p.i.ackmar: i;xi'F.rimi:nis insoi.i'iion oi iakdr i'roih.k.m. 27 



adopted gave a dividend of 5 per cent, on \\ages; second 3'ear 10 

 per cent.; third year, 10 per cent.: fonrth year 8 per cent. ; fifth 

 year, 10 per cent. ; sixth year, 8 per cent. ; seventh year, 4 per cent. ; 

 and in the eighth year, which was 1893, no dividend was declared. 

 The total dividends paid to wage earners as their share of divided 

 profits has been $65,000, or an average of 9 per cent, on wages 

 paid. In the beginning dividends were payable in cash or the stock 

 of the company: bnt in recent years in order to make a solidarity 

 between capital and labor, the company insists that all dividends 

 shall be paid in the stock of the company. Perhaps there is no 

 other feature that binds the employees and emplo\'ers so closely 

 together as a participation in dividends and sharing m the profits 

 of the concern. 



One other economic condition here is worthy of especial atten- 

 tion: this is the co-operative store Avhich was opened in May, 1892, 

 and incorporated under the laws of Illinois for the purpose of fur- 

 nishing consumers with goods at moderate rates. The laws under 

 which it is incorporated provide, among other things, that no one 

 shall hold more than one share or cast more tl^an one vote, and 

 that all profits above interest shall be divided among members. 

 The capital stock is two thousand shares of $50 each. Its business 

 consists in buying and selling any class of goods required by mem- 

 bers, and manufacturing. It is under control of a board of direct- 

 ors elected annuall\- by the members. All business is conducted 

 on a cash basis. All goods are retailed to members or non-members 

 at the ruling prices as indicated by the actual prices prevailing in 

 stores in the vicinity. At the end of each quarter the books are 

 balanced and dividends declared according to the recommendation 

 of the directors and the approval of the stockholders, in proportion 

 to the amount of the purchases of each individual during the 

 quarter. Only half-rate dividends are given to non-members. The 

 dividends have varied from 10 per cent, to 20 per cent., except in 

 one quarter when there was no profit at all. The business is 

 carried on entirely upon an economic basis. 



Some attempts have been made to improve the social condition 

 of the laborers. There are free billiard rooms and bowling alleys, 

 a small grove where swings and benches are provided, and a base 

 ball ground. The company maintains a landscape gardener and 

 keeps a green house from which residents are supplied free of 

 charge with as many flowers as they wish to set out and care for. 

 A well organized literary society is in existence where occasional 

 lectures by distinguished men are given. There is a well trained 

 band which gives open-air concerts during the week on the grounds 



