The morning call., 1894-05-09
LABOR COLONlSTS.
Delegates Here Looking
for Lands.
Propose Establishing a Community,
With a Common Dining-rooI1,
Schools, Stores, Etc.

The representatives OF various labor organl-
cations in Illinois whose proposed visit to this
State for the purpose OF looking over lands suit
able for their objects was mentioned at some
length in THE CALL several days ago have ar
rived IN the city and are staying al the Palace.
The party comprises NJ. II. Madden, pres-
den. Illinois State Federation OF Labor; E. p.
Jatfray. secretary Labor Union; w. Z. Pomeroy
of the American Federation OF Labor and John
Nee, president of the Walters Union.
Tie plan proposed by these gent men Is COM
prehensive in its character and involves the
settlement, as an experiment. of 10S lam lilies
10 colony. draft is prepared showing
the outlines of the proposed settlement. 1t
provides for the selection Of plat Of land two
miles square, and divided into 108 lots. In the
center OF this tract $50 acres are set apart
for general purposes The houses for residence
uses are to be constructed III circle on fifty
foot lots. Within this circle are the common
dining-room, schoohOuse, ball, storage and
warehouse and shODs. ROAD encrcles the
hou ses, and little parks are to be laid out at in
fervals along he same. Between this circle OF
houses and the extreme outside Of the $50
acres SET apart for common use, 40 acres OF
land are 10 be devoted to pasturage and produc-
Ing urToses
and from the center TO the farihest lot will be
but seveD-rigbths of 2 mile. Each lot Will con-
sist of twenty acres. and II is, et course, The
intention that The members Of the colony shall
follow agricultural pursuits for j livelihood
"Our purpose" said one of The gentlemen
named yesterday, "is o give TO farm life social
attractions which il does not now possess.
The colony will not be established strictly
upon communistic lines, as each member Will
be free agent In many respects IL is not
purposed that man shall be compelled TO oc
cupy house in the circle set apart for resi-
dence purposes. If he so elects he may build
upon his lot. Again, man may leave his lot
aud the colony IL he chooses 10 do so and still
retain possession of the same, as each piece of
properly will he In the absolute control OF the
purchaser"
Each individual will be at liberty to cultivate
such crops as he may see ht, and the expenses
OF living, taxes and all otner lncldenLdls are 10
be assessed pro rata.
This Is simply crude outline OF the plan
proposed and the gentlemen who are Interested
in IL will pI esent il 10 the Illinois State Fedr.
a;ion OF Labor al its next meeting. Ihey are
here simply to look into the merits OF our lands
for the purposes designed and are not author
lied to take any decisive steps toward Carrying
out their plans.
Iu the organization mentioned there are 160.-
600 worklngmen and women and II Is the IN
tention 10 pick from among this number those
who viii form the colony.
IL was The intention of Frederick Ames. the
Boston millionaire aud phianthropist, who re-
Gently died. TO give $4,000 Tor experimental
nurposes iD this direction. He had provided
fhat tbis amount should be set apart as a loan.
and when laid back should 60 into fund and
he nsed for the purpose OF establishing second
colony. This, in time, should supply the fund
for third, and so on.
the marty will remain In the State couple oil
weeEe Its members will meet he residents oil
Merced County a. he fair to-day and will start
for that county tomorrow to look over the
Ind. recently purchased by the Chicago syndi-
cafe from the Crocker estate.