OTHER NEW YORK EXPERIMENTS.
The next on the list of the Confederated Associations of western New
York, was
THE BLOOMFIELD ASSOCIATION.
We have but meager accounts of this experiment. Macdonald does not
mention it. The _Phalanx_ of June 15, 1844, says that it commenced
operations on the 15th of March in that year, on a domain of about
five hundred acres, mostly improved land, situated one mile east of
Honeoye Falls, in the Counties of Monroe, Livingston and Ontario; that
it was in debt for its land about $11,000, and had $35,000 of its
subscriptions actually paid in; that it had one hundred and
forty-eight resident members, and a large number more expecting to
join, as soon as employment could be found for them. Two or three
allusions to this Association occur afterward in the _Phalanx_,
congratulating it on its prospects, and mentioning good reports of its
progress. Finally in the _Harbinger_, volume 1, page 247, we find a
letter from E.D. Wight and E.A. Stillman, dated August 20, 1845,
defending the Association against newspaper charges, and asserting its
continued prosperity; but giving us the following peep into a
complication of troubles, that probably brought it to its end shortly
afterwards:
"We are not fully satisfied with the tenor by which our real
estate, under the existing laws, is obliged to be held.
Conveyances, pursuant to legal advice, were made originally by
the owners of each particular parcel, to the committee of
finance, in trust for the stockholders and members; and a power
was executed by the stockholders to the committee, by which,
under certain regulations, they were to have authority to sell
and convey the same. The absurdity of the Statute of Trusts
never having been licked into shape by judicial decisions, a
close and unavailing search has since been instituted for the
fugitive legal title.
"Some counselors, learned in the law, find it in the committee
of finance, as representatives of the Association; others have
discovered that it is vested in them as individuals; others
still, of equal eminence, and equally intent on arriving at a
true solution, find perhaps that it is in the committee and
stockholders jointly; while there are those who profess to find
it in neither of these parties, but in the persons of whom the
property was purchased, and to whom has been paid its full
valuation!
"In order to educe order out of this confusion of opinions, and
to enable us to acquire, if possible, a less objectionable
title, it has been proposed to petition the Chancellor for a
sale, as a title from the court would be free from doubt."
If this may be considered the end (as it probably was), it shows that
the Bloomfield Association died, as the Clarkson did, in a quarrel
about its titles, and in the hands of the lawyers.
THE ONTARIO UNION.
"This Association" says the _Phalanx_ of June 1844, "commenced
operations about two weeks since, in Hopewell, Ontario County, five
miles from Canandaigua. They have purchased the mills and farm
formerly owned by Judge Bates, consisting of one hundred and fifty
acres of land, a flouring mill with five run of burr stones, and
saw-mill, at $16,000. They have secured by subscription, about one
hundred and thirty acres of land in the immediate vicinity, which they
are now working. To meet their liabilities for the original purchase,
I am informed they have already a subscription which they believe can
be relied on, amounting to over $40,000. They have now upon the domain
about seventy-five members. This institution has been able already to
commence such branches of industry as will produce an immediate
return, and as a consequence, will avoid the necessity of living upon
their capital. There is danger that their enthusiasm will get the
better of their judgment in admitting members too fast."
The editor of the _Phalanx_ visited this Association among others, in
the fall of 1844, and gave the following cheerful account of it:
"The whole number of resident members is one hundred and fifty;
fifty of whom are men, and upward of sixty children. We were
greatly pleased with the earnest spirit which seemed to pervade
this little Community. We thought we perceived among them a
really religious devotion to the great cause in which they have
embarked. This gave an unspeakable charm to their rude,
temporary dwellings, and lent a grace to their plain manners,
far above any superficial elegance. We have no doubt that they
will succeed in establishing a state of society higher even than
they themselves anticipate. Of their pecuniary success their
present condition gives good assurance. We should think that,
with ordinary prudence, it was entirely certain."
We find nothing after this in the _Phalanx_ about this Association.
