The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-07-04

ARTICLE SEcoSD-ln former article, published
some time since, pointed out few of the mise
ries which Cypress the human race, and the use
essness of political reforms, in order 10 show
the necessity of social reform. The evils which
exist in the world have their origin, with few
exceptions in a false organization of society,
and a social reform only can eradicate them eiec-
tually.
will, in the present article, give brief sketch Of
the system of Association, discovered by Fourier,
and which we, his disciples, believe would produce
such reform, and offer the means of improving
greatly the condition OF all .classes-he rich as well
as the poor.
The proper number Of persons for an Association
is about two thousand, or if we suppose six seven
persons to family, three hundred families. A
practical trial on a small scale could be made with
four hundred persons. will describe large Asso-
citation, which will explain the smaller one, as il is
merely reduction from it,
Tor an Association of two thousand persons, a
tract of land three miles square, or about six thou.
sand acres will be necessary. For small Associa-
ton of four hundred persons, fifteen hundred acres
will be sufficient The land, which should be in a
body, would form the domain of the Association
Its surface should be unduatlng, and the soil adapt
ed TO varied culture.
Every variety possible of agricultural pursuits
should be carried on in the Association. Several
branches OF manufactures and mechanics should
also be established, which would occupy az out one
third of the time of the members, and would give
them employment during rainy days and the winter
months. The arts and sciences should also be pro-
secuted, and 10 az great an extent as possible.
The domain of the Association would be cutlvat-
ed as II II were the farm OF a single individual it
would be overseen and managed with all the talent
| and skill OF the most experienced and intelligent
members OF the Association The best OF imple-
ments and teams, and the most economical machi-
merry, would be employed; the finest races of ami
mails, and the finest varieties Of fruits, vegetables
and grains would be obtained, and the best modes
of cultivation adopted The lands would be hand
somely laid out in gardens fields, fruit-orchards
vineyards, lawns and woodlands, and they could be
as beautifully cultivated and as tasefully arranged
! as the grounds of the rich n0blemen of England.
" 1t we compare In IMAGINATION" says FOURIER,
| the cultivation of domain in Association, over
seen like the farm of experienced and wealthy
agrlculturis with tract OF country cut up into lit
tie farms and subjected to the caprice of three hun
bred isolated families, the contrast will be most
glaring. Here one family makes meadow of
sloping piece of land, which nature destined to the
vine there another sowswheat where grass should
grow third, to avoid buying grain clears decli-
witty which the rains will strip OF its soil the follow
ing year while fourth and fifth misappy the sol
| in some other way. The three hundred families lose
| their time and money IN barrcading themselves
against each other and in lawsuits about boundary
lines and petty thefts. They all avoid works of ge
| neral utility which might be of advantage TO disa.
greeable ncighbors, and individual interest is every
where brought into conflict with public good"
| So long aa agriculture Is prosecuted by separate
families, which for the most part are deprived of ca
| pta and SKILL this state of things will continue
In association on the contrary, domain, would Of
fer perfect model of scientific cultivation, and q
| whole country covered with these domains, woA Aid
| render the landscape as beautiful and diversified as
| it is now in general dreary and monotonous
The Association would not build three hundred
nconvcnent little houses, as three hundred fami'
lies do il would erect in the centre of its do
main large and elegant edliice, which would form
lis residence or manor house, and which would
be planned IN every way TO suit the wants and com
/ forts of the members.
The granares, storehouses, NC, would be loca
| ted in the vicinity OF the main edlfice.
To form clear idea OF an Association, we mus
imagine before us an elegant domain of six thou
| sand acres diversified with gardens fruit orchards
| fields lawns, and woodlands, and in the centre
| noble edfce, combining elegance, economy, anC
convenience, and capable of accommodating two
| thousand persons, or three hundred families.
An Association of the kind would replace the
town c. village of our civilized societies, composed
| Of two or three hundred isolated families in sepa
rate houses, with their little farms and workshops
the town and village have replaced the wigwa ans
| of savage horde.
| The Edfce of an Association would be composed
of centre, wings and sub-wings, and should offel
the most varied form, so as to avoid all monotony
and uniformity Ii should be three stories in height
| and rest upon high basement. The basement
would contain the kitchens, cellars, &c. The prn-
cpa part Of the first story would be reserved for the
public halls and saloons. In would be located the
| dining halls, halls for social unions, council rooms
| the library, the lecture and reading rooms thu
| church. &c. The second and third stories would
| contain the private apartments, which would var,
in size and price of rent TO suit single persons or IA
miles, and all tastes, degrees Of fortune and desire
| OF economy.
The private apartments would be separated b,
partition walls, so that people could live retiredIy
in them as they wished. Around one front OF the
| the Edice would wind an enclosed piazza or spa
cious gallery, about twenty feet wide, on which thu
doors of the private apartments would open, ant
| which would enable the members of the Associa
ton to go to all parts OF the Edlice without being
exposed TO the wet and cold, or to sudden change
| of temperature, as they now are when they leave
their warm rooms for the open air.
Association will secure 10 man the privacy OF do
nestle life combined with the advantages ant
pleasures of extended and varied social relations
| which is what his social nature requires.
The lands, ediices, hocks, machinery, &c, o
the Association, would be appraised at their cast
| valuation, and represented by stock divided into
| shares Each individual would own stock accord
| ing TO the amount Of his capital invested.
| One quarter OF the tota product OF profits would
go TO pay interest the shares the other three quar-
ters would be paid TO those who performed the la
Dor.
Suppose Association raised and manufactured
| s500,0W worth ofproducts per annum. quarter
| or Sl25,00, would go TO the stockholders, ans
/ S375 600 to those whose labor produced them.
one quarter were found too much, it could be de
| creased: but we must remember that the member
who do the work are principally the stockholders
and that this amount returns TO them again
All branches of industry, that is, agriculture ma
nutactures and mechanics, would be carried on, no
| by single individuals, but by number of persons
united from taste Tor the occupation, and VIII,
| would form group. Occupations would not b,
| continued more than three hours AT time an,
would be varied during the day, SO as TO proven
| monotony and disgust, and 10 exercise all parts o
| the body, and all the faculties the mind.
| Each group would receive the product of its dor
| or the value of what is produced Let us suppos,
| Qhc example will apply to every other branch Of in
| dustrv)-have raised 5000 bushels of wheat worth
| $1,000. The association would sell the wheat for
them. charglng a small commission Of or j pei
&0o5n ,,onld he renarad L. ~. lie intnrcsi On the