The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-03-05
from the Washington Chronicle. !
COOPERATIVE COLONIES
Openings for these Near washirs,o,


To The Editor Of the Chronicle:
Cooperative colonies as a means of set
thing new regions are now attracting general
attention in this country. The success OF
the Colorado colonies, under circumstances
in many respects discouraging, has greatly
increased this interest.
The cooperative colony obviates the most
serious objections to new settlements.
ltcarries with it civilization ready-made.
Whatever is good and desirable in the old
society is transplanted, and at once takes
root in the new. Abuses difficult of re-
form, though generally deprecated, are left
behind. The colony becomes the CEN
ter of a new social growth, n hold
ing in itself the best social forces,
unimpeded in their outgrowth by old
forms. The church, the school-house, the
lecture-hall and library, the mill, the store,
and whatever constitutes the essential
nucleus of rural settlement, of the best
kind, are possible from the start. The
mutual helpfulness which men and women
can render each other, and which redeems
our best rural life from the savagery of the
border settlements, is here realized. Social
enjoyment, educational opportunities for
old and young, the profitable interchange
of professional and industrial services, are
here provided for. Isolated and inorganic
ed settlement sacrifices all these for
generation, or leaves them to chance.
Only those of us who have lived waiting
through long years for civilization upon the
borders can fully appreciate these depriva-
tions. Thousands who would be every
way benefited by change are deferred by
dread Of losing society.
iSouthern lands are now offered at prices
below those of any other land in the world
of equal value. Within one hours ride of
this city by rail, in the State of Virginia,
are thousands of acres of good land, we'll
timbered and watered, adapted especially
to the growth of fruit, grass, vegetables,
and mixed crops, offered at prices varying
from twelve to twenty-five dollars per acre.
These lands can be obtained in large tracts
and constitute the most favorable sites for
colonies on the continent, all things con-
sidered.
The elements are here, not merely for
agricultural industry but for the varied
pursuits essential to the financial success of
a new community. Proximity to great
city and choice of markets, transit by rail-
road or tidewater, with good soil, abundant
timber, good water, quarries of granite,
slate, and free-stone, mines of coal and
iron in easy reach, constitute combina-
ton of advantages not often found.
The Piedmont region of Virginia offers
these to settlers. We hope to see
movement made at once to occupy these
splendid lands by cooperative colonies.
The movement should begin here. Hun
dreds at the North are waiting to come.
Washington is destitute of suburban re-
sorts. Her people have no place to 90
without involving journey too expensive
in time and money for most of us. The
settlement of the Potomac region with such
colonies would afford delightful resorts,
and add vastly to the trade of the city and
Its attractions as place of residence. Du-
ring the warm season families who could
not well go north would find pleasant coun-
try homes near without losing society.
Men confined to business during the day
would find health and relief in delightful
ride by boat or rail, to some quiet resort,
where refined society and rural influences
could be enjoyed together.
10 government employees such settle
ments would furnish a means of saving
something out of their salaries, and living
far better than now. 1t is demonstrate
beyond all question, that residence in
colony would be equivalent to
a one-third reduction of living expenses.
We know Of nothing more important to
the city at this time than the providing of
pleasant suburbs and the establishment of
cheap and reliable daily communication
with them. d.