The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-07-11

49, Il
~. xxrkinx Glasses Of Mulhouse,
49, were in . deplorable condition. |
W . we're low Rents were exorbitant
A room ten feet square, dark, dirty and
damp, cost eight or nine frsn1 . month.
Most artisans occupied, with their families,
a angle room. immortality was naturally
rife. So was death. More than half the
children born died before reaching the aGe
Of two years. The hours of labor were
from A. M. to 8 p NJ, summer and
winter. The pittance Of pay was received
every fortnight. On payday the opera
tivss tasted meat and wine. On all others
they had but bread, potatoes and watered
milk. Employers tried in vain to do
something for their men. Charity lavishly
given, did what charity frequently does, it
demOrahzed the recipients. 1t was felt
that the one thing needtul was to provide
the worklngmen with homes. At q
meeting Of manufacturers 1t Was resolved
to build a number Of model dwellings
Before the somewhat cumbrous scheme
could be carried into effect, Mr.. Dollfus,
SEN, one Of the manufacturer, formed q
company under the name Of La Societe
Mulhousienne DIES Cites Ouvrieres,
The Mnlhousian Society of Working
men Cities. for the purpose Of fulfilling
its name, that is, building cities for work
lngmen. The capital was Ell, 200, divid-
cd into sixty shares of GOO each, Of which
Mr.. Dollfus took thirty-tive. The Gov
eminent gave the company G12, 900. This
was dubious blessing. 1t has been the
curse Of most experiments Of this kind in
France that the Government has aided
them % much that the projectors have
not hed to aid them at all. They have
consequently collapsed as soon az the Gov
eminent subsidy was exhausted. This
company, however, was more successful
1t began work in July, 1863. By the next
July it had finished 100 houses, which cost
from 1870 to $3.50 apiece. They formed
''cite ouvriere" by themselves With their
gardens they covered a square plot of
twenty acres. The main streets were
twenty-five feet broad, exclusive of the
five foot sidewalk on each side. They
were cut at right angles by side streets,
sixteen feet broad with i've foot sidewalks.
Roads and sidewalks were macadamized.
Sewers Of masonry drained every house.
The houses themselves were built in four
sizes and shapes. During the first year,
forty nine Of the hundred were sold. That
ia the occupants had paid $50 or $40 down
and had agreed to pay the balance of the
cost IN annual installments during fourteen
or fifteen years. Then the inevitable dis
trust that hampers all efforts made by or
for worklngmen made its appearance. The
artisans grew shy of the scheme. They
thought there was a swindle in it-that the
employers were trying to get more than
the expected four per cent. dividends out
Of 1t. 50 only eighteen houses were sold
IN 1850, and only five in 1866. This feel
ing, however soon wore of. In 1867,
tifty-three houses were bought in 1865,
one hundred and nine. After that they
could not be built last enough. In ten
years the Sociesy-0f Workingmens Cities
had invested 900, 900 in arllsanst DWELL
lngs, and in the lighthouses, wash houses,
bakeries, stores and restaurants connected
with them. Nearly seven hundred dwell
ings had been put up. OF these six hun
dred and fourteen were in the hands of
seventy-6v were fully paid for. A much
larger number were almost freed from in
cumbrance. They were all sold on the
same plan. deposit Of $50 or $40 was
demanded. The payment of the balance
was cAbcHucu over fourteen OF uIJo6l
years. If any man wished to give up his
house before it was fully paid for, his
deposit was returned with interest, and he
got, besides, the amount he had paid over
and above fair rental. The cooperative
establishments connected with the ''citles"
have not all been successful The bakeries
and stores have received little support,
although their goods are pure and are
offered at wholesale prices. They have
demanded cash. This has hurt their
sales. On the other hand, the bath
houses, at which bath cost three cents
the wash houses, at which the use Of WASH
tubs, mangle and drying-room can be had
tor two hours for a cent and the restau-
rants, at which meal Of soup, vegetables,
three or four ounces of veal, and nearly
half pint OF wine can be had for nine
cents, have all succeeded. The Mulhouse
Society have served as a model for others
IN other parts of Alsace. The Pal MAJ,
from which we take these facts, says
The moral effect has everywhere been
most remarkable drunkenness, Drawing,
ldleness and discomfort have given place to
sobriety, order, industry and self-respect
While wages are considerably lower in
Alsace than at Isle, Lyons, or Bouen, the
condition Of the working classes appears to
be superior in every respect. Mii1a,tkee
NeIcs.