The workmen's dwellings (which include the dwellings of all
operatives) will be erected at the Company's own risk and expense.
They will resemble neither those melancholy workmen's barracks of
European towns, not those miserable rows of shanties which surround
factories; they will certainly present a uniform appearance, because
the Company must build cheaply where it provides the building
materials to a great extent; but the detached houses in little gardens
will be united into attractive groups in each locality. The natural
conformation of the land will rouse the ingenuity of our young
architects, whose ideas have not yet been cramped by routine; and even
if the people do not grasp the whole import of the plan, they will at
any rate feel at ease in their loose clusters. The Temple will be
visible from long distances, for it is only our ancient faith that has
kept us together. There will be light, attractive, healthy schools for
children, conducted on the most approved modern systems. There will be
continuation-schools for workmen, which will educate them in greater
technical knowledge and enable them to become intimate with the
working of machinery. There will be places of amusement for the proper
conduct of which the Society of Jews will be responsible.
We are, however, speaking merely of the buildings at present, and not
of what may take place inside of them.
I said that the Company would build workmen's dwellings cheaply. And
cheaply, not only because of the proximity of abundant building
materials, not only because of the Company's proprietorship of the
sites, but also because of the non-payment of workmen.
American farmers work on the system of mutual assistance in the
construction of houses. This childishly amicable system, which is as
clumsy as the block-houses erected, can be developed on much finer
lines.