The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1886-12-03
PULLMAN A SUCCESS.
WALTER WElLMAN DiSPOSES OF
CERTAIN CARPlNG CRITICS.
He shows TINT the Only Trouble With
the Theory Of the Place Has Been the
Lack of Home Owning, Which IL Now
Overcome.
Especial Correspondence,

lsocclli ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CHICAGO, Nov. 20--As a social experiment
the town of Pullman has been closely watched
by many observers and philosophers, both in
this country and Europe. More important
than Sir Titus Salts Saltaire in England,
more extensive than M. Godin's Social Palace
In France, and more practical than any OF
the communities or farms whose experiments
have attracted the attention of sociologists in
America, Pullman has been well worthy
attention.
What was it that the founder of this city
hoped to accomplish Commercially, he de-
sired to build a town in which his factory
could find convenient location and where his
employees might dwell together as his tenants,
with profitable rentals accruing to himself
Philanthropically, he wished to do something
for humanity" by constructing town in
which the average of health, morality and
happiness enjoyed by its inhabitants could be
raised to much higher level than that
usually found among communities Of laborers
and mechanics
That Pullman has succeeded in the first
of his desires there is no gainsaying His
city is immensely profitable. He built COM
plete town at one operation, and at one stroke
made valuable city ground out of cheap prai
rie. The rentals, based upon the values thus
created, are returning handsome per cent
upon the actual cost. The houses and other
buildings are all occupied AMI the rents are
all promptly paid. pullman pays" say
the critics (and there are many of them, "but
as a social experiment it is a failure. He has
made money, but he has not succeeded in
carrying out the humanitarian feature of his
ideas" This may OF may not be just YER
dict.
II will build town." said the creator of
Pullman to himself, las nearly perfect as
skill and money working together, and with
full knowledge of the conditions and require
ments, even to the smallest detail, can make
it. My town shall not grow haphazard One
architect is to draw the plans for every
building, of whatever nature. l will
have nothing to do with the local
authorities in the way of street improve
ments, drainage, water supply, public build
ings. Twill build everything myself More
over, will own everything, and rule every
thing. In fine, will build a beautiful and
modern city as other men build single
house, with everything to promote the happi-
ness and health of the occupants, and to
lead them to live better lives and
rear their children among better sur
roundings and Influences than are
found in neighborhoods and communities
where people like my operatives generally
reside. will prove to the world that it is
not necessary that workingmen shall live in
ill built houses, gloomy, inartistic, badly
drained, unhealthful, with foul yards or none
at all in the rear, with dirty streets in front,
with an absence of all pretense to architect
ural beauty or the refinements of artistic sur
roundings, and with the temptations of
drinking saloons and other resorts danger
ously near to every habitation. will prove
that a condition of things is possible wherein
the poor as well as the rich may enjoy such
good things of this life as peace, orderliness,
pure air, sunshine, cleanliness, healthy, good
neighbors."