Fantasy fiction; Utopian fiction; Utopias -- Fiction
"These buildings are the workshops, or site of occupation, of the
inhabitants of that particular section. Thus a community of 3,200
families live and work in each section. For further benefit to the
people, each two triangles of a quadrant is combined under the title
of 'square.' Each square, therefore, has its own diagonal street,
meeting the other diagonals of the section in the center, or place
of occupation. Again, as each square is a smaller community of the
section, it has its own shops, stores, etc. All of these places of
business are located midway on the diagonals, and are styled the
'bazar.' There is allowed in each bazar, only one store for each
particular trade; for instance, there is but one grocer, baker, market,
etc., through the whole list of trades. There are, also, restaurants
and club-rooms for men and women, libraries, churches and school-houses
located on these streets. So complete is the system that the residents
have little need of ever going outside their square to have their
wants properly attended to. All of the stores in the city, except the
grocers, bakers, and markets, are under control of the authorities;
and the articles offered for trade have to be of the best, while the
schedule of prices is so regulated that only a certain minimum profit
can be made. The excepted trades are directly under the charge of
competent officials, and the articles sold at cost. The houses for
the operators, on the main streets, are all six-room cottages, while
those on the cross-streets contain only five rooms. They are built
in various and different designs, and all are provided with heat
and light by electricity. They are covered with ornamental slabs of
various colored glass, which give them durability against the weather,
and exquisite beauty. Each section is under the direct supervision
of a governor and two assistants, and all disputes and controversies
arising among the people are settled and judged by them. No person
is allowed to settle or remain in the city without special authority
from the superintendent and council of the system. The cars are free
to all people; so, also, is the rent of the houses to the operators,
the only requirement being that each occupant shall keep his house in
good repair. Every expenditure for the welfare of the city is paid out
of the receipts of the system, thus leaving nothing to be demanded
of the employés save the cost price of their subsistence. You will
see from the map, Mr. Cobb, that there are ten sections having their
central offices, while the two interior sections of the city, and
wherein we now are," and he placed his finger upon the spot, "have one
between them. This central spot, with its parks and great buildings, is
called 'The United States,' to distinguish it from the other centers
of operations; which are named, in order, from left to right, around
to point of beginning: 'Islands,' 'Indias,' 'Asia,' 'Africa,' 'East,'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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