Macdonald merely mentions a few such items as the date, place, etc.,
and concludes with the following terse epitaph: "It effected but
little, and was of brief duration. No further particulars."
THE MIXVILLE ASSOCIATION
was one of the group that radiated from Rochester, according to Mr.
Greig; but we can find no account of it anywhere, except that it had
not commenced operations at the time of the session of the
Confederated Council; though a delegate from it was a member of that
Council. How long it lived, or whether it lived at all, does not
appear.
THE JEFFERSON COUNTY PHALANX.
This Association, though not properly a member of the group that
radiated from Rochester, and somewhat remote from western New York,
was named among the confederated Associations, and sent a delegate to
the Bloomfield Council. Three notices of it occur in the _Phalanx_,
which we here present.
[From the _Phalanx_ October 5, 1843.]
"This Association has been commenced through the efforts,
principally, of A.M. Watson, Esq., the President, who for some
years past has been engaged in advocating and disseminating the
principles of Association in Watertown and that section of the
State. There are over three hundred persons now on the domain,
which consists of twelve or fifteen hundred acres of superior
land, finely watered, and situated within two or three miles of
Watertown. It is composed of several farms, put in by farmers,
who have taken stock for their lands, and joined the
Association. Very little cash capital has been paid in; the
enterprise was undertaken with the subscription of property,
real estate, provisions, tools, implements, &c., brought in by
the members, who were principally farmers and mechanics in the
neighborhood; and the result is an interesting proof of what can
be done by union and combined effort among the producing
classes. Different branches of manufactures have been
established, contracts for building in Watertown have been
taken, and an organization of labor into groups or squads, with
their foremen or leaders, has been made to some extent. The
agricultural department is prosecuted with vigor, and when last
heard from, the Association was flourishing. We hope from this
Association that perseverance and constancy--for it of course
has many difficulties to contend with--which will insure
success, and give another proof of the truth of the great
principles of combined effort and united interests."
[From the _Phalanx_, November 4, 1843.]
"The following statement from the _Black River Journal_ of
October 6th, exhibits the affairs of the Jefferson County
Association in a gratifying light, and shows that so far it has
been extremely prosperous and successful. The fact alone of a
profit having been made, whether much or little, affords a
strong proof of the advantages of associated effort, for we
apprehend that either farmers or mechanics working separately,
would generally find it difficult to show a balance in their
favor upon the settlement of their accounts. But a net profit of
nearly thirteen thousand dollars, or twenty-five per cent. upon
the capital invested, for the first six months that a small
Association has been in operation, under circumstances by no
means the most favorable, is striking and incontestable evidence
of real prosperity. Before a great while we shall have many such
cases to record."
ABSTRACT OF SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT.
The first Semi-Annual Report of the property, expenditures and
proceeds of labor of the Jefferson County Industrial
Association, was submitted to a meeting of the stockholders on
Monday the 2d inst.
Since the organization of the Association in
April last, the real and personal property
acquired by purchase and subscription, has
reached the amount of $54,832.10
This is subject to reduction by the amount
of subscribed property applied to the
purchase of real estate 5,458.28
--------
Total property on hand $49,373.82
The aggregate product of the several
departments of business, to Sept. 23d $20,301.67
Expense of same, including all purchases
of goods and supplies 7,331.95
--------
Net proceeds $12,969.72
Of this has been expended in improvement of
buildings, making a brick-yard, and preparing
summer fallows 1,365.00
----------
Balance on hand $11,604.72
This balance consists of agricultural products in store, brick
manufactured and now on hand, proceeds of jobbing contracts,
earnings of mechanics' shops, etc.
Published by order of the President and Board of Directors.
_Report of A.M. Watson to the Confederate Council, May 15,
1844._
"The Jefferson County Association has made its first annual
statement, by which it appears that capital in that institution
will receive a fraction over six per cent. interest. Owing to
inattention to the principles of Association, and a defective
and incomplete organization of industry into groups and series,
as well as to the fact that in the commencement much time is
lost, labor in this institution fails to obtain its fair
remuneration. Another circumstance which has operated to the
disadvantage of labor, is, that no allowance has been made in
its favor, in the annual settlement, for working dresses. These
facts are conclusive, to my mind, that the disadvantages of
improper or inadequate organization in all institutions, will be
even more injurious to labor than to capital.
