New-York daily tribune., 1843-03-07
Social Science.

From the Friends of Association.

and reflections made during his practice in the
West, which we consider OF such value and mpor-
tance persons settling in new countries, that We
are induced TO present readers with extract.
The suggestions of this gentleman deserve the az
tention of all those persons who propose to emf
CRATE to the West, and especially Of our Eastern
Farmers. We think that Editers Of country pa
pers, and particularly those in the New England
States, would confer great benefit upon the far
mers in their sections by publishing this letter.
1t will be observed that by uniting and settling in
a bady upon some principles of Association. al
most all difficulties and disadvantages OF settling
in country encountered by the sing le and
isolated emigrent, will be obyiated ard overcome,
and that little colony of farmers, mechanics, &c
can easily secure to themselves comfortable home
and agreeable social citations Associations form
ed ever so imperfectly in the beginning, will, By
| their concert of action and unity of interests, be
attended with great benefits the present iso-
lated and competitive system.
Sir. With much interest have watched the prog
rcss of your efforts tc propagate and establish the
principles Of Association and Attractive lnoustry,
practical experiments. Ny object in this commu-
nica,ion is call your attention to the claims OF
the West Associations located in any of the
Eastern States would unquestionably be greatly
ad wants geous but the establishment of Associa-
tions in the West would, in my opinion, be attended
.th tcnfold more immediate Benefit. [ viii give
few reasons to show the advantages OF Associa-
ton in the West The settler hero is, from the
nature of things in the present state of incoheren
Society, deprived Of many of the Comforts enjoyed
at the East; he s eEnosed to Disease; Privatons
and Hard ships unknown there, all CT which would
be avoided by Association. At present the settler
from the Eastern States expects to meet great pri.
va,ions and herdships in new settlement which
deter many i.oH sriigratins. For instance,
Farmer in the East, with farm Of zoo acres,
and large family of children turns his attention
TO the West; he views the subject something In
this light; his farm will afford him comfortable
subsistence while he lives, but will be insufficient
for his children when they grow up, and by selling
it and going West, he cen purchase ten times as
much and better land, thereby securing good farms
for his children he knows, however, by SO doing,
comforts, and in great measure, Of the benefits OF
society, and his children of the advantages OF
schools; he must expose himself to the risk OF
disease suffering and death from change OF Climate,
but on the whole he resolves to make the sacrihce
He comes here, makes purchase, end his first
want is shelter; he goes to work and puts up a
Log Cabin Of green logs right from the forest and
without removing the bark from them; floor Is
put down of split logs, also green, and in day or
Two his family find themselves in their new habi,a-
ZION. Had he set himself TO work to construct g
house for the destruction Of himself and family
Jy disease, he could scarcely have contrived one
mere to the purpose than this same Log Cabin.
The requisites for the fatal miasrla which causes
most of the bilious, remittent and intermittent
Fevers of the West, are decaying animal and
ceectablc matter, heat and moisture. Now all
these elements of Disease present in this Log
Cabin in such combination that the consequences
must be dceterous to health and disastrous to It's
occupants. Surrounded by a mass of green logs
which exhae their miasma as they dry and decay,
and acted on by the fire within. how can it be 9TH
wiset? The floor soon shrinks and in short time
an incredible quantity of matter from crumbs of
bread. &C. falling through the cracks accumulates,
which s regularly supplied by washing with the re-
uuisite moisture to keep it in state OF tarmenta-
ton, which is a most prolific source of pestilenial
missma. Hence Zine cases in ten of our Western
fevers, usually charged to the country and tfe
climate are caused by the present defective mode
of living.
Thus Association would at once remove the prin-
c;pal cause Of disease in the West, OF the
greatest barriers to emigration. little colony
could BY their united exertions build large and
comfortable dwellings for all, without the defects
Of the Log Cabins. Where sawed and seasoned
timber could rot be obtained, which would rarely
be the case, excellent houses might easily be built
of halfburnt or sus.dried brick, made in the very
best manner, and coated Inside and out with some
kind of mortar to make them Doth and even, and
then whitewashed. A body Of settlers could do
this. which it is almost impossible for the single
settler to do.
After securing in great degree the health OF
,be Settler, there are other benefits which Asso-
clarion would confer on him. to which will merely
allude:
1s,. In a community OF friends closely allied by
ties of interest he could enjoy all the advantages OF
Social Intercourse, which to q great extent the
Settler is now deprived of.
I'd. His children could have greater facilities tor
obtaining good scientific Combined with an in
du.trial) education than can be found in the most
favored towns in Nsw-England, whereas children
in new settlement, are now almost entirety oe
nriyed Of the benefit of schools OF any kind.
Sd. The mutual assistance rendsred each ethsr
a;.;,;or oe labor among the members, would