New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-06-08
COOPERATION.
COOPERATION AS APPLIED TO TIE FORMATION
OF BUILDING SOCIETIES.

SIR: IL Is n fact that those who now hold prop
erty in land and houses in New-YoTk are reaping
profitable harvest. Land is rapidly increasing in
value in every part of the city, Seemingly fabulous
prices are being paid for dngy holes and corners
which, few years ago, could have been secured al
most for the asking and such is the enormous influx
of visitors and emipans from all parts OF the world
that we may look for a rise rather than diminutiOn
of those prices. The consequences may be easily
foreseen-Org-crOwding fever, pestilence, death.
You may have vigilant Boards Of Health-eficient
Sanitary oficers-vgorousa and prompt punishment Of
all who dsobey the rules laid down for the preseya-
ton Of the health of this city; but you must have
room 1t will be in the highest garrets, in the lowest
cellars where the poor and wTetchcd reside that the
punishment will fall first. These cannot Afford 10
pay the enormous rents denaRded for healthy preath-
ing room, Tie retrbuton will come upon lhaN nIS'!
net Oh the landlord who lives in his marble nall but
ttsaay reach him. Typhus cut on Frihce Alder"
Who knows but it might have been engendered IN
some wretcbed boyel not far from his princey dwell
inRf Ihave seen feyer-huts very near palaces
Asa medical man, l have had ample opportunities
for Judging of the effect of this violation OF the Crea-
tors law that must have air and dght as well as
food. have seen sights which would put STOP 10
foreign missionary enterprise for some time to come
and make our phanthropists put their hands into
their pockets to relieve the misery which can be
smelled as well nOtmany yards from their own
ownback doors have visiteda young man, sick ofthe
fever, who was living with eight Others in one small
room. They were of both sexes Preach about NOR
atty and religonl ask, what beauty can such
people see in this worlds The glorious sunshine may
create enry-it can never engender lore. In vain do
birds sing and trees put forth their sweet blossms
All III vain, for such unfortunate wTetches, has the
Creator challenged admiration and love, gratitude
and reverence. The minds of such are as stunted
as their bodies They have sympathy only for de-
SPAR and gloom for they know what these only real
ly are. | cannot forbear to mention that, while
was sitting by this bedside, smoking cheroot TO
keep away the horrible smell which woudnot depart
when the window and door were -Opened-a cle1-
gyman of the Established Church of the favored
ones came in to administer words of comfort and
consolation to this benghted family. He turned up
his nose with undisguised disgust and inquired
why they allowed so many people to stay In room
where there was q sick man. spoke for the family,
and said Sir these people all belong to this one
room; sleep here, eat here, die here-for you cannot
call il living" He asked whether little port VINE
would be of any service Isaid If you have astabe
you can lend me for a month, may perhaps bring
that young man round; if not, he will die. Port
wine is of no use to him. He is dying for want of
room air LIGHT ventilation" He was sOrrY-peThaps
a little offended at the tone in which spoke could
not helpu. He had 81, 300 per annum for preaching
the Word of Cod ! had known him for years; and
never that remember had no lifted up his voice or
welded his pen to expose this iniquitous violation
of the Creators laws Often had he spoken in favor of
charity, and pleaded for flannel socks and
pocket handkerchiefs to cover the feet and
wipe the noses of the natives of some
uearly-uninhabited island 10000 miles away; but
here close TO his own door, was an evil too trl-
fling to call even for passing comment; and yet we
inveigh against the sinfulness of the times In which
we live. We whine about the horrors of female pros
titution and deplore the drunkenness and brutality
which meet at every turn of the street. Let us
be quite sure that do our duty as refOrmers of
these abuses which create prostitutes, drunkards,
thieves. Let go to the fountain head, and may
then expect some good results to flow from our we'll
intentioned labors.
The celebrated Lord Shaftesbury struck the nail
upon the head when he said there was more morality
Ina bricks and mortar than sermonzing So to bricks
and mortar will 60 Is it possible to apply CO.
operation in such way as to provide good cheap
dwellings for the poor Yes. remarked in my first
letter that upward of 100000 souls had been so
provided through this instrumentality In England
alone since 1S49 There are so many different plans
of working such society all more or less mer-
tOrious that must expect to find several people who
will differ from me- would found the society, FIRST
on purely mutual principles; second, it should be
permanent institution; third it should be also
bank of deposit for small sums as low as two cents
fourth, it should be loan society to its members
but to them Only-except in cases where an outside
man wished to borrow money, and was prepared to
give as security land or houses An average calcula-
tiOn shoud be entered upon with a view to at
the cost of house. say with four, five, six
Then the amount whatever it might be, which it
would cost should be divided into four parts Sup
pose it to cost $500. then a quarter share would
amount to S125 and the payments per week should
be % cents per share. After time-say, when man
had paid in couple of years OF earlier If 1t could be
done-the society should build him house, and he
should, when entering upon the occupation of the
same, agree to pay double the amount into the
society which he had paid before. This he could very
well afford to do. BY this simple arrangement, in a
few years he would become his own landlord and the
tle-deeds of the property which up this time had
been held by the society as security, would be given
up to him, and the bargain would DO complete No
fines should be inflicted under any circumstances
whatever. All the law expenses connected with the
transfer the title-deeds indeed every extraneOus
pense should be borne by the society for the time
and then charged in the members account, to be
paid in one single sum by him part Of his weekly
subscription. No speculation be more safe where
household property is paying such enormous rates OF
interest where there is a growing population,
Wherever arts and manufactures flourish there
viii always be a demand for good and cheap dwell
lng-hOuses and If the whole of the members wished
to sell out it would be perfectly safe for any private
Spectator to buy up such property.
The society should willingly purchase the shares Of
any member who has desire to withdrawal a fair
valuation they easily be resold to other men,
bers and after member has entered upon the Occu-
patton OF his premises if he finds that he cannot from