History of American SocialismsNoyes, John Humphrey
History
History of American Socialisms
Noyes, John Humphrey
Communism -- United States; Socialism -- United States
"We have now one hundred and eighty resident members; one
hundred and one males, seventy-nine females; fifty-six males and
thirty-seven females over the age of twenty-one years. About
eighty have boarded at a public table during the past year, at a
cost of fifty cents per week and two and a half hours' labor;
whole cost sixty-three cents. The others, most of the time, have
had their provisions charged to them, and done their own cooking
in their respective families, although their apartments are very
inconvenient for that purpose. Most of the families choose this
mode of living, more from previous habits of domestic
arrangement and convenience, than from economy. We have resident
on the domain, thirty-six families and thirty single persons;
fifteen families and thirty single persons board at the public
table: twenty-one families board by themselves, and the
remaining five single persons board with them.
"Four families have left during the past year, and one returned
that had previously left. One left to commence a new
Association: one, after a few weeks' residence, because the
children did not like; and two to seek other business more
congenial with their feelings than hard work. The Society has
increased its numbers the past year about twenty, which is not
one-fourth of the applicants. The want of room has prevented us
from admitting more.
"There has been 96,297 hours' medium class labor performed
during the past year (mostly by males), which, owing to the
extremely low appraisal of property, and the disadvantage of
having a new farm to work on, has paid but five cents per hour,
and six per cent. per annum on capital.
"The amount of property in joint-stock, as per valuation, is
$30,609.04; whole amount of liabilities, $1,095.33. The net
product or income for the past year is $6,341.84, one-fourth of
which being credited to capital, makes the six per cent.; and
three-fourths to labor, makes the five cents per hour. We have,
as yet, no machinery in operation except a saw-mill, but have a
grist-mill nearly ready to commence grinding. Our wheat crop
came in very light, which, together with the large amount of
labor necessarily expended in temporary sheds and fences, which
are not estimated of any value, makes our dividend much less
than it will be when we can construct more permanent works. We
have also many unfinished works, which do not yet afford us
either income or convenience, but which will tell favorably on
our future balance-sheets.
"The Society has advanced to the members during the past year
$3,293, mostly in provisions and such necessary clothing as
could be procured.
"The following schedule shows in what the property of the
Society consists, and its valuation:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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