Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-06-14
MORMON SOCIAL CONDITIONS.
Advantages of Town Life blended with
the Charms of Rural Existence.


Social changes Of a marked character
will bee wrought by the occupation of
the arid region In this matter also
Mormon experience is luminous, says
William T.. Smythe in Century. Brig
ham Young sought 10 found his pros
perity not only on industrial ethics,
but also upon the happiness Of the peo-
pie. He would not tolerate idleness,
and the walls of cobblestones still
standing in the older portions of Salt
Lake City were invented that the
church might pay for the labor Of men
who would otherwise have been tenn
porarily supported by charity. As a
means Of furnishing entertainment,
various diversions were planned, in
Guiding the saturday night dance, led
by the bishops Of the wards.
The leaders wisdom is almost as
clearly exhibited in his social scheme
as in his plan OF industry. The central
idea in it was the farm-village A viii
lage site, generally half-mile square,
is selected in the midst of tract of
five thousand or six thousand acres 20
be colonized. In Utah there are many
small valleys between the towering
mountains, and the village site is gener-
ally located near the center of the
valley, and near the river from which
the water is diverted into canals on
each side at a sufficient elevation 20
command the irrigable lands. The half
square mile is then laid out into
blocks Of four acres, with broad ave
nues between, and the blocks are divi-
ded into lots of an acre each. On these
acre lots the farmers have their homes
! Here also are their commodious barns
Here they have their poultry and swine,
while considerable space is devoted 10
a market-garden. The farmer then has
his farm on the outlying lands, which
are divided into lots ranging from two
acres up 70 twenty acres
From the public park in the center 70
the farthest outlying farm is only two
and half miles. Most farmers traverse
n much shorter distance 20 reach the
farm from their homes. On the other
hand, the women and children enjoy
the important advantage Of having near
neighbors, while the church, school
house, stores and post Office are near at
| manu- uueT ItllS system inc duNdu-
tages of town life are blended 20 a very
| considera bic degree with the charms Of
! rural existence. II is system full OF
! delightful possibilities The Mormons
/ have realized its substantial advan-
tages in neighborhood association; but
their model will be much improved
upon by many colonies of more recent
establishment. Farm life under the
old conditions has involved isolation.
The hunger for human sympathy and
company has driven thousands from
the country 20 cities already over
crowded. This factor is responsible for
many a social tragedy, as well as for
the problems which have arisen in con-
! gested city populations
There Is no reason why farm villages
patterned after those of Utah should
not have a social life and an outward
beauty quite as pleasing as, for in.
stance, the suburbs OF Boston. There
the architecture seems almost uniform.
| ly pleasing. Attractive lawns, with
trees, vines and flowers, are everywhere.
! People Of small means will be able "a
surround themselves with similar al.
vantages In the farm villages of the
arid region, while realizing all the
benefits OF independence and equality
insepara bic from the industrial scheme
| of irrigation