Kaweah Commonwealth Vol. 2, No. 20 (New Series) April 4, 1891

Visalia, California: Burnette G. Haskell, 1891. Newspaper. Very good/None. Kaweah Commonwealth Vol. 2, No. 20 April 4, 1891 (New Series), Kaweah, California, 1891. First edition, bifolio 4pp., 16.25 x 11 inches.

Minor edge wear and bent corner. Slight toning. Paper previously folded in half. Very Good.

Newspaper issue from 1891 from the Kaweah Cooperative Colony Company, originally founded in 1886 for the purpose of demonstrating the advantages of complete cooperation in in social and industrial life. One of numerous American cooperative communities which sprouted in the second half of the 19th century. The Kaweah Colony applied for 53 land patents covering 12,000 acres surrounding the forks of the Kaweah River in eastern Tulare County, California. With financial support from Kaweah Clubs in Los Angeles, Denver, New York and the Bay area, funds were raised to found the colony and begin construction on an 18-mile road providing access to rich timber stands. The colony members also built a print shop, blacksmith shop, dining hall and post office in Kaweah. This work based on the optimistic belief that their land patent would be approved quickly.

Road completion in 1890 coincided with the creation of Sequoia National Park with surrounding lands becoming deeded National Forest lands. All Keweah Colony land claims were rejected, and members found themselves branded as trespassers on federal lands with their road now utilized by the National Park Service as access to the sequoia groves. As noted in this issue, a trial was to begin April 14th in Los Angeles for the alleged cutting of timber on "government land." And although the trial article ends with "The skies look bright indeed for the future of Kaweah!", this optimism proved false, land claims were denied and within a couple years the colony had disbanded.

Issues of the Kaweah Commonwealth are uncommon.