In co-operative manufactures we have had many experiments, but few successes, from 1849 onward.
Massachusetts reported twenty-five co-operative manufactories in 1875.

All of them, however, were small societies.
Now, co-operation has its clearly marked limitations.

It is of itself no panacea for all the ills that labor is heir to.
But it can ameliorate some of the worst of those ills.

It can effect great savings for our workingmen, and can secure them food and other necessaries of the best quality.

If nothing further arises, the spread of co-operation may simply induce a new form of competition between these big societies; but no one can study the history of the movement without becoming persuaded that there is a moral development carried on which will, in some way as yet not seen to us, lead up the organization of those societies into some higher generalization, securing harmony.