New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-23

the carpenters were constantly kept busy, Ut GOOD
wages, by people who were not members Of the col
ony, while the shoemakers, tsilors and other art-
sans were obliged to work night and day In order to
execute all their commissions. The proceeds Of all
Of the treasurer. and mopsv owsd In I' aoIdsn
stream into the Golfers of the society.
Farming and numbering were pushed with I'M
fields of waving grain the whole farm was inclosed
with substantial stone fence, and as the society
commenced growing wealthy and kept increasing
Ia numbers IL was determined by majority Of the
temple for Sabbath worship They coz
cluded to, make this edifce an illustration
OF the wealth OF the society, and had 1t been COM
pleted it would have been most magnificent struc-
turo. Plans for the construction of the building
were sent from New.York by famous architect,
and the most imposing design was selected The
lumber for the edifice was prepared, and IN July,
1S46, the cornerstone was laid with the most inn
pressve ceremonies. This stone contained the laws
Of the association and list of the members, on
parchment copy of The TRIBUNE Of that date
brought by mounted courier from New-York that
mornings quantity of gold, silver and copper
coins, and other articles of interest Mr. Greeley
himself delivered the address, and nearly thousand
persons were present--a great gathering for such
wild and comparatively uninhabited region This
was day Of rejoicing at Sylvania and never was
the association In more ffourlshing condition.
RUINED ENTERPRISE.
Shortly after the laying of the stone there
were as before mentioned, rumors throughout the
country that the Phalanstere had turned into
free-lOve institution. These reports caused many
metropolitan shareholders to sell their stock.
About that time some jealouses arose among tho
members of the community, quarrels ensued. and
by and by the stock began TO depreciate in value.
Work on the temple ceased and it seemed if
curse had fallen upon the place. large portion
of the members attempted to withdraw in body
and save something from the wreck In less than
month from the day the cornerstone of the
temple was laid the association was virtually at
an end, the members had returned whence they
came, and the stock In New-York was declared
worthless. Horace Greeley lost considerable money
which he had invested, besides all bis labor IN tho
cause. The failure Mr. Greeley unjusty attributed
to the INTERCHANGEABLE views of Pike County, and
to the land-sharks who then infested that region
This feeling inspired him to write two bitter edi-
torials denouhcing the county in unmeasured
terms. In one of these editorials appeared two
sentences which the pike Countians" never for
gave: pike County," said Mr. Greeley, is no.
ted for nothing but its scrub-oaks, its loco-foco
majorites, and It's rattlesnakes. There are five
gallons Of whskey to spelling book in that
county"
After it had been ascertaned that the association
was lrrevocably ruined. the debts of the society
were paid and tho land was sold to the Rev.
Thomas House Taylor, at that time rector of Grace
Church Mr.. Greeley again set his foot on
Pike County soil, except upon one OCCASION in
1864, when he made political speech in Mil
ford. Mr.. Taylor cree ted several more buildings,
improved the land with fertilizers, started small
store. cleared the balance of the timber-land. and
built mile after mile of stone fence. He then called
the place Taylortown, by which name it has been
known ever since. For considerable time Mr.
avlo lIvo inf al
going to New-York in time to fulfil his duties on
Sunday, and returning to his plantation in the will
derness every Monday morning. During the first
year that he owned the property he harvested over
5000 bushels of grain and 100 tons of hay. The
saw mills were kept busy night and day. the little
store sold great quantities of goods and provisions
at big profit. and Improvements were projected on
an extended scale.
When, in Is4S, railroad began to push its way
through Pike County. with great foresight Mr..
Taylor bought property at Lackawaxen and as soon
the railroad built through that town. sold it
again at a large advance. He subsequently sold his
Sylyania farm TO n New-Orleans man named Cleve-
land, who made the property paw well until the Re-
beon broke out. when he went South-being
sympathizcr with the secedsrs-and never returned.
Foi IA few years the property was kept IN good re;
pair by the tenants but finally some person obtained
a heavy insurance on the buildings and then set
them fire. after which he collected the insurance
money and left tho country. Owing 10 the excite
ment then prevailing throughout the North, he got
away UNPUBLISHED. All the buildings were destroyed,
with the exception OF one little house, which has
for years been occupied by the McKane family;
Jesse Mckane having attained considerable
nooriety the father of twenty-three living chill
dren.
During the war the farm was left idle, and year
after year passed, yet the owner did not make his
appearance. Gradually the land became oyergrown
with uuderbrush, then the scrub-oak came up, and
to-day the foundations walls OF the temple are so
ovcrgrown with weeds that few can find the spot.
The land has been exposed for sale for taxes, bat
purchaser has yet been found, and this extensive
property which twenty-five years ago yielded
splendid revenue, will not bring ten cents an acre
to-day.