Cooperage

(ko dpr-ej,) the mechanical art by which casks, tubs, barrels, and all kinds of wooden ve els bound together with hoops are made. Societies, (ko-op'ŭr-a-tiv,) are certain joint-stock a ociations formed among the working cla es for the carrying on of busine of a commercial character. Originally, in England and France, such societies consisted of a body of members-generally numbering several hundreds of the artisan and laboring element of the population-who, by constituting themselves a trading corporation, enabled their families to buy articles of daily need at the lowest market-price and of the very best obtainable quality. To effect this result, large stores or magazines are established, at which provisions, clothing, fuel, furniture, ., are sold for ready money, and the net profits of the concern. after liquidation of all expenses divided pro rata among the members. In this regard, the system of C. S. means: the abolition of dealing on credit, and, by means of. small goods' stores, the purchase of genuine, unadulterated articles, and a participation in the profits of trading. Within the last few years, the co-operative system has become extended in some European and American countries to the formation of societies among workingmen, having for their object such an investment of their moneyed resources in a common fund as shall in the aggregate constitute a capital whereon to carry on busine for themselves - thus they are, in fact, nothing more nor le than joint-stock companies, representing labor instead of capital in the abstract. [s. 225]