"This institution commenced operations without the investment of
much, if any, cash capital, and they now are somewhat
embarrassed for want of such means. A subscription to their
stock of two thousand dollars in cash, or a loan of that amount
for a reasonable time, for which good security could be given,
would, in my opinion, place them in a situation to carry on a
very profitable business the ensuing year. If this obstacle can
be surmounted, I know of no institution of better promise than
this. This would seem to be but a small matter; but when the
fact is considered that they are located in the midst of a
community which sympathizes but little in the movement, while
many exert themselves to increase the embarrassment by decrying
their responsibility, it will readily be seen that their
situation is unenviable. Their responsibility, when compared
with that of most business concerns in the country, is more real
than that of a majority of business men who are considered
perfectly solvent. Considering the difficulties and
embarrassments through which they have already struggled, I have
strong confidence in their ultimate success. The whole number of
members will not vary much at this time, from one hundred and
fifty. They have reduced, by sale, their lands to about eight
hundred acres, and I refer you to the annual report for further
information as to their liabilities."
We perceive in the depressed tone of this report, as well as in the
reduction of numbers and land which it exhibits, that decline had
begun and failure was impending. Nothing more is said in the _Phalanx_
about this Association, except that it sent a delegate to a
socialistic convention that met in New York City on the 7th of
October, 1844. We have to fall back, as usual, on Macdonald, for the
summing-up and final moral. He says:
"After a few months, disagreements among the members became
general. Their means were totally inadequate; they were too
ignorant of the principles of Association; were too much crowded
together, and had too many idlers among them. There was bad
management on the part of the officers, and some were suspected
of dishonesty. As times grew better, many of those who joined on
account of hard times, got employment and left; and many more
thought they could do better in the world again, and did the
same thing. The only aid they could get in their difficulties,
was from stock subscriptions, and that was not much. Men who
invested actual property sustained heavy losses. One farmer who
involved his farm, lost nearly all he possessed. After existing
about twelve months the land was sold to pay the debts, and the
Association disbanded."
THE MOORHOUSE UNION
is mentioned in the first number of the _Phalanx_, October 1843, as
one among the many Associations just starting at that time. Macdonald
gives the following account of it:
"This experiment originated in the offer of a grant of land by
A.K. Moorhouse, of Moorhouseville, Hamilton County, New York,
who owned 60,000 acres of land in the counties of Hamilton,
Herkimer and Saratoga. As most of this land was situated in what
is called the 'wilderness of New York,' he could find few
persons who were willing to purchase and settle the inhospitable
wild. Under these circumstances he offered to the Socialists as
much of 10,000 acres as they might clear in three years, hoping
that an Association would build up a village and form a nucleus
around which individuals and Associations might settle and
purchase his lands.
"The offer was accepted by an Association formed in New York
City, and several capitalists promised to take stock in the
enterprise; but none was ever paid for. In May 1843, Mr.
Moorhouse arrived at Piseco from New York, with a company of
pioneers, who were soon followed by others, and the work
commenced. The locality chosen at Lake Piseco was situated about
five miles from Lake Pleasant, the county seat, a village of
eight or nine houses and a court-house. On the arrival of the
party it was found that Mr. Moorhouse had made some
improvements, which he was willing to exchange for $2,000 of
stock in the Association. This was agreed to. He also engaged to
furnish provisions, tools etc., and take his pay in stock. The
land on which the Association commenced its labors was a gift
from Mr. Moorhouse; but the improvements which consisted of 120
acres of cleared land with a few buildings, was accepted as
stock at the above valuation.
