The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-07-13
HOMES OR NOVELS, WHICH,
A Direct Appeal 20 the Common sense OF
che wor&lnsmen OF Chicage.

two-thirds Of her mechanics and workmeI
were destroyed, is one which must ever
remain memorable on the pages of his
tory. The havoc created, the property
destroyed, and the number of famihe.
rendered homeless, have no parallel in mod
ern times. The millionaire of Sunday found
himself the bankrupt of the following day
the thrifty mechanic of the Ninth of Octo-
Der, became the homeless pauper Of the
Tenth. The savings of years were III a few
short hours, swept away-by fiend which
laughed at the efforts of puny man to stay
its ravages-and its pathway was strewn
with the wrecks of a lifetime's industry.
Prompt responses, however, were waited
in their misfortunes from every quarter of
the habitable globe The millionaire re-
ceived assurances from Eastern capitalists
that they were ready and willing to assist
him in the hour of need the merchant
was requested to forward his orders
with the promise that they would
be promptly furnished: but the
workingman. the 'as nd support Of
both, was told to look to his mechanical
skill and ten fingers, for his future support
because the Home Insurance Companies,
upon which his all depended, had become
bankrupt in the common ruin Yet, strange
to say, that while Chicago became the re-
ciuiaDt Of tho world . hountx ba,. .,,,,,, Io,,l
lords-the men who had escaped the fiery
whirlpool-were the Shylocks who fattened
On her misfortunes While the press pro
tested against her mechanics taking advan-
tage of the situation, as they were pleased
to style it, they had no protest to offer
against the avarice Of men-or rather libels
on humanity who advanced rents fifty,
and III many instances one hundred per
cent. The consequence was thar thousands
Of our workingnen were compelled to take
whatever was offered, at Just such rates as
rrere offered, and to-day large majority Of
them live in apologies for dwellings, which,
in other cities, would he deemed unfit for
hog pens and pay for the same, as rents,
amounts, which in two or three years would
pay both for the ground and dwelling.
We know it is popular to talk Of the
country and country residences, but what
opportunity has a man, who is expected to
r. found, trowel Or plane in hand, at
work at clock in the morning, to enjoy
the advantages of a country home! The
only question then is, whether is howell
in an alley, or home in a healthy location,
thoroughly ventilated and properly con
structed, rented at reasonable rates, the
most desirable of the twol For the pur-
pose of supplying this want, the MECHANICS
BUILDING ASSOCIATION OF CHICAGO has
been established. 1t is intended as soon
as funds sufficient has been accumulated
TO purchase a block Of ground, within a
reasonable distance from the business cen
tire of the city. and erect thereon substan-
tial and commodious tenement brick
dwellings, to be rented to our mechanics
and workingmen, at one-hdlf the rates they
arr now paying. IL will be under the ex
elusive control and direction Of the stock
holders. Its directors are all skilled, prac-
teal workmen, who are prepared to invest
their capital and labor In the enterprise
The funds received from week to week,
will be deposited in our several saw
ings institutions, and the treasurer will
be required to furnish bonds under the
law Of the State, so that every safeguard
that experience requires, will be thrown
around those investing their means.
The initiative in the enterprise has be en-
taken by the L. o. A. Bricklayers, who
number over 1000 members, which alone
guarantees its success But they are anx-
ious to secure the cooperation of the men,
bers Of the other trades associations,
equally interested with themselves in
making it a success The shares are placed
at 100000 to be paid on signing the
articles Of association, the balance in week
y hstoiAliohbs vi GO.VS IL oHS-ultn Oh
the mechanics employed in this city-say
IL, OOO-become stockholders, in four
weeks the sum of &156, 900 will be at their
disposal With this sum judiciousIy in
vested, and continued from week to
week, before the first of October next,
comfortable homes can be furnished for
500 families, while the continued adv ance
of real estate will furnish a guarantee that
the stock can always be disposed Of at
premium. Continue this system for one
year and the enormous sum Of 81 ,956, 900
will have been raised, without a single
member feeling himself penny the poorer
for his investment.
Another and very important feature Of
this enterprise is that permanent employ
ment will he furnished to large number
Of mechanics, stone masons, bricklayers,
plasterers, carpenters and joiners, painters,
etc, etc.-preference in all cases of course
being given to stockholders It will also
enable the association eventually, tosuccess-
fully compete with the master builders
entering the list as contractors unin-
numbered property Of the association,
furnishing an unexceptionable bond.
1t is intended in few days to call a
public meeting of the workingmen and
mechanics of this city, at which will be
e1plaine d more fully the objects Of the as
ISOLATION. In the meantime the Commit
tee will wait on the various labor organi-
cations, to secure their cooperation,
feeling assured that when its advantages,
feasibility, and necessity, are thoroughly
understood, its success will be secured.
The Company's Office il located at 43
West Washington street, where all in