Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 8.djvu/691

 THE RUSKIN CO-OPERATIVE COLONY 6/1

neighboring town, Dixon, ten miles distant, learning that the colony had a steam laundry for its own work, sent to Ruskin three times to urge upon them the laundry work that was being sent to a town a hundred miles away. An improvement in the Ruskin laundry of $75 would have enabled them to do this and other work that in time could have afforded them a permanent business of $100 a month clear profit. The management refused to consider

the proposal An iron molder who had joined the colony showed them

that they could buy in the market the best castings for half the price they were paying for inferior ones. This man, supposed to be a partner in the business, was told to grub at his own affairs and not to meddle with the

management The Ruskin farming was the laughing-stock of the

neighborhood. They resented rather than appreciated suggestions offered by successful neighboring farmers who were familiar with the conditions essential to produce a good crop in that part of the country. Work was always going on, after its fashion, and hard work by many, but without the

foresight and direction that yields returns A worn-out plantation

several miles away was rented for $300 for the season [1900]. Extra mules and additional tools were bought. After all summer's work this farm did not come out even with what was expended on it in labor and money, and it was

called a total failure The crops on the colony land also turned out a

total failure. All the farming in this region (southern Georgia) is done by planting in ridges, as a protection against heat and sunbake. Those who were selected to superintend the farming insisted on planting flat, as they had been accustomed to do where they were raised. They refused to imitate their neighbors. One of the farmers of the colony said : " I will plant this way [flat] if I live to be a thousand years old." .... The neighbors har- vested fair crops.

Other serious mistakes could be mentioned, but enough has been said to show that the management of the colony was a very unwise one, and that this was the direct cause of the failure of the colony.

The publication of the paper had always, until the receiver was appointed, been a source of considerable profit. Just what this profit was no one knew, as the accounting system was defective.

Bath cabinets were manufactured, on which the profit was large, but the demand for them was very small, and they sold not more than one per week. Chewing gum was manufactured, but there was scarcely any demand for it. The tailoring shop made a small profit on its outside trade. Clothing was made for the colonists at cost, saving them a great deal of money.