The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-20

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| PERTH AMBoY, N. j., June 4, 1858.
| Spit Among the Fourierites- Common Sense COM
i~g into Yogus-Dsscyiption of the Ns,u, Co,amu.
| naty called The Raritan Bay Union, etc., etc.
Having heard that split had taken place in the
North American Phalanx, the Fourierite communi-
ty in New jersey which was SO fully described in
series Of interesting letters in the NEW YORK HERALD
last year and that the seceders had established them
selves near Perth Amboy, determined to make
them witt, and learn what new principles in this
age Of discovery, they fancied that they had found
out Accordingly, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon,
stepped on board the steamer John Nelson, at pier
No. North river, and in two hours and halffound
myself at Perth Amboy The sail is most delightful
The constantly varying views of land and water fur
nish to the eye almost every moment some new OBJ.
ject of admiration. Noticing some pecukarities in
the John Nelson, inquired of Capt. Frazee about
her construction. He informed me that it was en-
tirely novel. She was built as experiment about
two years ago, under the direction of Mr. Frank Ste
vens, of Hoboken. She is perfectly fiat on the bot
tom, and two engines are employed solely to pump
air under her. to diminish the friction. She has five
| engines in all-two to pump air under her. two
to blow the furnaces and one main engine for driving
the boat She runs remarkably still. Her saloons
capacous, and altogether she is one of the plea
santest boats on the waters contiguous to CIV York.
She once wentOn trial of speed with the Aida to
| Newburg. Both boats arrived at the same moment,
having made the trip in two hours and Sortytwo and
| a half minutes.
Perth Amboy is pleasant old country village, en-
Dying, however, the advantages of city govern
ment, under charter older, and it is hoped much
better, than that of New York. 1t seems hardly
| We rival
cities! But though New York has far outstripped
her ancient competitor in wealth and population, it
believed that in the immaculate purity of her city
government, Perth Amboy still continues poudly in
the ascendent In fact the whole city would scarce
ly be felt in the belly of portly Alderman, who
had once been gorged with the plumber of New York.
| The Irshmans recommendation of his pig is feicit-
ously descriptive Of Perth Amboy: "He may be lit
tc," said he, "but he be very DID," But the diapi-
| dated houses and the moss covered roofs have
venerable look and there are some handsome resi-.
dences, surrounded by fine grounds and noble shade
| trees.
In answer to my inquiries for the new community,
| ! was directed to the farm of DIR. King, something
more than mile distant from the steamboat landing.
After walking over retired road, until | thought
that must have reached the vicinity of the place,
| observed two men at little distance-one OF them
| was engaged in spading up garden, while the
| other, seated upon the green grass, was reading
| aloud from book, for the entertainment of his
more laboriously, employed companion. .The useful
and the agreeable" thus tremendously blended;
and the laborer was plucking the delicious fruit
from the tree Of knowledge, while fulfilling the curse
which was denounced upon our first progentor and
| upon all his seed, for that "ambrosial sin"
| AS soon as perceived these men, / concluded
that could not have mistaken my route, and that
birds Of their feather must belong to the flock Of
which was in pursuit, and on approaching them
they confirmed my belief, and informed me that the
mansion house was but few hundred yards distant,
just beyond grove OF trees. The man who was
| reading, afterwards learned was clergyman, who
was SO much enamorcd of this free, quiet, heathful
life, that he preferred it to the pulpit and salary.
He keeps boat at the establishment and for two
shings will ''row you DER the ferry to South Am
boy, and entertain you. agreeably on the way:
/ soon reached the Mansion House, costly new
residence, erected by Dr. King, a gentleman of cul-
tivated taste and late mayor OF the city: The pro-
ectors OF the enterprise purchased Dr. Kings estate
to it, they now own two hundred and sixty.eight
acres OF land most of it of highly productive
quality They have complied with the provisions of
the General Corporation act of New Jersey and
have become incorporated under the name of 1.-The
| Raritan Bay Union"
the estate is situated at the mouth of the Raritan
river and at the head Of Raritan bay. 1t commands
charming views Of Staten Island, Of the water and
Of the New jersey shore. The grounds are taste
fully laid out. The air is now laden with the per-
fume OF great variety aud profusion Of roses and
other flowers, and the tall and uxuriant growth
OF grass, waving as the wind passes over it, shows
the fertility OF the SOIL
After strolling about the grounds for short time
we found it too dark to see more, and returned to
the house. Two or three hours were spent in con-
versatlon, when the members OF the Union withdrew
to their respective apartments, and was directed to
my sleeping room. The fresh sea breeze came in
at the open widow, the mournful song OF the whip
poorwl in the distance reminded me of other days,
when life as well as the year was in its spring; and
l wondered how so many people could endure the
brick walls and dust and noise of the city, with the
glorious country so easily within their reach? How
refreshing the sleep, and the dawn was greeted by
the songs Of the meadow lark, and the boblink and
the orioe. and the shrill whistle of the quail, while
the bright eyed cat BIRDS with their smooth fea-
theirs, hoped about the piazza, as tame almost as
the chickens
Aud what, the reader will ask do these philoso-
piers propose to do in the pleasant place where
| they have drawn their lines. Their answer is that
that they have come here to better their condition.
and they invite others to join them for the OBJ
ject They do not expect to I" mend the world" any
further than the example of what they consider an
improved mode of living will do it. They think that
| intelligent and Industrious people by combining to-
gether, may possess themselves of the comforts and
Injuries Of life and the advantages of good society
far greater extent than they can by separate effort
| They think in short that one can get more for the
money, or labor, which is its equivalent in this
than in any other way. They expect to greatly re.
duce the expense, while at the same time they in
crease the advantages and pleasures of living.
In the first place they say that they can furnish
! good houses at comparatively cheap rent. They
have adopted plan for building block of houses
|
two to four stories in height, preserving a sort Of
uniformity, but at the time giving to the whole
q good deal of variety. The house will form three
sides of two hollow squares, opening towards the
river to give to them all water view in fl ont
with q semi-circular connection between them, ex-
tending round the end of ravne which divides the
| two main parts. These dwellings, though in the
same block will be constructed in separate houses
They will be supplied with gas and with most of the
convenences of first class residences Some uniform
method of heating them will be adopted, probably
| by steam. " is said that they can be leased at
prices astonishingly low compared with city rents.
Secondly they expect to furnish food of almost
every variety, at prices very far below those which
are now ordinarily paid large refractory is to be
built in connection with The houses. Every dish will
be furnished at about cost price, being paid for at
the time it is taken in cash or in tickets which are
sold by the dollars worth and used ut the table in
| stead of change This method has already been
ado cd nd in fl,afr he hIo