THE GREELEY COLONY OF COLORADO 



the other as the most conspicuous American champion 

 in the Fourier scheme of association. It is interesting to 

 observe just how much of the old plan survived in the 

 new colony prospectus, when the thought of these leaders 

 had been mellowed and broadened by many more years of 

 life and experience. 



In the Fourier communities the people had lived to- 

 gether under one roof, in the hope of effecting largo 

 household economies. There had been common owner- 

 ship of land, and an attempt at equal division of labor. 

 The unit of the community was the whole ; the only in- 

 dividual, the public. 



In forming the plan of the new colony the lessons of 

 experience were not forgotten. There was but a single 

 suggestion of the " phalanstery," or common household 

 of Fourier days, and that was advanced in timid terms. 

 "It seems to me/' Mr. Meeker wrote, "that a laundry 

 and bakery might be established, and the washing and 

 baking done for all the community ; but other household 

 work should be done by the families." It was provided 

 that the unit of society should be the family, living under 

 its own roof ; that farms and homes should be owned 

 independently ; that individuals should plan their own 

 labor, and rise or fall by their industry and thrift, or lack 

 of them. The new ideal was that of an organized com- 

 munity which should give the people the benefit of as- 

 sociation without hampering individual enterprise and 

 ability. It furnished a means of settlement essentially 

 different from that under which the Middle West had 

 been developed. 



Land was to be purchased on a large scale with a com- 

 mon fund. This cheapened its cost, and gave the col- 

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