Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-10-22
THE SHAKING ouAKERs:
The Cemmssisy in !ivIssstsn Ceuns
New York5,Their Wealth and Industi

Tis Cemmsnisy in ~5iyilssten County,
Riders nsd Eldresses.
Correspondence Of the Albany Journal 4
Within a few miles of the village Of
Mount Morris, Livingston County, in
this State, at the junction Of the Dam
vile branch with the Genesee Valley
Canal, there has lived for many years
one Of the most prosperous ofthe Shaker
communities, their property now exceed
ing in value $250,o0o. They occupy
over two thousand acres of the finest
upland aud fat land to be found in
Western New York.
This year they have excellent crops,
ranging as follows: Sweet. corn. IL
acres /; corn, 80; wheat, It's; oats, 80;
meadow, 200; potatoes, 20 barley, so;
buckwhsat, 6; broom corn, $50 veg
stable garden, 10 orchard, % pas
turage, 500 woodland (some Of it very
valuable timbsr), 800. Their sweet corn
Is mostly dried, they putting up this
year just SO barrels, which realize to
them $24 per barrel. The communities
have a foreign order for corn this sea-
son. They have their steam apparatus
and drying furnace for manufacturing
the product, and the greatest care is
taken to have every kernel of corr per-
feet. Their buildings are very neat,
both in the outward appearance and in-
terual management. Even the laundry
department, including w%ashroom, is a
model Of perfect neatuess, and not the
repulsive institution Of most hotels and
large establishments ; while their dining
and other rooms are as free from even a
fy, or the trace Of one, as though such
pests of summer never existed.
There are two families, called the
"East" and" West families" situated
about half a mile apart. The West
family" number thirty-6ve men and wo-
men /; the east" s%sventy.fys; this
probably includes the children, which
have been adopted. Each has his or
her work assigned by the Elders or
Eldresses," and other "powers that
be-" and none are more industrious than
those most in authority. The buildings
of the West family cost upward OF S42,..
900 ; this includes q barn, the cost OF
which was $l2, 1000, four stories high,
and the main part 50 by 100 feet, with
stalls for fourteen horses and grain CO.
pacity for tens Of thousands. Of bushels.
Many modern Improvements might be
mentioned. Other barns for broom corn
and farm purposes are further removed
from the home center. The cost of the
buildings of the East family was some
SIS, 900, which includes their fine
church ediice. The stock barn here is
40 BY 100 feet, and is three stories high.
In addition to the above are the grist
mill, saw mill, planning mill, lathes,
broom, blacksmith and other shops,
costing $40, 900.
Last year they manufactured at the
West family 1000 dozen brooms at the
other $500 dozen. or stock they have
40 work horses, 20 colts, 40 cows, 1875
young cattle, 100 sheep, 400 Of poultry
and 20 scaveugers," they not dignity
ing them with the name of hogs
swine's flesh being prohibited.
They have very interesting religious
services every Sabbath at their church,
which are attended by hundreds OF
spectators from the Geneses Valley and
the hillsides around, and you will see
here some of the first families Of Mount
Morris, Genesse and other villages.
They have also their more private as.
semblages for worship. Of the relig.
ious character Of this people will not
speak but these items Of their worldly
prosperity I take the liberty to send you,
as in these days Of cooperative efforts
such facts may be of interest to your
readers. Persons visiting these com
munities with a desire 10 study their
plan of work are most kindly welcomed;
those who come from mere motives OF
curiosity or for criticism should be less
and less from year to year.