New-York daily tribune., 1844-08-01
The sknneateIes Community.

ITO be Con,nuedI
The SlnneateIes Community.
We have SO often expressed our dlsscnt from
the principles OF No-Property and No-Religion
embodied in the creed of the Community at
Skaneateles, OF which john A. Collins is men,
Der, that we do not believe we shall again be
charged with advocating them, or that they can
by an intelligent man be confounded with the
directly opposite views of Fourier and the Asso-
ciationists. We find the following letter from
this Community in the Nantucket Telegraph,
and we publish it to show how the enterprise
goes on. If it succeeds in making men wiser
or happier, very well if it fails, the lesson can
not be uninstructivc. We care not to offer CON-
n,ents except that we consider the assertion that
the lands, &c. occupied by this Community are
in any practical sense held as belonging in COM
mon with the air and other elements, to the rhole
human race" deception. Who choose The
trustees (" who manage this property for the
Human Racer What would be thought by the
members of a neighbor who should dig an acre
OF their potatoes But to the letter:
COMMUNITY PLACE, June TO- 1874.
Skaneateles, which III the Indian dialect sig
nifes beautiful country may not inaptly be thus
called; for more delightful location, on sloping
cminence overlooking the lake of the same name,
could scarcely be imagined.
The Community Farm comprising ebout three
hundred acres of the finest land one half Of which
is cultivated and promises an excellent and
abundant harvest, is situated about three miles
from town. II is the exclusive property of no
person or persons, but belongs, n common with
the air and other clements to the whole human
race, 10 be used, occupied, improved, cultivated
and enjoyed III common under legal representa-
lives or Trustees.
The scenery in and around the farm, does not
to my tas!e. correspond with the high wrought
descriptions OF it which have been glven but in
point of utility pcrhapssno spot could be selected,
combining SO many advantages 1t would seem
as though Nature, if not special Providence
had designed this place for model community;
SO admirably adapted is it TO the purposes of
building, farming, mechanical operations and
transportation. 1t contains inexhaustible quar-
ries of gray and blue limestone, much of which is
uncovered and will require very little labor in
preparation. The outlet of the Skaneatcles lake
runs in meandering course through the un-
cleared woods of the farm, affording superior ia
cDities for the erection of hydraulic works, and
at the same time contributing very much to the
beauty and variety of the place. sometimes flow
ng in noiseless stream through the forest, and
then forming beautiful cascades or ioaming and
dashing waterfalls. A powerful saw mill, con-
tanning several circular saws, lathes, and various
other machinery, has been erected; by the ope.
ration Of which, however, only a small portion of
the immense water privilege is improved. The
Erie canal is about FIVE miles from the farm, and
II La1c
nccied with it by means OF a branch railroad
There are between 10 and 50 persons on the
ground, most of whom reside in a large stone
house, though there are several small buildings on
the premises. They contemplate erecting large
house, adjoining The one they now occupy, which
they hope complete before winter. This however,
they design for temporary residence; and hope
at no very distant period, that it will give place
to one large and commodious edifce, every way
adapted to and in harmony with the sublime OBJ.
jects of the Association, one which shall stand
out in bold and beautiful relief, against the mise
rably constructed dwellings of civic life, which in
their isolated, crampt design and execution, in the
absence of true architectural beauty and proper
lion, exhibit the ignorance scllishness and want
of refinement, which is every where SO painfully
apparent in society. For the best draueht of
building they have offered a premium of Sl00
The success Of the community, upon the whole,
is flattcring beyond their most sanguine expecta-
tions. For pecuniary support they can never
fail, while they adhere as they now do to habits
of universal temperance and unrcmittng industry.
No alcoholic drinks of any kind are used, except
in medical compound. Meat and all animal sub
stances except milk, together with tea, coffee, to.
bacco, spices, and other stimulants in common
use, are almost totally abandoned. Thus have
given you brief sketch of the outrord condition
of the community.
You will perhaps inquire in what respect they
differ from society at large, if they do not buy
and SELL eat and drink, labor and rest like the in.
habitants around them. 1t is true that they are
not able Immediately to throw off the shackles
which custom and education have imposed upon
them, to rid themselves Of false impressions with
as much case as does the snake his sin, and
come at once into true and harmonious condi-
ton. This must be the gradual work of years
for while the various causes Eof evil exist, they,
like all the human family, must be subject 10
their effects; and the only hope Of redeemag So
clety, IS gradually substituting other causes, for
those now in use. AG
tatea with than fifty geographic Maps and numer-
apef Botheis s. c sss s. cents h MORSE a. NJ
This is book OF - quarto pages in fine type,
with three columns on a page; and contains, we
think, after close and candid examination, most
admirably arranged system of Geography for the
use Of Schools. The maps are upon the new cero-
graphic plan, of which the Author is the inventor,
and are remarkably clear and distinct. They
far more numerous than in any other School Geo
graphy, and have this very marked advantage over
others, that they are in the same book and on the
same page with the description Of the countries they
represent. and with the questions 10 be answered
from them. They give connected, precise and
complete view OF ali the countries represented, and
sketch each State and section separately well
in connection with the nation and country. The de-
scrptions Of places rivers mountains, Governments,
people, &c. sc. are expressed very concisely and
distinctly and the work is burdened with nothing
that is not Of the highest utility. We have never
seen work better fitted TO facilitate the acquire
ment of perfect knowledge of the outlines of Geo.