The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-16
EMIGRtNT COLONIES ON THE
CO-OPERATIVE PLAN.

. region, to emigrant colonies. We hav
. some suggestions now to offer upon tn
. plan Of organizing colonies so as to realiz
) the highest benefits of united action.
5 1st. Every colony should number per
r sons of different pursuits in its organiza
| ton. The chances of success are vastly
increased by varied industries. The colo
} ny should be an epitome of the well or
ganized neighborhood With strong
body of farmers, should be joined black
smiths, shoemakers, carpenters, masons
wagon builders, cabinet makers, workers
in wood, and trades of all kinds also; mer
specially skilled in stock, in dairying, in frui
growing. These are the constituent ele.
; ments of thriving communities everywhere
I'd. The choice of location should be de-
termined by this principle: to find loca-
ton where the greatest variety of pursuits
can be successful, at the same time giving
the best opportunities for intellectual i'm
provement and rational enjoyment.
Sd. The prime condition of high social
life in the country as in the city is conti-
guilty Of homes. In the city this is car
ried to an extreme inconsistent with COM
fort and health. In the country homes
are situated at great distances from each
other, and many of the best advantages Of
social life are lost by the dispersion of
people over the vast areas.
The organization of the colony and the
selection of the site shosld involve plan
for homes contiguous to each other. For
this purpose village should be provided
tor in the organization, and laid out taste
fully in lots sufficient for house and gar
den, on the highest and healthiest part of
the domain. Everybody lives in the viii
lage, and enjoys society and the pleasures
and benefits to be realized in close COM
munities. The church, the school, social
intercourse, markets, variety privileges
only. to be realized in compact settlements,
are at once enjoyed civilization is brought
upon the new ground ready-made.
While we consider the grouping of rural
homes in village, the great step to i'm
prove country life and the surest mode of
making colonies success in the South,
we earnestly suggest cooperation in all
branches of business.
A site being secured, the central village |
laid out and lots taken up, the outlying
lands may besurveyed, and sold to the men,
bers according to stock held by each. But
an enormous advantage can be gained by
throwing the whole into one vast farm,
and bringing to bear upon it the most i'm
proved process of cultivation.
A great economy is thus effected in the
saving of fences. Next, by the combined
capital of the association, implements of
the most improved character and prodi-
gious power may be applied. The steam
plow is beyond the means of any but the
wealthiest farmers, but company of 25
farmers can employ one. The engines
would do all the blowing for large farm,
and all the threshing, saving wood, coarse
grinding, &c.
So the dairy, in a settlement of one hun
dred families, in a colonial village, could
be conducted under an experienced SUPER
lntendent. -Four hundred COWS would
supply such settlement with milk, but
Ter and cheese. Under intelligent SUPER
|
vision, the milk carried to one dairy
louse to be manufactured into butter and
cheese, would furnish all with fresh dairy
products at cheap rates. The best of every
hing would be thus secured, without the
care consequent upon each FAM
ly trying TO keep COW. The same rea-
oning applies to all products of the farm
nd orchard.
The village would, of course, have its
nill, bakery, laundry, drying kilns for
ruts, &c, to save its women from ex- {
austive drudgery. 1t will also have its c
tore to secure the benefits of cooperative
rade. Of course, the school. house, the
hurch, and the hall for social gathering, t
I'LL be included in any complete plan. 6
If our readers say this is visionary and !
OF feasible, we retort they are the vision
ries who are stumbling along in the old :,
od-hopper style of living, aspiring to !,
othing better. The best life we can a
ream of, is possible for us. All this has Il
ZEN accomplished and is being done
round us in part. Our plan only pro- 81
oses to apply principles of economy re- .
,gnized by all business men. Pot one " y
undred industrious. sober, intelligent
miles on two thousand acres of average
nd near market, and they can live after h
le first six months upon their earnings, 81
i'd become rich in few years on this ii
IAN. Their real estate increases iu value U
rate unknown in ordinary settlements.
We ask all good people who wish to q q
lip the world forward to waive all preiu- g
ce and seriously consider this matter of n
emigration.
Virginia is full Of splendid sites for such d.