTICLE]

A Co-Operative Experiment.

In Scribner for May, Charles Barnard has a paper on “ Some Experiments in Co-Operation,” in which he speaks as follows of the Springfield (Yt.) Industrial Works, a successful co-operative enterprise: At the benches are young men and women in about equal numbers, distributed according to the demands of the work, or their own ability. Precisely as in any mauufrctory there is a regular system of work sad a perfect subdivision of labor. By the peculiar method of selection each one bas the work that the majority think he or she is beet suited to perform consistently with the best interests of the establishment. On going through the various departments, one cannot fail to notice the quiet and order that prevail. There is s rigid adherence to business that is positively refreshing. Per -sons familiar with working peopleln mills and shops can readily recall that calmness of manner and Ingenuity in doing nothing with .. apparent energy that characterize some of the workers. Not a trace of this can be seen in the industrial works. The sun goes down, the lamps aro lighted, and the work goes on without a, pause. It is hammer, hammer, hanupep, with all the regularity and twice the energy of a clock. TBs whirling shafts spin steadily, the shavings fly from tins planers, the paint brushes slip along quickly in nimble girl fingers- It is work, work, work with a jolly persistence. The six o'clock, bell rings, and no one seems to discover it till the reluctant engineer turn* off the waiter, and the clattering machinery runs

•lowly and finally stops, sa if h also held j shares in fhecouprey/ forty or more young men and wmam ire goodhealthandlke bestofspirits. They are wel)-dreaaed, intelligent, withmenoo* self-respeetfhl and courteous. After pppmusic and games, and aoaw mum to this shop for extra work. AM are apparently! contented and happy, and all, without { exception, are maxing money at a rate | seldom equaled, by people in their poet-