"The money, property and labor were put into common stock. Labor
was rated at fifty cents per day, no matter of what kind. A
store was kept on the premises, in which articles were sold at
prime cost, with an allowance for transportation, &c. By the
constitution the members were entitled to scrip representing the
excess of wages over the amount of goods received from the
store; or, in other words, laborers became stockholders in
proportion to that excess. No dividends were to be declared for
the first five years.
"The persons thus congregated to carry out the principles of
Association [number not stated], belonged to a variety of
occupations; but it appears that but few of them were adapted to
the wants of the Community. Some of the members were intelligent
and moral people; but the majority were very inferior. No
property qualifications were necessary to admission. It appears
that members were obtained by an agent, who took
indiscriminately all he could get. The most common religious
belief among them was Methodist; but a large proportion of them
did not profess any religion, and some were what is commonly
called infidels.
"Though the persons congregated here had left but humble homes
and poor circumstances generally, yet the circumstances now
surrounding them were worse than those they had left, and as a
natural consequence there was a deterioration of character. Not
having formed any organization in the city, as is customary in
such experiments, they received no aid from without; and the
want of this aid does not appear to have insured success, as
some enthusiastic Socialists have imagined that it would; but on
the contrary a most signal failure ensued.
"The leading persons were Mr. Moorhouse and a relative of his
named Brown. The former furnished every thing and turned it in
as stock. The latter kept the store and the accounts. The
members do not appear to have been acquainted with the mode in
which either the store or books were kept.
"At the commencement, when they were sufficiently supplied from
the store, they agreed tolerably well; but during the latter
period of the experiment, when Mr. Moorhouse began to be slack
in buying things for the members, there was a good deal of
disagreement. The store was nearly always empty, and when
anything was brought into it, there was a general scramble to
see who should get the most. This, as a matter of course,
produced much jealousy and quarreling. All kinds of suspicions
were afloat, and it was generally reported that the executive,
including the store-keeper, fared better than the rest.
"Some work was done, and some improvements were made upon the
land. Rye and potatoes were planted, and probably consumed. The
experiment existed a few months, and then by degrees died away."
The following from a person who took part in the experiment, will give
the reader a nearer view of the causes of the failure:
"The population congregated at Piseco was composed of all
nations, characters and conditions; a motley group of
ill-assorted materials, as inexperienced as it was
heterogeneous. We had some specimens of the raw material of
human nature, and some of New York manufacture spoiled in the
making. There were philosophers and philanthropists, bankrupt
merchants and broken-down grocery-keepers; officers who had
retired from the Texan army on half-pay; and some who had
retired from situations in the New York ten-pin alleys. There
were all kinds of ideas, notions, theories, and whims; all kinds
of religions; and some persons without any. There was no
unanimity of purpose, or congeniality of disposition; but there
was plenty of discussion, and an abundance of variety, which is
called the spice of life. This spice however constituted the
greater part of the fare, as we sometimes had scarcely anything
else to eat.
"At first we were pretty well off for provisions; but soon the
supplies began to be reduced; and in November the list of
luxuries and necessaries commenced with rye and ended with
potatoes, with nothing between! As the supplies were cut off,
the number of members decreased. They were starved out. But of
course the starving process was slower in those cases where the
individuals had not the means of transportation back to the
white settlements. When I left the 'promised land' in March
1844, there were only six families remaining. I had determined
to see it out; but the state of things was so bad, and the
prospects ditto, that I could stand it no longer. I thought the
whole would soon fall into the hands of Mr. Moorhouse, and I
could not afford to spend any more time in a cause so hopeless.
I had given nine months' time, was half starved, got no pay, had
worn out my clothes, and had my best coat borrowed without
leave, by a man who went to New York some time before. This I
thought might suffice for one experiment. I left the place less
sanguine than when I went there that Associations could succeed
without capital and without a good selection of members. Yet my
belief was as firm as ever in the coming abolition of
conflicting interests, and the final harmonious reconstruction
of society."
Here ends the history of the Fourier Associations in the State of New
York. The Ohio experiments come next.