The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-10-12
A STUDY OF CITIES.
The Social Science Club Discusses
Homestead and Pullman as NUM-
cipal Types.
Rev. l.. w. Beattie Reads an interest
ing Paper Thereon.

Club last evening was one of the best
yet held this year, and was largely at
tended. Rev L. w. Beattie read a
most interesting and ably prepared
paper on Homestead and Pullman as
Municipal Types" which was
thoroughly enjoyed by all present, and
a very interesting discussion of the
subject followed
In his paper Mr.. Beattie first de-
scribed Homestead and Pullman as
municipalities, and secondly dwelt
upon the bearing of these two dis
tinct forms Of municipal control on
the social condition of the people af-
fected by them. He first gave de-
scription of Homestead which does
not differ much from the ordinary
American town of it's size, especially
where located in the mining and iron
manufacturing districts. 1t is town
of about 5000 inhabitants 1t is a
license town, with 16 or Is saloons;
has no public library; the Carnegie Co.
has shown it's interest in the town in
various ways in the donation of land
for athletic sports, etc. The labOring
class, however, has complete control
of municipal matters. The Carnegie
Co. own no stores nor does it in any
way seek to control the personal affairs
Of it's employees. Outside of their
working hours they are free to do as
they please and spend their time and
earnings as they will in true Ameri-
can fashion.
He then followed with description
of Pullman which is built upon tract
of $500 acres of land owned by the
Pullman Co., and contains popula-
ton of $1,000. So much has been said
of this place during the last three or
four months, that the most of our
readers are doubtless familiar with
the manner in which it is built. No
one can own their own home within
it's borders; it's one prevailing idea is
to make it a source Of profit to the
Pullman Co. The inhabitants have
no voice in local matters with the eX-
ception of educational affairs, and are
practically under the direct control of
one man through great corporation.
The benevolent idea had not SEEM
ingly entered Mr.. Pullman's mind at
any turn. Everything pays rent
churches, halls, stores, houses, and the
people are even made to pay for the
use of the public library. He did not
deny that to the world Pullman made
a good showing when you look it over
in company with a representative of
the company. But enter Pullman by
the back door either alone, or in COM
pany with some representative of the
men and you will look upon an en-
tirely different picture-one that is
not pleasing to the eye. Here you see
a city of the old feuda1 period; you
come across first, row of little wooden
shanties 16x20, with sitting room
and two bedrooms, and 'lean-tO" for
kitchen, costing 800 and renting for
So per month, coming within 81 of pay
ing for the original cost the first year.
Next come solid rows of brick houses
all alike. The impression which one
gains from the resident portion of the
town from such visit is that it is
crowded and unwhOlesOme. He
quoted from writers who had inveSti-
gated Pullman, showing that the
houses which were built for two or
more families were not conveniently
arranged, and that often the occu-
pants of upper rooms had to pass back
and forth through the living rooms of
those below,a fact which it was shown
was not conducive of high grade of
morality.
Referring to the claim which is
made that Mr. Pullman kept his shops
running at loss in order to give the
men work, he said that this was true.
But wages were cut down to point
which barely gave the men sufficient
returns to pay their rent, which was
not reduced, so that the Pullman Co.
received the most of it back again and
really suffered no loss at all.
The conclusions which he drew
from these two types of municipalities
were to the effect that Homestead
represented the true American idea,
while Pullman that of the medieval
feudal idea. That the situation at
Homestead was conducive of the
highest individual development be-
cause it represented the true Ameri-
can type by placing the responsibility
on the shoulders of the citizens. That
at Pullman there was no responsibility
in the municipal sense that we under
stand it. The people are allowed to
own nothing, pay a certain rent and
have everything done for them. In
one sense they may gain from this, but
it is at the expense of the true de-
velOpment of manhood.
Mr.. John G. Wise, Jr., opened the
L III orIIe