The Unemployed Built a Co-op That Served 10,000 Meals in 34 Days
In the winter of 1894-95, 130 jobless Seattleites pooled donations and odd jobs into the Industrial Co-operative Society—and reported a $52.10 balance.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The Seattle Industrial Co-operative Society has now been in existence thirty-four days, and from the report submitted, unsolicited, last evening by the secretary, it has managed to feed and house its 130 members and still have a balance of $52.10 in the treasury. It is stated in the report that the citizens of Seattle and suburbs are giving liberal assistance. Following is the report:
'To the Editor: Herein we give you full details of the working of this institution since its birth, December 31, 1894. Since this society has been formed it has given to its 130 members and others upwards of 10,000 meals and housed comfortably all its members, principally by donations, work included. Up to the date of January 2, 1895, cash donations had been received; work since December 30 brought in $83.06, with 50 per cent of members' earnings allowed back to them for encouragement, making a total of $223.35. Taking into consideration the large number of men, our expenses, as you will note, are not what some people may call extravagant or reckless. Our total expenses have been $171.15, leaving a cash balance in the hands of our treasurer of $52.10. We have also a sum of money which for work performed will not be received until the beginning of the week. There are also other contracts in sight.
'It was resolved at the weekly meeting to tender our sincere thanks to the citizens of the city of Seattle and suburbs for their kind and timely assistance, and asking them to help the society by furnishing work in clearing lands, or any other useful occupation which may tend to help us in making it a self-sustaining institution. We remain, yours respectfully,
WILLIAM SORE, Secretary Seattle Industrial Co-Operative Society.'
An assistant secretary added that twelve men had been at work cutting and scraping, and that the job would contribute about $1.60 a day to the general fund.
“It has given to its 130 members and others upwards of 10,000 meals and housed comfortably all its members, principally by donations, work included.”
In the 1890s Seattle's unemployed organized mutual aid instead of waiting for relief. The co-op's ledger—10,000 meals, 130 members housed, a $52 balance—feels close to today's debates over homelessness, day labor, and whether charity can scale.
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